I think my taste is so sensitive, I could tell a difference after one day. Most effects of radiation are felt after the first two weeks, in some immediately. Good luck next week.

Hey Ambra - mine changed the second week of treatment. Like Paul said, it's different for everyone. It's important to find something you can get down. Maybe Christine's milkshake recipe? Lots of calories, have you seen it? If not I think I might have it. I'll look and pm it to you.

Your sense of taste has held out about a week longer than most. Ive seen many OC patients begin to say their sense of taste started to go around week 2 or 3. Its gradual. One day something tastes fine and then the next you would swear it was salted burnt charcoal. Even water will have an off taste. I hated drinking water due it it tasting to me like salt or like it was burnt.

This might help you. Each shake has at least 2000 calories. You can make it thick or thin depending on how much milk you add. Its ok to drink 2 or even 3 per day. Many days when I was recovering I drank 2 or 3 until I counted up the calories and was shocked. Some days I would take in over 7000 calories and I was struggling to keep weight on. That is an example of how hard a patients body has to work to rebuild itself after undergoing rads and chemo treatments for OC.

You are about at the point where you may begin to have a few bad days here and there. Unless you are one of the lucky few who sail right thru. Your intake every single day is what will make things easier or harder. No matter how rough it gets, every single day take in a minimum of 2500 calories and 48 oz of water. If doing chemo push even higher amounts of water right around chemo days.

(All measurements are estimates)

Giant High Calorie Choc-Peanut Butter Milkshake

3 or 4 cups chocolate ice cream (regular/full fat type)
2 tablespoons peanut butter (smooth type)
2 tablespoons chocolate syrup
1 or 2 cups whole milk (can substitute half and half to add even more calories)
1 scoop carnation instant breakfast
1 scoop high protein whey powder

Blend this extra long to make it very smooth and creamy so it goes down easier.

Another thing that should help is the List of Easy to Eat Foods.

Hang in there, we got your back

Thank you so much for all the advice! Christine, I will make sure to try that chocolate shake. I am getting plenty of liquids these days, but calories are a bit harder.

The thing about the taste is, it was already messed up from TORS (couldn't taste some/most sweets) and it recovered a little, but never quite right. So now it started getting worse, plus I can not taste salt anymore either. I can taste bitter/sour just fine, too bad those did not go away first. I really hope water will keep tasting normal.

I can vouch for the shake and wish I had this early on. Keep trying foods with the understanding all is experimental at this point. The shake though should be a staple even though you may not be able to drink all of the time. Water is key and you should do 84 to 100 ounces each day. The side benefit is quicker recovery of swallowing functions. Keep moving forward and tap in to the group's knowledge.

Try to find scandishake as well. Also heard that strawberry will always have the highest calorie count.

Its about that time... ;o( bye bye taste buds... they'll be back eventually... hugs.

I'm just about with you Ambra, taste is beginning to go, mouth is hurting a fair amount, throat is still basically okay.

So, now and the next few weeks is the hard part for both of us. The good thing is you should start coming out of it before I do.

Hang in there Ambra, I know it hurts, but we will get through this.

And eventually we will even dance again.

Tony

You guys are both troopers. You will get through it. hugs.

Thank you everyone for the all the encouragement.

Christine, I tried your shake two days ago and it was great! (don't know how it would taste today). Can it be refrigerated for up to 24h if one makes too much? My taste is so off I can not tell if something tasted bad/spoiled or not.

I know that everyone is different, but in general, how much time after the radiation does the taste come back (not 100%, but most of it)?

More bad symptoms kicking in: serious burning/sensation on the skin, my mouth burned really bad from the prescription fluoride toothpaste, taste getting really bad really fast... Sigh.

Today was my last day at work for a while, probably for the rest of 2013. Don't have any energy, can not concentrate, it took me 4 weeks to write a conference abstract I would normally finish in one. At least I have submitted it on time.

I apologize for all the venting, feeling pretty down right now.