Recovery can be a very frustrating time. Its full of ups and downs. It seems like every time you begin to feel ok you slide backwards and have a few bad days.

Here is a very broad estimate of what I have witnessed on the forum with how most members recover. Keep in mind keeping up the high calories (at least 2500) and good hydration (at least 48 oz) every single day for at least the first year will greatly help to speed things along. Also try having a diet high in protein to help with healing. Ive touched on just a few of the issues OC patients deal with during their recovery.

The first month after finishing rads things are difficult. Radiation keeps working even after the patient has finished. It takes about 3 weeks before a patient begins to have some easier days. There is thick mucous that can choke you. Some use a portable suction machine to get the gunk out of their mouths and throats. Severe fatigue is normal.

The second month is still difficult. Most still have the thick mucous going on. Many have their mouth sores and neck radiation burns beginning to heal during the second month. Food still mostly tastes pretty bad, nothing even close to what it should taste like plus its burnt and salty. During this month the patient begins to feel a little better gaining strength and the fatigue begins to lessen slightly. Around the end of this month the heavy mucous stops abruptly to be replaced with dry mouth. This is seemingly an over night metamorphosis.

Month 3, the patient begins to have more good days than bad. The mouth sores are gone and the neck burns have healed. Most patients will begin to get their sense of taste back but its still hit or miss with many foods tasting 'off'. The dry mouth continues and is very annoying. It interferes with sleep and causes the patient to carry a water bottle with them everywhere they go.

After the first 3 months of recovery many patients will have mainly good days but dont be shocked by a couple bad ones here and there. The further out from treatment, the least amount of bad days a patient will have. They can still have some long lasting fatigue and get tired easily. By now, the patients will be able to resume eating many foods that they had not been able to eat while being treated. Food can still not taste as it should but its better tasting than when they first finished treatment. Seems like some foods will be ok while others are awful with no rhyme or reason to it.

Many patients continually worry about recurrences. Usually the first check up scan is about 3 months after finishing radiation which can also cause some anxiety. After going thru the brutal treatments, its a patients worst fear to have done all that for it not to be successful and to be sick again. This can really do a number on many patients, they can become obsessed with "what if it comes back" way of thinking. This is something that takes practice to overcome. Its not easy to learn how to shut it off and live in the moment but the longer they are out from treatments the easier it becomes.

Things really will get easier for your husband. I know it seems like its a never ending cycle full of many ups and downs. With recovery being so slow its quite alot of downs at first.

Best wishes!!!