After finishing your treatments, recovery can be a very long road. A complete recovery can take a full 2 years. Most patients will notice continual slight improvements in their sense of taste and dry mouth up until about 2 years post rads. First comes the thick gunky mucous which hangs around anywhere from 2-6 weeks post rads. Then the dry mouth phase will take over. These things will impact a patients ability to eat, most also have not much of an appetite. The recovery phase for most is a frustrating time with lots of ups and downs.

Focus on what is within your control, your intake. Every single day take in a minimum of 2500 calories and 48-64 oz of water. After rads adding high protein whey powder will help speed healing. When a patient is able to go for 2 months without using the feeding tube then they are ready to have it removed. This cant be rushed. During that 2 months, the patient must eat and drink everything by mouth and sustain their weight. When you can do this then check with your doc and ask about having it removed. Better to leave it in (even though we all hate that darn tube!) and not depend on it 100% than to have it removed and end up needing it again.

To answer your questions...
1-- Since radiation continues to work even after you stop treatments most patients will suffer the most from the side effects the first few weeks. Many even get worse after rads end until about 3 weeks post rads. Patients can feel a bit abandoned after finishing rads without seeing their medical professionals daily anymore.

2-- Your delicate mouth tissue is probably swollen and sore so it will be a while before you can get dentures. I would suggest waiting for a full year before you attempt a fitting. Your mouth needs to heal which can take a long time after rads. Keep rinsing at least 30 seconds 5 times daily with the mixture of 16oz warm water, 1 tsp baking soda and 1 tsp salt. A waterpik used on its lowest setting also can help keep your mouth clean.

3-- Your sense of taste will slowly come back after about a month post rads. One day something might taste great and the next day its back to tasting like burnt cardboard. When relearning to eat try a buffet style restaurant where you can try a couple bites of many different foods. If you go back a couple weeks later, you may find you are able to enjoy some other items. After about 3 or 4 months post rads most patients are able to taste most things. Sweet things like chocolate tend to be one of the last things OC patients are able to eat again.

Have patience, you will get there. It just takes time, more than any of us like.