soup

another day another treatment. Puréed macaroni cheese, watermelon flavour ice chips, all down in one. Progress continues to be made. Tired out but elated.

Update - just had half a tin of Heinz tomato soup sat at the table with everyone eating tea. This is massive. I haven't been able to sit with the family for tea for about 5 months.

purée

First task of the day is to eat this.

Yes folks it's a bowl of ice chips. This is to encourage me to chew and swallow without the risk of it being anything other than water.

I have to do this 3 times today and 3 tomorrow with the bonus of being able to have a yoghurt too. Marvellous.

We've been to the shop to try and mix things up a bit and picked up some chocolate mousse and créme caramel along with some tinned spaghetti to blend up when I start on savoury next week. Keeley is also busy blending some leftovers. Small pleasures but sounds like nectar to me.

electrodes

Second session complete. Exhausted but very happy. The treatment consists of Miss Sinnapan attaching the electrodes on the appropriate bits of my face and neck.

She then sends a current through each one and adjusts the frequency whilst I swallow until she is satisfied that it will help, rather than hinder, the swallow. 

Once it is set I begin to chew and swallow ice chips (6 cubes worth). By the end of this(an hour) it was going from 3 or 4 swallows to 1 swallow, the same with the water and yoghurt.

All the time the importance of coughing to clear my throat and concentrating on the task in hand and not talking was emphasised as a safety measure. Without these precautions it is possible that I could take the water/yoghurt down the wrong way (aspirate), which could be very dangerous as my ability to deal with this has been compromised (ie the cough doesn't happen automatically) As long as I do this I will be safe and the natural functions will hopefully return the more of it that I do.

It is very intense. The best results are when you have consecutive treatments, so we are having 20 over the next 2 or 3 weeks. Wow. This is on top of the 1001 exercises I have to do to strengthen my jaw and tongue. 

Unfortunately because of the newness of this treatment, Keeley's Bupa coverage from work won't pay for it. This is a bit of a blow but, to be honest, right now I would pay £1000 for a cheese sarnie so it seems like money well spent.

We will continue with the ice chips and yoghurt over the weekend and see how we go on. We have also been instructed to purée some food to take with us on Monday with a view to trying it out. I fancy macaroni cheese. I will of course let you know.

Thanks to all for the good wishes, birthday greetings and expletives (Shirty). Makes an old man very happy.

yoghurt

what a day today was. Went to Stafford for our first consultation, expecting a bit of a talk and to decide if I am a suitable candidate for treatment. Came away having had my first treatment and having drunk a 500ml bottle of water and A WHOLE POT OF TOFFEE YOGHURT.

Unbelievably they were going down in one swallow by the end. Can't quite believe that I have eaten something for the first time in four months.

Second session tomorrow. I will try and explain what's going on afterwards, until then, here is a pic of me electroded up.

birthday

Big birthday today. Feel great. I have just posted this on Facebook.



A big thank you to all of my Facebook friends, cyber & otherwise for your birthday wishes. 
You will know that this, my 50th year, has been a bit of a bastard, but we are now beginning to come out on the other side.
My recovery has been slightly complicated by my losing my ability to swallow which means I haven't been able to eat & drink for a couple of months now, this obviously makes it a bit tricky to celebrate. Rest assured though, that when I am fixed we will have the sort of party not seen since
the hedonistic days of the Roman Empire, and you are all invited. As a great philosopher once said, 'You've got to fight, for your right, to partay'

progress

time for some home truths. If I needed reminding where. I've been and how far I've come all I needed to do was to have a look at this photo from a couple of months ago

and this one taken today

I think when you are in the middle of it that you blank out the bad bits and just concentrate on the present. I looked pretty poorly then didn't I but didn't really appreciate it at the time.

I seem to be through the morphine withdrawal, just need to catch up with some sleep. Thanks to Gill for her suggestions on the subject. My mind is now back to normal and feeling optimistic about the future.

I'm now well into the throat and swallowing exercise regime,, no improvement yet but early days. Will pick up referral letter for Stafford tomorrow so hopefully we can get over there for a consultation very soon.

Morning walk around the block completed and ready for the day. Hurrah.

trainspotting

it's been a bit like a scene from Trainspotting here this weekend. Stopped taking morphine on Friday so I've been 'coming down' ever since. A truly horrible experience. As I said yesterday it's a bit like having butterflies in your whole body which is manageable in the day but a nightmare at night. Makes it impossible to sleep for all of the shaking. On the sofa til 3 this morning watching old Alan Partridge episodes. Eventually exhausted, got to bed and had a couple of hours kip.