@trach I’ve been in the tracheostomy world for 48 years and have had the same doctor since I was 12 years old. She retired about a year ago, but I stayed within the same practice. The new doctor was trained by her, so thankfully, I feel very comfortable with my care in that area.

@trach, you are a rare one! It is good to know you! Thank you for the information, as it is very helpful. As soon as this stubborn throat ulcer heals, I will definitely try the stent again. As for me...I am not a rare one! In 2020, during radiation for a tumor of the Pyriform Sinus (located around the vocal cords) I developed severe Covid---had just received the "cure" (shot) too. On the table, with that head mask on, you are told not to move. The radiation beam goes around and does its precise thing---you know all this---so, no movement. That was so much fun, trying to hold back coughing with a severe illness. In the end, both vocal cords paralyzed/ It took over a year to get the voice and eating/drinking ability back. The feeding tube fell out after about 3 months and against doctors wishes, I refused to have it reinserted. Determined to eat because of a wonderful speech therapist (Dana, God bless you) it finally began happening. At an appointment one day, she brought me in a plate of some kind of Italian food. It was the best food I have ever tasted! Well, I have lost 12 pounds in the last month due to this ulcer. A CT scan showed it, and my ENT scoped me a month ago. He said it had a gray covering, which means it is trying to heal. Antibiotics, steroids...nothing is working. I go back to this doctor in a week. He said if it isn't healing, he wants to do a biopsy!!! YAY!!! It is located right where my tumor was. I do not smoke or drink and am a 67-year-old married woman. Yes, cooking steaks for hubby and canning hot peppers. At least I can still look!!! Sorry to go on and on. The only thing I did different was four months ago I began chewing ginger chewy candy. Maybe that irritated the spot. For some reason in my mind, I always thought the area radiated was scar tissue, not delicate. Yes, we learn as we go! If this ordeal is ever solved, I will try the stent again. Thank you for listening.