MArtin had the awful salty taste. Now 10 months post TX he tells me the taste is back 60%. His saliva is maybe 50% back so he has trouble with dense bready things and I have to add a sauce to most things. He cannot eat fruit yet, but everyday he improves. He has this perverse thing of taking a sip of my Dr Pepper, he says it's awful and explodes in his mouth, but he still is compelled to try a sip every time I leave a bottle. Weird.
It comes back slowly, but one day it taste sneaks up and you realise there is one flavour that tastes pleasant. For Martin it was custard with cinammon, which was the first nice food in months.
He also went through the one spoonful joyful taste and 2nd spoonful disappointing with no taste.
Be patient and good luck. Make sure you try and practice swallowing, even just sipping water (even if doesn't taste nice)
Cecilia

Girlfriend to Martin 49 years old at diagnosis
Diagnosed with SCC unknown primary June 2008.
Cancer found in single node Stage N2A (3 to 6cm).
Tonsilectomy 16th june, Radical modified neck dissection left side 30th june.
30 TX radiotherapy ended 9th October
First comparative study scan came back clear