It is hard to believe 5 1/2 weeks have passed since treatment ended, the time is flying by!! Everyone is so right in that the 3 weeks after treatment are the most difficult. My husband did have the most problems during this time. Food was so nauseating, thankgoodness for the PEG. The secretions hit the max and have been improving each day making sleeping much better at night. A lot less time spent in the recliner. His neck did improve drastically once radiation ended, has looked great for a few weeks already, too bad his throat didn't heal inside as fast but it continues to improve as he is able to cut back on the Oxycodon. Thankfully he never did lose his hair but the last couple days he has mentioned his hair hurts. How strange, this is in back where the radiation exited. Must be something to do with the hair folicules and the nerves. It is so funny to watch him attempt different foods. He seems to be so cautious as he takes a bite as if he is leary of what he is putting in his mouth and looks like he is trying to figure out what it tastes like. So much for following everyone suggestions. He seems to go with what sounds good at the moment. Last week I was thrilled as the first time in two months he ate a little of what we were having, spicy chicken curry and rice. Yogurt is good, no fruit, peas ok, a breakfast sausage this morning, ice cream tonight. Bread and rolls which he always loved are impossible, totally not tasting right. He wasn't much of a pop drinker but I find him wanting Coke to drink, often stopping to pick one up at the gas station or McDonalds. It is something that tastes good to him as water and coffee don't. I can conclude that it has been a long 6-7 months since diagnosed but God has been good and He has seen us through the greatest trial we have ever faced!! I am looking forward to less doctor visits as we travel almost 3 hours to the cities. This week will be the first week in ages that we don't need to make the trip down. Looking forward to a good summer with gardening, (lots of fresh veggies), warm weather and boating. Thank you to everyone for this site and the knowledge and support it provides!!

Congrats...... Moving on and healing is a good thing.

Things will continue to improve with time but do allow a full 2 years for his recovery. Don't let him get frustrated as this is the time it usually takes to get to where usually no futher improvement can be expected. Watch out for thyroid changes caused by radiation damage. Mine didn't show up until my 4th month post Tx. Ditto for hearing loss caused by Cisplatin although I had 3 doses and patients that have gotten 6 doses seem to fair better in this dept. Also watch out for signs of depression as many do start to question "what's next"? We have seen some even require medical intervention to deal with it. Encourage him to not stop trying different things even if they taste horrible today as tomorrow they may taste differently.

I am 8 weeks out of treatment and my experience is almost exactly the same. Nothing tastes right, I have no appetite,can't eat any breads, back of my head has the same bald spots. I wish that things would start to at least taste somewhat normal.My prayers are also for your husbands recovery.

Jack it will improve slowly!.. And hopefully your hair will come back in... Mine came in black and wavy - too funny. As for food - patience it will happen. Slowly - hugs

Thanks for the encouraging words. Yes, each day does get better!! Today it was a few bites of oatmeal and tonight a bite of a Subway sandwich but then later he tried a few more bites. (big improvement since he had been avoiding all bread) He said it burned the fire out of his throat. I am surprised how slow the throat heals. Still on pain meds but I think he is cutting done a lot, sometimes goes over 12 hours but needs 12 ml.

I found that eating first was a little scary because nothing tasted like what I thought it should or would tast like; then sometimes swallowing directed the food out my nose; now it's hurt or miss on where it goes based on changes in texture. I tried watermellon and learned no more of that stuff. The mouth and throat were arguing whether it was liquid or solid so some went into my esophagus, some into my airway and some out the nose. The full trifecta! You just learn to adapt and sometimes your new normal never stops but remains dynamic but you still adjust.

Ed