I am only able to eat grits, eggs, and sauage pudding, and Chinese noodles. When will my taste buds return and when will I be able to eat. It has been two months since I completed my treatements. I had two months of radiation, with two rounds of chemo. For, I could not complete chemo due to pnemoinia.

PLEASE SOMEBODY ANSWER ME WITH THE TRUTH ABOUT MY CONCERNS!
MANY THANKS

Godwin,

Calm down, you will get much much much much better !!! I guarentee it but you must be patient and give your body time to heal itself and recover from the brutal Tx we are put through. Your Tx was very similar to mine and I assume, like me, you had no surgery so we are very fortunate in that regards as our bodies don't have that double recovery thing going on. I'm by no means minimizing what we went through but man some the horror stories I have read I actually feel lucky.

E me private if you want but by this time next year you will be posting your own success stoies.

The truth is there are no absolutes in healing times, and when people get their taste back, amount of saliva they end up with, or if they encounter long term swallowing problems. You are asking a question that is very individual and there are no hard answers to it. You are only two months out of treatment, that isn't very long in the scheme of things. This is going to take time, and there is nothing you can do to speed it up. You just have to keep trying things, experimenting with different foods of different flavors and consistencies. Taste comes back in stages, salty came back first for me, then bitter, but sweet never fully came back, even 10 years out. Everyone is different. That is the truth.

Godwin, at 2 months out my mouth was still so sensitive I couldn't even eat what you have managed so far (even if I hadn't had swallowing problems) so believe it or not you are doing much better than some do. Keep swallowing what you can, that is really important, and try to have patience (now you know why we're called patients--haha). You will get much much better eventually, do not fear.

Nelie

Godwin, I am 6 weeks out of treatment and am eating about what I want, no hot spicey foods as yet. My saliva is starting to come back, everyone is different so be patient and listen to your Doctors. Bob Whyte

It took me about 4 months to be able to eat ANYTHING by mouth. You'll get there - it just takes time! I do know how frustrating it is. I couldn't wait to get rid of the feeding tube either - it was a fantastic day when they yanked that thing out of there! Your day will come too!

My mother completed radiation the same week that you did, and the only thing she can manage by mouth is water and a little tea. If you are eating any solid food, be thankful. It sounds like you're making great progress, although I can understand how slow it seems to you. My mother also is really anxious to get rid of her PEG, but we keep telling her that it has truly been a lifesaver.

If you can manage grits and eggs, have you tried putting other food in a food processor or blender? When my mom first started radiation, before she couldn't eat at all, one of her favorites was roast beef, creamed potatoes, and gravy purreed all together in the blender. And don't forget to add butter and cheese to those grits to add calories and protein!

I finished radiation one month and a half before you. Be patient, things get better, but it takes time!! When I read one month of recovery per week of radiation I thought this was an exageration, but I am afraid that is what it is.

Now I am 4 months out from treatment completion and I can eat anything, although I need to push with water dry food. Last Friday I managed to eat a whole pizza and I needed half a liter of water, but I managed to finish at the same time that the rest of the table. Only thing I can not do is drinking wine.... my mouth burns. For the rest most of the taste is back and saliva is at a reasonable level.

Just be PATIENT. Progress is not seen in a daily basis, but it definitely gets better.

Cheers,

Jos