19/12/2025
A story of healing hopes !!!
A post Tongue cancer surgery patient, 6 months after radiotherapy, arrived at our centre still dependent on a feeding tube. During clinical swallowing evaluation, what stood out was not just reduced oral intake, but a severe hyper active gag reflex!!!!💥,,, triggered even by minimal oral stimulation, completely disrupting swallow initiation.
✨Despite structural healing, multiple post-RT changes appeared to be at play persistent mucosal sensitivity, thick sticky secretions, post nasal drip, reflux-related irritation, fibrotic tissue changes creating a constant foreign body sensation, and altered sensory nerve signaling, the real cause is still unknown !!!!
💢With targeted sensory modulation, desensitization, and graded swallowing rehabilitation and MDT approch ,the gag response gradually reduced across sessions, swallowing function improved, and eventually the feeding tube was successfully removed , reinforcing how sensory factors can silently dominate post RT dysphagia, Effective and thoughtful rehabilitation plan definitely impacts on their QOL ,
May be a piece of smile is enough to justify that 🤞⭐
