Quote:
Originally Posted by lewdog
Did you ever lose your swallowing function? Need to see a speech therapist?
I’ve always enjoyed working with head/neck cancer patients on getting them back to eating something.
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I’ve always enjoyed working with head/neck cancer patients on getting them back to eating something.[/QUOTE]
Things are definitely not what they were but I am so very lucky I am fine today. I hack at times like a cat with a fur ball because of a "dead spot" in the rear of my throat when sometimes swallowing or taking vitamins and such. My taste is close to what it was but still not exactly what it was. Red sauces used to be too bitter to eat but I learned to get used to them again although I dont crave pizza, lasagna or spaghetti any longer.......I love the smell but the after taste is too different from what I actually remember and smell. It`s weird. As I type this I am sort of eating a slice of cheese pizza but when I swallow, there is zero aftertaste so I cant truly enjoy it lol. I used to love chocolate ice cream but when I eat it today, I taste the first bite but after that it is flavorless. One ENT told me that is because my first bite is memory based and then my brain and taste buds catch up lol. Who knows? I am finished with spicy food and real alcohol because my throat will feel like it is getting hit with a blow torch so I eat bland foods and drink only water and Coors Lites.
By the 7th week of radiation I had lost so much weight that they threatened me with a feeding tube. I wanted none of that and what saved me was what I called "liquid snot" .....VHC Boost drinks which I barely managed to drink about 4 a day to finish my radiation.....after my last treatment I slept for a week or 2 eating nothing. When all was said and done, in 7 weeks I lost nearly 40lbs and was a "failure to thrive" candidate but in my heart I knew better and just told my wife to leave me alone for a few days and I will bounce back....and I did. It took me a full year until I was pushing the same weights in the gym I was pushing before surgery. I wasnt able to return to my job unfortunately (fireman/medic) but I feel lucky as hell today....this all began in 10/16 and I think my taste buds and salavary glands are still trying to improve.