Anyone dealing with long-term dysphagia and chronic cough?

My father has dysphagia, which was caused by neck radiation 30 years ago. I guess it's come on over the past 5 years or so. He started coughing a lot and started having problems swallowing his food and pills. More recently, it's become much worse to the point that he has severe pain in the side of his throat/neck almost all the time. He can't eat much and has lot a bunch of weight. He is 6'1" and is down to 132 lbs!!!!!

His former surgeon isn't around anymore, so he finally went to a new ENT, who sent him for all sorts of tests. He was checked to make sure there was no new cancer and was cleared of that. His ENT told him his pain is probably due to some fibrosis and suggested that he take Tyelnol or ibuprofen. He was already trying to take them , but couldn't swallow them.

The ENT also referred him to a gastroenterologist, who said my dad has a few very tiny stomach ulcers. My dad said he never had any symptoms of ulcers, only side effects of radiation treatment. But the Gastro prescribed him some sort of very expensive and bad tasting liquid to take right before he eats. It's supposed to coat his stomach, but it hasn't been helping him at all.

I am getting very concerned by how much weight he lost, and he seems to be getting depressed about it.

Does anyone have any advice or know of any Doctors in New Jersey who might be able to help him?

My father has dysphagia, which was caused by neck radiation 30 years ago. I guess it's come on over the past 5 years or so. He started coughing a lot and started having problems swallowing his food and pills. More recently, it's become much worse to the point that he has severe pain in the side of his throat/neck almost all the time. He can't eat much and has lot a bunch of weight. He is 6'1" and is down to 132 lbs!!!!!

His former surgeon isn't around anymore, so he finally went to a new ENT, who sent him for all sorts of tests. He was checked to make sure there was no new cancer and was cleared of that. His ENT told him his pain is probably due to some fibrosis and suggested that he take Tyelnol or ibuprofen. He was already trying to take them , but couldn't swallow them.

The ENT also referred him to a gastroenterologist, who said my dad has a few very tiny stomach ulcers. My dad said he never had any symptoms of ulcers, only side effects of radiation treatment. But the Gastro prescribed him some sort of very expensive and bad tasting liquid to take right before he eats. It's supposed to coat his stomach, but it hasn't been helping him at all.

I am getting very concerned by how much weight he lost, and he seems to be getting depressed about it.

Does anyone have any advice or know of any Doctors in New Jersey who might be able to help him?

My father has dysphagia, which was caused by neck radiation 30 years ago. I guess it's come on over the past 5 years or so. He started coughing a lot and started having problems swallowing his food and pills. More recently, it's become much worse to the point that he has severe pain in the side of his throat/neck almost all the time. He can't eat much and has lot a bunch of weight. He is 6'1" and is down to 132 lbs!!!!!

His former surgeon isn't around anymore, so he finally went to a new ENT, who sent him for all sorts of tests. He was checked to make sure there was no new cancer and was cleared of that. His ENT told him his pain is probably due to some fibrosis and suggested that he take Tyelnol or ibuprofen. He was already trying to take them , but couldn't swallow them.

The ENT also referred him to a gastroenterologist, who said my dad has a few very tiny stomach ulcers. My dad said he never had any symptoms of ulcers, only side effects of radiation treatment. But the Gastro prescribed him some sort of very expensive and bad tasting liquid to take right before he eats. It's supposed to coat his stomach, but it hasn't been helping him at all.

I am getting very concerned by how much weight he lost, and he seems to be getting depressed about it.

Does anyone have any advice or know of any Doctors in New Jersey who might be able to help him?

I experienced a different sort of problem years after my cancer treatment in 2006. I spent $4,500, seeing multiple doctors, trying to get a diagnosis, which ended up being baroreflex failure. It's been a roller coaster ride trying to sort that out over the past 8 years. Don't let your father give up on getting answers. The incidence of this cancer is on the rise, and someone out there is probably experiencing the same thing, and they may even have some answers. Good luck!

