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).

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.

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.