Dilation #2 is scheduled for Tuesday this week. So far the first one seems to be keeping open. It may have shrunk a bit but I am still able to drink liquids better than I was before. We were on vacation last week and I was actually able to order a kids size soft serve ice cream in a cup and eat it. (A ice cream cone at this point would have been a definite problem.)
For this go around I am hoping that they are able to open it up enough so that I can start to try small solids. Things like soft fruits and such. One thing the first procedure did highlight is my dry mouth condition. Now that I am able to swallow liquids better what little saliva I have doesn't just hang around. I plan to start looking into some of the treatment options available in the next few weeks. I am generating some saliva but not enough to eat any type of dry food with. I tried a junior mint candy the other day and while I was able to swallow it in small amounts OK it was a challenge because there wasn't any saliva to help it go down. How important saliva is to eating and oral hygiene is one thing that this whole process has made me aware of.
One plus to being able to swallow liquids better is that I have given Ensure another try. The new improved flavors are definitely better than before. Still not what I would reach for as a preferred drink but they are now drinkable. What this means is that I can start to substitute those in for some of my regular feedings. This lets me have some portable nutrition and be away from my feeding supplies for longer periods. Last week we were on vacation up in the Thousand Islands area and it was a big help being able to drink Ensure while out and about.
I am hoping that after the next dilation procedure I will be able to start to get more of my nutrition from regular foods. I will probably post my next update at the end of this week after my throat has recovered from the procedure.
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