| Joined: Feb 2014 Posts: 23 "OCF Canuck" Member | OP "OCF Canuck" Member Joined: Feb 2014 Posts: 23 | Hi all,
So I'm 6 weeks out from the end of Rads, my taste is coming back nicely. Expect for 'artificially flavoured' foods - they taste like the chemicals that they are! I've pretty much stopped losing weight and can manage the protein shakes without too much burning of my throat.
My question though is this - when I try to eat 'regular' food - (other than super soft foods like yogurt and poached eggs) - it feels like I am swallowing gravel. I'm not talking about hard foods, but rather stuff like a baked potato, or pasta. If I wash it down with water, then it usually goes down fine although it grosses me out (I have a weird texture thing, can't stand mushed up texture of foods). Is that the way people with dry mouth have to eat? Or is this just a stage as my throat continues to heal up?
I still have a few little sores on my mouth and tongue - they are going away and generally not too much trouble, and I am faithfully using my waterpik and rinses. The dry mouth is not too bad, if I want to do something where I can't sip water (ie. ride my horse!), then I find the biotene spray gives me about an hour and a bit of comfort. My saliva is still quite thick and I still have some mucus in the morning as well.
All in all, I am definitely coming out of the tunnel and feel WAY better than I did a month ago. But I am wondering about others experiences with dry mouth, eating and painful swallowing (food).
Age 48, Rabid non-smoker, Mom, horse lover Diagnosed SCC Feb 11/14 CT Scan showed three larger than normal lymph nodes Partial Gloss & SND Mar 25, 2014 Nodes Clear/ 3mm margin / RADs recommended Began RADs May 20, 2014 (30 in total) ENDED June 30th
| | | | Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 10,507 Likes: 7 Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 10,507 Likes: 7 | Your mouth and throat are still healing. A complete recovery takes a loonnnggg time! At only 6 weeks post rads you still have a long way to go. Dont be surprised to have ups and downs and a few setbacks during your recovery.
When first relearning how to eat normally again, texture of foods plays a big role. Your mouth and throat will be super sensitive for quite a while. As you keep eating the sensitivity will lessen.
Keep your calories and hydration up and you will bounce back faster. For at least the first year post rads continue taking in a minimum of 2500 calories and 48-64 oz of water daily. You will be pleasantly surprised at how much better you are in another 6 weeks.
ChristineSCC 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 | | | | Joined: Jan 2013 Posts: 1,291 Likes: 1 Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) Joined: Jan 2013 Posts: 1,291 Likes: 1 | You are experiencing totally typical feelings with eating post tx. The return of taste is amazing as the most natural and subtle flavors are the very best. Enjoy it while you can as your own taste palette does return.
You can grind up solid food to smooth the texture but my own view is to tough it out as the irregular shapes and texture promote healthy swallow function and food passage opening.
You're doing great - hang in there.
Don Male, 57 - Great health except C Dec '12 DX: BOT SCC T2N2bMx, Stage 4a, HPV+, multiple nodes 1 tooth out Jan '13 2nd tooth out Tumor Board -induction TPF (3 cycles), seq CRT 4-6/2013 CRT 70gr 2x35, weekly carbo150 ended 5/29,6/4 All the details, join at http://beatdown.cognacom.com | | |
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