Hey Harleydude, Wow, another Houstonian! Do you go to M.D. Anderson? Welcome to this site, this is the best place to get information there is on oral cancer, and the people here really do care! Plus it makes it nice to know that others have gone through the samething you have. I am 2 months out of radiation and can taste most everything, of course some are to spicy for now, but everyday my taste buds get a lil better and better! I just had my tube removed in November, and towards the end, mine started bothering me too, but never had pain in the early stages. Just remember something tho, everyone is different so your taste could return tomarrow who knows, but just have faith that it will return and take your time healing, your body has just gone through something very stressful, relax...everything good will come in time!!!