Making Me Swallow

I have somewhat of a swallow, but I haven't dared use it unless supervised. Years ago, when I first opened my eyes after a coma, my swallowing was tested. Jello was used. I swallowed the Jello, but it went into my trache tube (I was on a ventilator) as well as Jello came out my nose. The speech therapist said I swallowed to my airway and not to my stomach.

I've pretty much avoided food ever since. I do taste, though. So this has been hard. I used flavored chapsticks and lipglosses to help. After a long time, I moved to candy spray. As a note, don't spray the back of the throat. Now I use lollipops. I can handle my saliva now. You can see there is already progression and I haven't begun swallowing.

I have a second swallow that I wish was common. I believe it to be correctly doing what a swallow should, but it rarely happens. It is becoming more often, but still doesn't happen when needed. It reminds me of the following video, but instead of pain the bad thing is aspiration or swallowing to my lungs.

My 2nd swallow is most likely the green arrow.

 ______________________________

My idea has been simple. I just put a lollipop in my mouth. This changes the environment to include taste. All those taste receptors come alive.

The lollipop then has added speech therapy benefits. It is specifically used for speech and swallowing therapy.

Lollipop Swallow from Ed Steger on Vimeo.

  Lollipop Swallow from Ed Steger on Vimeo.

_____________________

I also have an idea to use tDCS to stimulate swallowing. tDCS stands for Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation. It is the delivery of electric current to the brain. I found some research, but this is new.

"Dysphagia is common sequela of brain injury

with as many as 50% of patients suffering from dysphagia following stroke. " I'm surprised there hasn't been more research with such a high incidence rate.

This article has a picture of electrode placement. https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007%2Fs00455-017-9789-z.pdf

 Using tDCS for the swallow
 _____________________

I am more than likely rewiring...and growing the wire. 

Stimulating My Brain

In looking for a way to stimulate this area shaded in blue, tDCS was recommended. I've been told that area corresponds to  the motor and somatosensory cortex.

tDCS is primarily done on your own. Given electricity and a brain, almost anyone can do it. Well, I don't trust almost anyone. tDCS is stimulating the brain with electricity. It stands for Transcranial Direct-Current Stimulation.




First I need to know what it is.

I don't want my head cut open again, so this may be the way to go. Why isn't this closed head technique as studied as Deep Brain Stimulation?

It isn't as available or regulated as the Deep Brain Stimulation is available. The closed-head stimulation, tDCS, is the Wild West of brain stimulation.

____________________________

I worried about placement. I wanted to stimulate the motor cortex and most devices were aimed at the front of the brain. Then I stumbled on sports. Athletics target this area.

It looks like the devices used for athletics can be moved to target other brain lobes. 

A band such as this, may be positioned to hit the side of the head. I haven't found this particular device for sale. I could only find this picture.

This is looking like the direction I am going. I might be the guinea pig. I'll have to look at university programs now. I'd like skilled people placing this thing on my head.