Hi Cowie,

I'm sorry you're having such a hard time but you have to understand that you're just finishing treatments and you need to give yourself time. I know it's hard. I had a total glossectomy in July '03 so I know how hard speech therapy is and how hard eating "real" food is since I just started eating last month (still take liquid supplements too). I'm "graduating" this Monday from speech therapy after completing about 14 sessions. I didn't start therapy until I had my prosthesis and even then I surprised the hell out of my therapist at how good my speech actually was before we even started. I know first hand just how hard it is! It takes A LOT of work, practice, patience, frustrating moments, time and determination (to name a few) to talk but it can be done. My therapist said that according to the textbooks, there are many words / sounds that I can make that the textbooks say otherwise. Although I can be understood without wearing my prosthesis, my speech is 100% better when I have it in. It sounds like you don't have yours yet, so just wait until you hear the results once you get it.

I also can relate to the excessive saliva. It wasn't until I had finished radiation that that problem cleared up greatly. I use to have to sleep with a towel on my pillow to keep me from drowning! My mouth is much dryer thanks to radiation and will never be the same as it was post treatments but that's just something I know I have to live with.

And please be patient with your eating issues. I can't relate to having problems moving my tongue but I can relate to food getting "lost" in my mouth. I try to move as much of it as I can to the back area of my throat after trying to chew it to death and then flush it down with water. It may not be the best technique, but it's one that's working for me so far.

I'm sorry to ramble but just wanted you to know that you're not alone in this battle. You're still healing (as I am) and you just need to be patient. I know you probably hate hearing that all the time (as I do) but it's a fact of life now. Keep talking - even if it's to yourself! It makes for good practice.

Please keep us posted on how you make out with your prosthesis. I think you'll hear a world of difference once you get it.

Hang in there - it does get better although I find it hard, at times, trying to get use to my new "normal."

Nancy