Don,
During treatment I forced myself to eat something orally every day, most of the time is was just drinking �ensure� or something so that may have helped. I am back up to 164 lbs and am comfortable at that weight. Still have issues like dry mouth and food taste and it does get frustrating but I can deal with it and am living everyday to the fullest. Just got back tonight from hunting grouse with my youngest son in Northern WI. Wood heat in the cabin made the air very dry, but still loved it!
Going through the 7 weeks of chemo and rads and the week after were terrible but I think I healed quicker than others. I would like to believe that being in good shape when I was diagnosed had something to do with it but I just think this cancer crap affects different people in different ways.
Anyhow, hang in there and keep me updated on how you are doing.

David is right about patience. We all recover at different rates but have one thing in common: that rate feels too slow. Celebrate that you have so much taste back so soon. I was able to eat everything early on, but taste is still very sketchy after almost a year. Unless it has a lot of garlic or lemon or anchovies, it's pretty bland. And it was tiresome always being last to finish. Hang in there as it does get better.

I am new to this web site and not sure if I am doing this right. I had surgery for a tumor under the base of my tongue on the left side on 7/29/08. I have had radiation and Erbitux treatmeants which ended on 10/21/08. Biggest problem is the thick, ropey mucus which never seems to go away. I have tried Robitusin , but it didn't help. I can swallow very easily, but very difficult to eat. I only use the peg tube every now and then for the protein drinks. Any suggestions to combat the mucus is appreciated.
Bob
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I didn't find anything that worked well for me but I will say it will usually resolve itself in a couple of weeks. I had to carry a small Styrofoam cup in my pocket and just spit in it all the time. Gross for sure but it worked for me.

My husband like you has had over half his tongue removed and is struggling with eating. He is 6 months post surgery. I would appreciate any food advise you have for us. He is eating mostly pureed food, wet scrambled eggs and now very overcooked mac and cheese. He is also extremely fatigued.

He is probably tired because he is not getting the proper calories and/or nutrition. In absence of the semi solid foods get him some Carnation Instant Breakfast VHC which has 560 calories in a small 8oz can.

For the mucus I took Robitussin to thin it out and eventually it does go away as you heal from the radiation, it can take a few weeks. I seem to remember just waking up one day and realizing I didn't wake up to cough the stuff up one night. It just kind of quits all of a sudden but it does take some time. Instead of tissues or paper towels I coughed the stuff up into soft washcloths and just washed those.

As far as swallowing, I always had more trouble with the pudding consistency stuff because I had to use my tongue too much to move it around and it stuck to every part of my mouth. I did much better with slightly more solid food. Baked fish is also really easy to eat.

it was strange how the mucous thing just stopped . I used to fill bowls of it just to see how much was coming out. Then poof it was gone and then dry mouth showed up. A welcome change i do remember.

I wish this mucous and dry mouth combo would leave this mouth and go hide somewhere. I had my surgery on Aug 2007 and it's still very bad. The mucous is so thick that I have to reach into my mouth and almost bulldoze it off.But then, I guess I am different. LOL wierd too.

Weird is good!