Tylenol (Amazon )makes a powder which goes down easy and has a nice flavor .
I too am battling weight loss and take three high calorie boost per day in addition to three small meals. I’m not putting on weight but maintaining.
Docs are pushing feeding tube but I’ve avoiding it for a couple of years now.
It’s a quality of life issue.
It’s all pretty depressing,

@steve55
I have a PEG MicKey button with a tube that I attach when taking Nutren 2.0 500 kcal each. It lies flat against my stomach. I have regained weight in prep for a new surgery. I work 3 days a week, physically demanding, walk the dog, attend grand kids' events, visit daughter in another state. I take my pills 2x/day with a hot, weak flavored coffee which makes it easier to swallow them. It also tastes good and eases pains in jaw.

My father has dysphagia, which was caused by neck radiation 30 years ago. I guess it's come on over the past 5 years or so. He started coughing a lot and started having problems swallowing his food and pills. More recently, it's become much worse to the point that he has severe pain in the side of his throat/neck almost all the time. He can't eat much and has lot a bunch of weight. He is 6'1" and is down to 132 lbs!!!!!

His former surgeon isn't around anymore, so he finally went to a new ENT, who sent him for all sorts of tests. He was checked to make sure there was no new cancer and was cleared of that. His ENT told him his pain is probably due to some fibrosis and suggested that he take Tyelnol or ibuprofen. He was already trying to take them , but couldn't swallow them.

The ENT also referred him to a gastroenterologist, who said my dad has a few very tiny stomach ulcers. My dad said he never had any symptoms of ulcers, only side effects of radiation treatment. But the Gastro prescribed him some sort of very expensive and bad tasting liquid to take right before he eats. It's supposed to coat his stomach, but it hasn't been helping him at all.

I am getting very concerned by how much weight he lost, and he seems to be getting depressed about it.

Does anyone have any advice or know of any Doctors in New Jersey who might be able to help him?

I am from South Jersey. Treated in 2008 and also have dysphagia, neck arthritis, etc. I was treated at Jefferson and my surgeon retired a few years ago. Unfortunately, I don't have any recommendations of Drs. to see. In discussing with my new Dr. in the Jefferson group, there is a general knowledge that dysphagia happens, but not much in terms of treatment. Courses of action (studied and recommended by Drs.) are not prevalent.

In saying that, I do swallowing and neck exercises every day. And, as I'm sure your father knows..... eat small pieces; have the liquid ready. Realize meals will take longer than normal to finish. My wife finishes her meals and I'm only 1/3 to 1/2 way through my first plate. Sometimes I get impatient, rush and then get food stuck in my throat. Or I don't get a second helping because everyone else is finished and I don't want to delay them. We also have to get into a self preservation mode.

I have found I'm better with meals early in the day. Also, talking during meals doesn't help (breath out during talking seems to be counter to getting food down the other way). Smaller meals. Maybe 5 "meals" a day vs 3.

Last, even though we all had some form of throat cancer and treatment in common, we're all different regarding overall health and how the side effects affect us.

Sorry to drone on. I do have my annual follow up at Jefferson in the next few weeks and will do some probing. I'll post again if I gather new information on long term support. And certainly, look for input from blogs like this. They help confirm what we experience as survivors is somewhat common in a general sense and helpful hints are listed.

@jcl2018 Thank you! Have you found that the swallowing and neck exercises help at all?

My father has dysphagia, which was caused by neck radiation 30 years ago. I guess it's come on over the past 5 years or so. He started coughing a lot and started having problems swallowing his food and pills. More recently, it's become much worse to the point that he has severe pain in the side of his throat/neck almost all the time. He can't eat much and has lot a bunch of weight. He is 6'1" and is down to 132 lbs!!!!!

His former surgeon isn't around anymore, so he finally went to a new ENT, who sent him for all sorts of tests. He was checked to make sure there was no new cancer and was cleared of that. His ENT told him his pain is probably due to some fibrosis and suggested that he take Tyelnol or ibuprofen. He was already trying to take them , but couldn't swallow them.

The ENT also referred him to a gastroenterologist, who said my dad has a few very tiny stomach ulcers. My dad said he never had any symptoms of ulcers, only side effects of radiation treatment. But the Gastro prescribed him some sort of very expensive and bad tasting liquid to take right before he eats. It's supposed to coat his stomach, but it hasn't been helping him at all.

I am getting very concerned by how much weight he lost, and he seems to be getting depressed about it.

Does anyone have any advice or know of any Doctors in New Jersey who might be able to help him?