Hi Bonnie,
I'm sorry to hear about your continuing "issues." Hopefully many will get better with time.
My dad is currently being treated at the U of C. (And he is also in the medical field.) His primary site was the left tonsil. He's participating in the "EPIC" trial: 8 weeks of induction chemo (Erbitux, carboplatin, & taxol), followed by weekly ciplatin & Erbitux concurrent with M-F radiation. Today was his fifth induction chemo treatment.
I too have eaten at Alinea (amazing!) and can't imagine what he's going through. He had a great quote though. "I'm not dwelling on the possibility that I'll never be able to taste again," Achatz said. "Beethoven composed one of his greatest symphonies when he was deaf."