Pat,

It helps to know more about your Tx (most of us add it to our signature line) but I will assume you had no tongue surgery and you had 6 to 7 weeks of IMRT. If that doesn't describe you forget what I am about to say and tell us what you went through. Also understand that even if it describes you, you may recover differently.

I first began to taste bitter and then my taste totally went away except for some sweetness. I pretty much never lost the sweetness taste and it still continues to be the best taste I have. About 3 weeks after Tx I began to eat things like mashed potatoes w/ gravey and mac n cheese and I could taste it perfectly for the first bite or 2. That pretty much described my taste for the first 4 months post Tx. I could taste everything but it didn't last past the initial trip across my tongue. Suddenly in the first week of my 5th month post Tx I began to taste the same tastes during almost the entire meal. Again, I could taste everything but now I was able to taste them for longer periods during the meal. I also noticeda slight improvement in my saliva production which may have had something to do with the improvement. Even though it was a slight change it really had a positive impact on my eating enjoyment. Literally overnight I went from dreading mealtimes to almost looking forward to them. I started trying things that I had given up on in the Tx which helped create a little excitement back in my food life.

I am now 6 months post Tx and that hasn't changed.