Keep working on the swallowing - it is an important skill and one you don't want to lose.

My taste came back - eventually - but like so many things they seem to last FOREVER at the time yet looking back I can't tell you how long everything 1) Tasted horrid then 2) Tasted Metal and the last stage was 3) Tasted INCREDIBLY salty - even water tasted like someone had dropped a salt shaker in it! Slowly it returned to "normal" but I can't tell you how long it took. I have about 1/8 of my tongue left after the two surgeries and I have a prosthesis attached to my denture to help me speak, but I cannot wear my upper denture for eating. Turns out that is a good thing as we have taste buds in our palate. Who knew? I'm getting along okay even with my limitations.

That has all passed now and I eat more quickly than I used to, but it still takes me forever to eat. I have never finished a meal in a restauraunt - I am the queen of "to go" boxes, but I have learned that this is the way it will be from now on.

You will have to find patience and persistence you never knew you had to relearn to eat. Frustrating but you can and will do it!

Donna