I am now 6 weeks out of treatment and finally able to eat real food and not depend on my peg tube for nourishment. My taste buds only work for the first couple of bites but I know that it will be a slow process, my question is this, Why do some foods hurt to swallow and not others. I am a great fan of ice cream and I cannot eat it, after about three bites is starts to burn my throat, the same is true for about everything. I am wondering is this normal or should I be consulting my doctor. My throat is no where near as sore as it was when I got done with treatment, I couldn't swallow water then, and the sores in my mouth are pretty much gone. I am learning to live with chronic dry mouth and hoping that will get somewhat better as time passes but I am trying to gain back the 20+ pounds I lost and couln't afford to lose and it is hard when eating is painful.
Thanks for your help

Pat
I might ad, this forum has been quite helpful in many areas. especially while I was in treatment.

Pat, could it be that the "cold" icecream is irritating your mouth andthroat? Also, many people have problems with milk related products after rad tx. Have you tried Lidocaine 2%[swish and swallow and is a prescription drug]right before you eat? That helps some of us. You are right that you need to gain the weight back, so keep asking your rad Doc. to help with this. Amy in the OZarks.

Pat,

I found many things that were not pleasant as my healing progressed. It really doesn't matter why they are unpleasant because we all can react differently to the same "food". I never had a problem with milk but I did with extremely cold or spicey things. Carbinated drinks were wierd at first to. What I'm trying to say is...if it's unp[leasant to you, don't try it for a month or so but don't give up either. I am 1000000% better in all respects now 6 1/2 months out of Tx than I was 3 weeks out of Tx. My saliva is much much better although not back to normal; I can now taste things throughout almost the entire meal; my appetite is back and I eat anything I want. Somethings still are not tasting the way they used to so I just avoid those now and will periodically come back to them.

Hi Pat-
I am 4 weeks out of radiation and I'm having trouble with a lot of foods too. Everything has to be room temperature, and I stick to poached eggs and top ramen(noodle soup). Milk burns my throat and I have to chase it with water. I didn't have a peg tube, because my throat did not burn as badly as a lot of people's. I'm still taking fast acting fenatnyl before trying to eat the noodles. Anyway, to your question, I noticed too that the first bite doesn't hurt but the second or third often does- I think it could be becuase your mouth/throat builds up a protective mucus coating on it when you are not eating, and when you take a bite or drink, it washes it off so you feel the pain a few bites later. Of course, that's just my opinion but I have definitly noticed it, for example at night my throat feels ok but if I take a sip of water a few minutes later it starts hurting. Like Amy says, Lidocaine is great too. I often use a q-tip and spread it directly on the roof of my mouth before eating.
Hope it gets better soon!
Mel