Hi Roger, it will take time to recover from this surgery.
Kris just started with very small amounts of water to swallow. He used a syringe to squirt 5 - 10 mls directly to the back of his mouth. Then he tipped his head to get gravity to help the liquid , well I guess, almost flow down the oesophagus. It took a few weeks of practice to get this right. Be patient and keep practicing.
Tammy

Caregiver/advocate to Husband Kris age 59@ diagnosis
DX Dec '10 SCC BOT T4aN2bM0 HPV+ve.Cisplatin x3 35 IMRT.
PET 6/11 clear.
R) level 2-4 neck dissection 8/1/11 to remove residual node - necrotic with NED
Feb '12 Ca back.. 3/8/12 total glossectomy/laryngectomy/bilat neck dissection/partial pharyngectomy etc. clear margins. All nodes negative for disease. PEG in.
March 2017 - 5 years disease free. Woohoo!