Hi Shari and welcome!

I did not have surgery, only radiation/chemo. My tube was a buggar and I only used it for liquid meds when my mouth and throat burned really bad. My doctor wouldn't let me go back to work without eating regular food as I was on TPN (IV) feeding the for about 3-4 weeks towards the end of radiation. I was eating fried catfish 2 weeks after radiation so I know it can be done at least in my specific instance. My oncology nurse told me many patients mentioned lime squeezed on metallic tasting meat helped the metallic taste go away. I tried it and in my case it worked great. I drank Dr Pepper for 2 months starting at the end of radiation but I worried about all that sugar (at 11-12 cans per day) so I stopped the middle of December. I have been eating Subway sandwiches since 4 weeks out and with plenty of water, I can eat anything. I was drinking lots of Boost Plus (extra fat) and Boost Hi Protein. I still drink the Hi Protein for all the protein and vitamins in it, if I see it on sale.

The cookbook mentioned above is really good. You can email the author and she sends it out immediately, expecting payment after receipt of the book. I hope all this helps.

I just hit 8 months post treatment this week and pretty much eat anything (and everything) around.
laugh

Ed

SCC Stage IV, BOT, T2N2bM0
Cisplatin/5FU x 3, 40 days radiation
Diagnosis 07/21/03 tx completed 10/08/03
Post Radiation Lower Motor Neuron Syndrome 3/08.
Cervical Spinal Stenosis 01/11
Cervical Myelitis 09/12
Thoracic Paraplegia 10/12
Dysautonomia 11/12
Hospice care 09/12-01/13.
COPD 01/14
Intermittent CHF 6/15
Feeding tube NPO 03/16
VFI 12/2016
ORN 12/2017
Cardiac Event 06/2018
Bilateral VFI 01/2021
Thoracotomy Bilobectomy 01/2022
Bilateral VFI 05/2022
Total Laryngectomy 01/2023