 Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 10,507 Likes: 7 | Your metabolism will take a full 2 years to adjust to what you have just gone thru. Recovery from cancer treatments takes that long to completely heal. Since you didnt have a feeding tube your nutrition and calories were probably substantially less than what it should have been which is why you lost 23 pounds. It will take time but you will get back to normal eventually.
I would take in 7000+ calories a few days a week drinking 2 or 3 chocolate peanut butter milkshakes. Even with calories that high, I didnt gain an ounce. Every day you still should be taking in 2500 calories and 48 oz of water. To help heal quicker try a high protein diet. Of course you will want to discuss this with your physician first.
Welcome and best wishes with your continued recovery.
ChristineSCC 6/15/07 L chk & by L molar both Stag I, age44 2x cispltn-35 IMRT end 9/27/07 -65 lbs in 2 mo, no caregvr Clear PET 1/08 4/4/08 recur L chk Stag I surg 4/16/08 clr marg 215 HBO dives 3/09 teeth out, trismus 7/2/09 recur, Stg IV 8/24/09 trach, ND, mandiblctmy 3wks medicly inducd coma 2 mo xtended hospital stay, ICU & burn unit PICC line IV antibx 8 mo 10/4/10, 2/14/11 reconst surg OC 3x in 3 years very happy to be alive  | 
