Take heart. Mouths and throats will heal. I finished my chemo/radiation/Erbitux April 27 and was not able to chew or swallow without pain until the end of August. I had a feeding tube (my best friend Audrey!) and for almost five months I took at least 85% of my daily nutrition and water through the tube. I did drink and try to eat something soft such as pudding daily when I would use the Magic Mouthwash. I did not use pain patches at all and did not use the short-acting pain meds such as oxycodone before eating. Either of those may have been helpful, but I did not have much pain except when I tried to eat so did not explore those options. Fortunately I never had problems with Audrey, except for proud flesh in the last month. "She" was happy to have my vegetable concoctions, crushed meds and herbals mixed with almond milk or green tea, and my liquid flax and fish oil. I said good-bye to Audrey on September 19. She had been with me since January 20 at the time of my neck dissection.

I began in August to take more nutrition by mouth, mostly soups, scrambled eggs, Boost Plus, shakes, soft pasta. I still had some mouth and throat soreness but pushed on with eating and drinking, adding one "by mouth" small meal every few days. When I was taking 100% by mouth for two weeks my ENT surgeon removed the tube.

Nelie, I had a sore spot on my tongue that was painful for five months. It too was on the opposite side from my cancer. I had an old-fashioned gold crown that I suspect may have been the culprit and reacted to the radiation to cause the extra "burn" on my tongue. I still have irritation on the right edge of my tongue, probably from rubbing on a tooth. Manageable pain. I believe you will reach the point where the pain will not be so harsh that it will prevent you from eating and drinking more. Be patient with your body, as it will heal at its own pace. Send me an email if you would like.