New River Park treatment enables people to eat again
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Speech-language pathologist Joy Dowdy has been trained and certified in the procedure and has had considerable success with several of her patients. Currently, Dowdy, as part of River Park’s rehabilitation unit, is the only medical professional in Warren County certified to administer the procedure.
Dowdy says being able to eat normally is of great importance for her patients, both physically and psychologically. Aside from the basic need for food, there is a social aspect of eating.
For most people, meals are a time to socialize and discuss day-to-day activities. Food is also a sensory experience. People enjoy the taste, texture and aroma of their favorite foods. But for an estimated 15 million Americans with a condition called dysphagia, eating problems are something they deal with every day.
Dysphagia is a condition that causes discomfort or difficulty swallowing. At its most severe stage, patients can completely lose their ability to eat. The problem is common among stroke survivors, patients with neurological disorders like Parkinson’s disease, and patients with head and neck cancer.
Once patients lose the ability to eat, they must be fed through a tube, called a PEG (percutaneous endoscopic gastronomy), which is inserted into the stomach through a small incision in the abdomen. Liquid food can then be infused through the tube. Living with this feeding tube is very disruptive and many patients dealing with PEG tubes report feelings of depression, hopelessness and despair.
Until recently, treatments for the problem were not effective. But now, thanks to VitalStim electro-therapy, many patients are showing remarkable improvement, with a significant number actually being able to return to normal eating habits.
One such patient is Donald Sherrell, who, after a series of VitalStim treatments in River Park’s rehabilitation unit, has regained his ability to swallow and eat a variety of foods.
“Mr. Sherrell had a stroke last July,” said Dowdy, “and it affected his swallowing to a severe degree to the point that he had to have a tube in his stomach. He hasn’t had anything by mouth since last July.”
Sherrell and his wife Geraldine, who are from Woodbury, feel the change is miraculous and has made a major difference in his quality of life. Donald himself says being able to eat again is a treat.
“It feels good,” he said. “It’s wonderful to be able to eat and taste something. When you sit around and watch other people eat, then you get the chance, it makes a lot of difference.”
The VitalStim procedure is fairly simple, painless, and totally non-invasive. Each treatment lasts about an hour.
“Basically we are putting electrodes on the throat,” said Dowdy, “and sending an electrical current into the muscle to, what we call, re-educate the muscles, to stimulate them.”
Donald started back eating with lollipops and ice chips. Within one week’s time, and after around 15 treatments, he was able to enjoy biscuits and gravy, chicken pot pie and peach cobbler.
Both the Sherrells say the results have been amazing.
“It’s been wonderful,” Geraldine said, “because he loves to eat. It’s good to see him eat again.”
For more information on the procedure, contact River Park at 815-4000.