Martin, as for all doctors telling you not to drink-- well, in fact many these days recommend a glass of red wine every day as I'm sure you know. And wouldn't I love it.
My point was to suggest what Bethers passes on, namely that since alcohol is a causative agent of H&N cancers, doctors - mine included - often, maybe mostly advise us survivors to give it up. My RO allowed as I could have a glass of champagne on New Year's Eve. Last year I had two!
However to give opposing points their due I should say that the MO I visited a few times didn't seem to think that the occasional glass of vino was anything too terrible. So there's a divergence right there in my own treatment team. Of course, he and I also had a nice discussion about Cabernets, so he might be a bit biased. (not that this would cloud his medical opinion of course, but my impression is that my RO doesn't drink at all, so there you have it!)
Much as that beer you're drinking sounds lovely to me, as does any of the 50 or so bottles of red I still have down in the cellar awaiting being given away to friends, I decided to be good and cautious about this. My RO told me I was cured last year and I want to stay that way.
As much as I love drinking, I love breathing more.
Anywho, it's all a crap shoot, no? Enjoy your beer! (please have one for me, would you?)
As for taste... big question. Mine is gradually very gradually returned. But with half my tongue numb from surgery 20 months ago I'm only getting half the bang. Like Bethers, spicy stuff is still problematic. Used to love Mexican and Indian and hot Thai food and now I avoid Indian altogether and ask for mild sauce everywhere else. I've only recently begun to eat tomatoes, sparingly, and still can't tolerate vinegar. Unlike B I still love ice cream and all sweets. A miracle I'm not a diabetic. Even 19 months after treatment I'm still basically drinking one meal a day, Boost/Ensure with extras. I do it as much for the ease as the calories, but the fact that it's loaded with sugar probably helps.
Oh well.
Hang in there buddy!
David2
