Damage to the epoglottic flap from radiation treatments.

I'm sorry to hear that after 17 years you have another hurdle to jump. I don't have an answer, but 20 years out, I'm having more difficulty swallowing these days. I'll be paying attention here for any advice others have to offer. Thanks for the question.

@56tburd I love you 56tburd! I had a 57, 68, and last a 66 Landau! Great cars! I hope that we both can get some answers from this thread! John in Arizona

Hello @johnmazski.
If interested, please look at past comments made by me concerning this very issue. When my feeding tube fell out, I refused to have it reinserted. After three swallow-studies, the flap began doing its job. It took a good year of throat exercises, and utilizing a red-light wand. The longer you do not use the throat muscles, the harder it is going to be to get it going. I believe in you. You can do this. The doctor told me I could aspirate without the tube, but it is possible to eat and drink again. It takes a lot of hard work--throat exercises, red-light--and a hard head! The fact it did work at one point proves the epiglottis is not fused to the throat wall. Some poor souls have had this happen. You are in my prayers. Praying was number one, while the rest is up to you! Best wishes to you.

Thank You! I will look into your previous posts. I appreciate this information!

@johnmazski LOL!! I didn't understand your reference until just now.

@thomason That's so awesome! Did you have a lot of nerve damages?

Hello, Take one day @ a time. I do speech thep. and throat exercises, I have a lot of nerve damage after 9+ yrs later of cancer free, the side effects caught up with me... affecting my speech, nerve in my tongue, and my vocal cords. both flips are affected the nose upper palate, if the flip don't close water comes out my nose. 🙁 still thinking about trying the red-light. Here's a link I found helpful... hang in there you got this. We're all on our own journey, but yet we're on the same journey. Remember your not alone God bless 😉 https://vimeo.com/195491404

Hello, @cskippy.

Between the radiation to my throat area for a cancerous tumor of the pyriform sinus (near the vocal cords) and developing severe COVID-19 during the radiation sessions, my vocal cords became paralyzed.

Trying to lie still with that fitted mask while the beam did its "magic" was a nightmare because the COVID-19 made me so sick with severe coughing. Afterward, for an entire year, it felt like being underwater because it was so hard to breathe. All the mucus was trapped behind those closed vocal cord doors. It is a absolute miracle I made it to the surgery for a tracheotomy! The tube in my throat has been a true miracle, really.

The doctors initially wanted me to remain on a feeding tube, but when it fell out, that was that! My therapist instructed me with throat exercises and even brought in some Italian pasta one day. It tasted so incredibly good—it made me completely determined to eat.

Now, I eat and drink everything. Praise be to God.

Thank you for asking.

@cskippy, what happened nine years later? Everything worked and then the nerve damage appeared? I do have trouble swallowing certain foods. Of course, water helps get the food through...usually. So, the radiation has been six years ago for me, and changes are appearing, for sure. Please try the red light.

I’m three year out from chemo radiotherapy. Occasionally I had trouble swallowing and it goes down the wrong tube. I cough up the food or water but I fear getting an infection. I’m lucky it’s not worse and I hope I don’t have the kind of problems you people are experiencing! I’ll look into swallowing exercises for the glotimous. If they’re are any