Welcome to OCF! When trying to recover after radiation for the head and neck areas, it can be a frustrating time. We can never recover as fast as we want our bodies to.

If you take some time and read thru posts (and also on the main OCF site) you will find tons of info pertaining to your situation. At 3 months post rads, you have made significant progress in your recovery. To me, it sounds like you have been doing pretty good.

The sense of taste is a tricky one! Most patients will wake up one day and out of the blue they can actually taste something again. It might not taste like it should but at least there is some type of flavor instead of the usual dry, burnt cardboard. Thats first (and often fleeting) glimpse of regaining your sense of taste. Just as quickly as it appeared, it can disappear too. You will notice major fluctuations in how things taste thru about the first 6 months post rads. After that its slower progress. Some patients have even noticed improvements 2 years after finishing rads. This is a great example of why we always say "everybodys different". I can go on and on with general info but everything I pass along may be slightly different for each patient.

The best thing I can tell you is to focus on your intake. I know its not easy but thats what will rebuild your body. Adding high protein whey powder to your diet can help speed up healing. Check with your doc if this is ok. As far as intake goes, every day OC patients need at least 2500 calories and 48-64 oz of water. If you are able to push yourself some days to take more in like 3000 or even 3500 calories it will only help you to bounce back quicker. While you may not see the major improvements you seek, they really will happen. Unfortunately it takes time, much more time than most patients have patience for.

As far as your pain goes, go get checked by your ENT. Many recovering patients have their throats so sore it feels like they're swallowing razor blades when they take a sip of water. I remember my throat hurt so bad and it even affected my voice. I lost my voice for about 3 weeks. It did return but like everything else, it took time.

Hang in there!!! I know its not easy, not easy at all but the worst of this is already behind you.

Christine
SCC 6/15/07 L chk & by L molar both Stag I, age44
2x cispltn-35 IMRT end 9/27/07
-65 lbs in 2 mo, no caregvr
Clear PET 1/08
4/4/08 recur L chk Stag I
surg 4/16/08 clr marg
215 HBO dives
3/09 teeth out, trismus
7/2/09 recur, Stg IV
8/24/09 trach, ND, mandiblctmy
3wks medicly inducd coma
2 mo xtended hospital stay, ICU & burn unit
PICC line IV antibx 8 mo
10/4/10, 2/14/11 reconst surg
OC 3x in 3 years
very happy to be alive smile