Hello, Frances. I am so glad to hear that you are feeling pretty good, as I did too, and I know what a relief that is. And you will feel better every single day! Now, about the thick saliva, which I likened to wallpaper paste, it will be with you for a while. Mine didn't stop for 21 days -- I counted. I hear you about sleeping problems. I partially solved this by rolling up strips of gauze and putting them in the "gutters" of my mouth. This allowed me to sleep for a couple of hours in a reclining position. I have a huge pillow whose acquisition I cannot remember that came in very handy for this, but some rolled up blankets would work too. I also used these gauze rolls when I went out in public. Many of us have found that Puffs brand tissues are the very best for wiping out one's mouth -- both soft and strong, and no, I do not own stock in the company. If you do not have a turkey wattle now, you will not get one. In my case at least, that was a result of the surgery, and thankfully, has at last disappeared. You are ahead of the game there. The dry mouth will begin when the thick saliva ends. If you had standard radiation, that will pretty much be the state of things. If you had IMRT, your saliva will gradually return. I had the surgery, so I cannot authoritatively speak on this subject, but I am given to understand that the radiation continues to work after treatment has ended, so that may be what your doctors are waiting for. In other words, any lump might continue to shrink. That said, you must be your own strong advocate and ask for explanations. If you feel the need for a sooner check, make an appointment! Remember, those doctors work for you. And again, congratulations on feeling relatively good at treatment end.
Joanna