Are there ways to help me swallow better?

Thankyou so much. We appreciate all the prayers! And same to you sending Prayers!!

Hello I am so sorry you are going through this. I agree with Covidstinks2023 to request to have your esophagus dilated. After heimlich maneuvers done to me for choking, I finally had it done and while the doc was in there I had him biopsy the spot that was treated (anastesia). Your life will seem back to normal almost immediately. You will be able to swallow again normally ( well a new normal of course, with water and with carefulness) Your mindset will be positive again and you can actually eat in public again and be happy. I also learned to use olive oil to dip your food in and add to your food. Get a dilation.

An someone please tell me what life is like if you never regain the ability to swallow? Will it be constant coughing and spitting up mucous?

Hello. I’m dealing with severe swallowing. I live on ensure and soups and some delicious baby food. This is the longest time not being able to swallow. I’m in swallow therapy to keep my throat from closing up.
It’s very frustrating and a big challenge. I cough a lot and spit up thick mucus during and after I eat. Hang tough. We aren’t the only ones . It totally sucks.
Good luck.

@phyllisg, I moved your question about regaining the ability to swallow to this existing discussion:
- Are there ways to help me swallow better?
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/anyways-to-help-me-swallow-better/

You might also find this listing of discussions helpful:
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/group/head-neck-cancer/?search=swallow&index=discussions

I have the same problem. I’ve been having difficulty swallowing any food. No saliva is a bitch. I’m looking for answers myself. Mayo gave me way too many radiation treatments.

I can’t taste anything. So my brain doesn’t know what it is and says don’t swallow. I enjoy no food. Every meal is a challenge. I dread eating. What food can a radiation patient like me enjoy? It’s been 4 years of pure hell. I need advice

Four months is common with eating issues but four years is torture. I would be seeking out help for that from clinic to clinic until I found something satisfactory other than the standard permanent feeding tube recommendations, easy for them but not for you.
In the meantime I can only suggest keeping a list of what can be swallowed easily and stick to those foods. Not having taste makes food boring but I am wondering if you also lack the sense of smell and or loss of touch in the mouth or back of tongue?

I had chemo radiation for left tonsil cancer back in 2008 and to help with the dry mouth tried electrical stimulation acupuncture in 2015 where I was tested to get a baseline and retested after 8-10 appts. and had great results. Never needed to go back.

In addition, I also slept with a bottle of water next to me and got a Humidifier on my end table to make sure there was the most moisture possible in my bedroom to help get some sleep.

Hope this helps.

Also,
I didn't have this available to me but others on this support group site have mentioned
Xylimelts Stick-On Melts you can buy off Amazon and the box of 40 was less that 10 bucks. People say they really work, and they sleep through the night. And their daytime dryness is much better also. You should research using for extended period of time effects. Also, Biotene spray is effective long time after 2 or 3 sprays! And recently there is a Aquoral protective oral spray Home - Aquoral Spray - Dry Mouth Relief which is more than temporary relief of dry mouth.