It takes time and everyone is different. For me, I could eat fairly normally most things after the first year. Saliva continued to slowly improve for several years. Biggest problem ongoing is food like rice getting stuck going down because of thickened mucosa. Good luck, keep fighting, and give it time! Also use a waterpic when able as the food tends to hang around in mouth due to lack of saliva….that will be life long.

Last edited by KevinBach; 11-24-2023 07:17 AM.

Surgery 8/08
Rt tonsil and 1 lymph node
SCC, HPV+, Stage IV
Radical neck dissection
Radiation 35x
PEG installed
10/21 Two teeth extracted, Pento protocol
11/21 Jaw broke. Osteoradionecrosis
1/22: Jaw repair, 3d printed plate and bone graft (full flap recommended and rejected)
08/23: Ear canal erosion, bone exposed. Restarting Pento…