Ellen - yes, it's serious and none of us are ever quite the same. But many come very close, and Steve's comment just above about adapting is, well, apt.

It's hard to imagine right now, and the next months and even a year or more are going to be a tough uphill climb, but eventually your husband will find himself feeling much much better.

Like him, I worried about my salivary glands and about food. But eventually I've improved and for the rest have just kind of gotten used to things. So both of you hang in there!