A Small Breakthrough

I know some (most?) of you are tired of hearing of my ongoing food envy/swallowing issues, but, this is my blog, and…

Anyhow, after a particularly encouraging session with my speech/swallow therapist today (and actually getting small bowl of corn chips with queso and guacamole down last night), I decided to stop by my favorite neighborhood burrito place on the way home to pick up a green chili pork burrito, with the ultimate goal of getting at least some of it down the conventional way. If not, I knew I had the purée option to fall back on.

Well folks, I got it home, cut it in half and actually ate—as in chewing and swallowing—one half of it! There were a few minor issues, and it took me so long the last bits were cold, but I did it! Have we turned a corner?

The key seems to be getting rid of the swelling in my jaw. To that end, my therapist ordered a face mask/upper body vest thing that gently messages those areas to break down the lymphedema and get those fluids moving on their way. We had a session today that visibly reduced the swelling and improved my post-session swallowing significantly. I’m also approved for dedicated PT for the same thing, which I was told in my case it’s just an hour of dedicated face and neck massage. (Can’t complain about that.)

So those cheeseburgers and crunchy tacos may be closer than I’d believed.

Goals, honey. Goals.