Will it ever stop? What is it? It's so annoying and I feel like I'm annoying everyone around me clearing my throat non stop all day and night. I can cough it up all day with no progress. Nothing helps! Frustrated:( On the bright side, today I ate 2 eggs over easy, hash browns with sour cream and a heavily buttered piece of toast for breakfast! For lunch I cut up some cucumbers and avocado. It was amazing! lol Oh and I've tried tiramisu a couple times which tastes amazing and goes down well! No really strong tastes but enough to go down and enjoy and doesn't feel like chewing cardboard!!!

MissB<3

Miss B you are doing amazingly well for just finishing your radiation! I envy your eating ability! Keep it up so you can bounce back quickly. The better your nutrition, the faster you will recover. Still keep pushing the calories and hydration, add some high protein and you will heal faster. Your sense of taste will come and go for the next few months.

As far as the gunk goes, that will hang around for about 6 weeks. I know it gets pretty bad. Some rent a suction machine from a medical supply company, it needs a doctors prescription to get one. You can continue to rinse several times per day with 16oz warm water, 2 tsp baking soda, and 2 tsp salt (you can use less or omit the salt if it burns). Also use a waterpik to help break it up and flush it out of your mouth. Some members have found success with using seltzer water or club soda. My mouth didnt tolerate any of the carbonated drinks. I would also take benedryl to help control it, or musinex works even better but is much more expensive. Believe it or not, once the gunk is gone it will leave your mouth as dry as a desert where you may wish for the gunk to still be around. I think the dry mouth kicks in at about 6 weeks post rads.

Keep up the good work! Very soon you will begin to see your improvements. Hang in there and be patient, recovery can last up to 2 years. Most of us are doing much better after about 6 months post rads.

Yup the gunk will be with you a bit... A waterpik helped me clean out the mess and stay fresh, on the lowest setting it's a little like a power washer for your mouth. I used the gum attachment you sound like you're doing well. Don't be surprised if you if you end up with a little post nasal drip... take care...

When I had the gunk, I would swish some ginger ale around my mouth and it really helped a lot. I got it right at the end of radiation and it would sometimes gag me to the point where I would vomit, but the "gunk" actually only lasted a couple weeks. Hopefully it will not last long for you either!