Nelie,
I so understand how you feel. Even though I am able to eat, I am not able to eat like I used to. I prefer to eat at home. BUT, I decided that I needed to adapt to the "eating" world that we live in and found ways to conquer it. I also love the social setting that comes with good food and I LOVE to cook so I adapted........as we always do in difficult situations. It used to be painful for me to go to the grocery store, made me sad and angry. Now, I love it, I love looking at, touching, sometimes even smelling the food there. I transferred my love of food into a love of giving food.....if that makes any sense. Buying it, cooking it, serving it to my family makes me feel fulfilled. The smell of it cooking, the bustle of them at the table. My obvious enjoyment got them past being uncomfortable eating in front of me, although they are always quick to choose places when we go out that they know I will be able to order something I can manage. But it's routine for them now, my 12 year old casually says "Let's go to Golden Corral, mom does great at a buffet". And throughout the meal, they will tell me what tastes good and tell me they bet I can "handle" it. Consideration for me yet they still are able to enjoy. Getting to that point takes time but I'm there and loving it. I so hope your issues are resolved soon, I feel so badly that you can't eat more.

SCC Left Mandible. Jaw replaced with bone from leg. Neck disection, 37 radiation treatments. Recurrence 8-28-07, stage 2, tongue. One third of tongue removed 10-4-07. 5-23-08 chemo started for tumor behind swallowing passage, Our good friend and much loved OCF member Minnie has been lost to the disease (RIP 10-29-08). We will all miss her greatly.