My father is having problems with swallowing and the taste of food changing once it gets to his throat. The taste of food is almost back to normal in his mouth. Eggs, chocolate & wheat toast were the first things to taste normal. Anything sweet is over exaggerated & he cannot tolerate it. My Dad really wants to eat. He lost his taste buds & his saliva glands were damaged in the middle of radiation therapy in March 2013. He has not eaten since then. He says that food tastes normal until it gets to his throat and then the taste turns into something so foul he can't continue. He also says that his throat at the base of his neck is dry and remains dry regardless of how much water he drinks. His throat feels sticky and he has had to dial 911 twice since March when things like pills & eggs seem to become stuck. What can he do to get saliva flowing in his throat again? How long dos it take for normal swallowing to return after a tumor is removed from the side of the neck?