Lisa,
By the 6 month point I was pretty well adjusted to the new normal, but it was right around then that trismus snuck up on me. I noticed that I was not able to open my mouth as wide as I had been able to, and it was getting progressively worse.
My ENT prescribed the Therabite to help stretch everything back out. I used it faithfully for about 4 months, and then it gradually fell into disuse.

The trismus problem doesn't hit all of us,, but it is something to be watchful for. It is much easier to stay ahead of it than to recover from it.
Six months was also when my thyroid crapped out. I couldn't ever seem to get warm. I thought it was because of the weight loss, but then I started getting aches and pains similar to carpel tunnel syndrome. When I told my HO about this, he ordered a TSH screen with my bloodwork. Now I'm on Synthroid, so that's a pretty manageable side effect.

Really glad to hear that your Dad is doing so well.

Continued good health,

Chuck

SCC Stage IV right tonsil T3N3M0. Dx 08/03. Clinical Trial:8 weeks Taxol, Carboplatin then Hydrea, 5FU, IMRT x's 48, SND, Iressa x 2yrs. Now 20 years out and thriving. Dealing with a Prostate cancer diagnosis now. Add a Bladder cancer diagnosis to all the fun.
It's always something
"Adversity doesn't build character, it reveals it."