i had BOT resection/neck dissection 30 rads and no chemo -rads ended august 7 2013 so i am 10 months out---my taste returned slowly after the first month and is nearly all the way back---acidic foods such as ketchup still sting but i can taste it--carbonation bothers me too so i now drink nitro filled stouts almost exclusively--i was a big IPA drinker and while i can taste it, the carbonation irritates my throat--everyone is obviously different but your taste should come back--my goal is never to drink an ensure or boost shake again