Hello Everyone,
I am a throat cancer survivor. I had a tumor in my larynz 13 years ago. I was on a j-tube for a year, and then I was able to eat and drink for 12 years. In January, I started having trouble swallowing, and ended up with aspiration pnuemonia.
I stopped eating and drinking, but was having acid reflux with the g-tube. I had 2 dilations to open the stricture in my esophagus, but the reflux gave me aspiration pnuemonia (life-threatening) again.
Now doctors are recommending that I get a laryngectomy so that I will never get aspiration pnuemonia again. However, I am willing to never eat or drink again, and continue getting my nutrition from a j-tube. The risk of aspiration pnuemonia is much less, and I could take out my tracheostomy.
Cancer is not involved now. If you had the choice, would you choose to have the laryngectomy or have a normal neck and breathing, but never eat?
I would appreciate any and all opinions as I have not made my decision yet.
Thanks, Karen
