It has been nine months since my glossectomy and radiation treatment. I am still having difficulty eating everything taste unpleasant and I have no desire to eat I am being feed through a peg in my stomach my appetite is gone every morning when I rinse my mouth I spit out a thick creamy colored liquid and I have an awful taste in my mouth and bad breath Will this pass so that I can eat normally again. What has been the experience of others? I would appreciate any advice or help I am very new to all of this

Welcome to OCF! Im sorry you are struggling with your recovery! It sure is a long road!

Yes, this phase of recovery will pass. Things will get better. It takes time and for most of us it can never happen quickly enough.

Do you remember what date you finished rads? Your surgery was probably about 6 weeks before you started rads, then another 5-7 weeks of rads. Im trying to figure out exactly how long it has been since you finished. There is a big difference in patients who are only 1 month post rads vs those who are 5 months post rads. The gunky phase of recovery is usually only the first 3-6 weeks before it turns into the dry mouth phase.

Here is a list of foods that are good starter foods. They have a smoother texture and are on the bland side so they shouldnt irritate your mouth or throat. If you have any swallowing concerns, seek out a speech pathologist at your treatment center. You may need a barium swallow test to ensure you are physically able to swallow safely without aspirating.

Easy to Eat Foods List

If you dont already have one, pick up a waterpik. Use it on its lowest setting with about 2 oz of some mild mouthwash and fill the rest with warm water. Peridex is prescription mouth rinse that would work. Avoid mouthwash that has alcohol or it will burn like crazy. Use the waterpik to help clean your mouth at least twice a day. It will help with the mucous. Brush your teeth after every eating attempt, but at least 3 times per day. These tips will help with the bad breath.

Hang in there! You are not alone, we have been where you are. It really does get better.

Best wishes!!!

Welcome Tibor, the thick creamy colored liquid can be from a number of things like dry mouth, medications, an infection, like thrush, and so on, so if it doesn't go away, maybe see a doctor. The salivary glands basically shut down at night, reducing saliva production, and matters are worse with those that sleep with thier mouth open causing more dry mouth. Saliva kills bacteria in the mouth, and with this salivary loss it causes morning breath. Infections can also be an indication, and cause taste, appetite, eating, and breath problems. Radiation destroys thin saliva, not thick saliva, mainly produced by the parotid glands, the others produce a mixture of thin and thick, but modtly thin. The thick saliva can have a yellowish tinge to it.

http://www.oralcancerfoundation.org/complications/candida-infection.php

http://www.oralcancerfoundation.org/complications/xerostomia.php