We did the swallow test first. The technician was Ben and he was really nice. Explained everything. On a poster in the hallway was his picture and under it, it said Speech Therapist so I figured if he says something in regards to my speech etc. he's probably right. My husband took a picture, of me just before the test.
So they had me drink apple juice, water, and apple sauce like we thought. He didn't do the banana or graham cracker I saw on the counter thank God. I know I wouldn't be able to do that right now.
Everything went down fine, it took a few swallows but it went down. They were suppose to be making a DVD of it but it didn't work. My husband got to see everything and said it looked good. There was one spot that leaked a bit but it was in the neck. The tongue area is all healed. So the plastic surgeon wants me to wait another 2 weeks to see if this part of the flap/throat heals before she starts me on food.
I decided that the tube is here to save my life, make sure I get the nutrition etc. so I'm not going to complain anymore about it. Ben said before he can tell the plastic surgeon he thinks the tube can be removed, he has to be convinced that I can swallow enough nutrition on my own. So, I guess until the swelling in the tongue goes down, and neck/throat, the tube isn't so bad. I've gone this long, what's 2 more weeks? The plastic surgeon said we'd celebrate when it came out!
So, because the DVD didn't record I had to do the test twice. The plastic surgeon watched the second time but also got a DVD of it. Pretty crazy to see the food being swallowed. You see my heart, brain, spine, etc. like an x-ray.
Speaking of x-rays, since I have been coughing, the plastic surgeon thought I should have an x-ray done of my lungs to make sure nothing is suspicious: infection, pneumonia, etc. She and I don't think I have that but just to be certain.
I told her my concerns lately about the cough, and having a fever all yesterday, she said anything over 101.5 we need to call her. I didn't hit that high. She looked in my mouth, neck, etc. and said she saw no signs of infection. The fever could be caused by the flap or the throat. My right ear has been throbbing a bit but it could be from my teeth. They are itchy and want to be brushed and I don't have that approval yet. I've been grinding them lately because of it which is why my ear could be bugging me. She cleaned in my mouth, it bled a bit but she took a lot of the white stuff out which was nice of her. It was bugging me. She said everything looks the way it's suppose to. I told her about coughing up phlegm and she said it's fine, it's okay to see some blood too as long as it stops. So all my concerns were addressed.
Instead of seeing her on the 12th, I'm going to see her on the 19th and do a second swallow test then. I'm allowed ice chips still but not water. Hopefully the tube comes out then. It's looking gross.
The tech Ben said that for someone who has little mobility of her tongue (still swollen) my speech was great. He was very positive. I think he was even willing to say to take the tube out today!
Another bonus, my arm is allowed to get wet now. It doesn't have to be in a bandage anymore. Makes me a little apprehensive but I can wrap it for sleep or when I go out. She laughed at me because she said whenever the bandage comes off, I just stare at it, like I'm mesmerized. She said to my husband he might need to pull me out of the shower because I'll be staring at it. I can't help it, it's so foreign to me.
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