Shelly,

I found the most painful time was after treatment was over. Which I was not expecting at all. I thought I did so well during treatment. I finished radiation and chemo right before Memorial Day of last year and continued to need a pain patch thru July. And as for the dryness it helps to sleep with a warm air humidifier in the room and NO ceiling fan on(it just drys the throat even more) And of course water, water, water. I find green tea very soothing, warm not hot of course. And the cold weather is a killer on the throat due to the dryness. Again, water!!!

Be patient it gets better weekly.
Carol