When you deal with a cancer survivor please remember that their life doesn't go "back to normal" once radiation, chemotherapy, or surgery is complete. You learn to live with new normals. You learn to live without things you were used to. Other health challenges appear and can be directly attributed to cancer treatments. I'll share one of mine with you now.
Laryngospasms: This is the best video that I have found that can give you an idea of my situation. It's five minutes long but worth the watch. The difference between what is described below and my situation is that my vocal cords are unable to move to the sides of my airway. My laryngospasms can last as long as three minutes to the point where I can lose consciousness. Before surgery in March of 2011 my cords opened a maximum of one millimeter. Pause the video at 3:03. Then pause the video at 3:09. That was the range I had from 2008 - 2011. My laryngospasms STARTED from that point. I wish my cords could open as wide as the person below. I hope I don't make you too uncomfortable but it gives you an idea of my life as a survivor.
(take a look at my excerpt from Breathe - it describes one of my spasms)
No comments:
Post a Comment