Anne,

You probably haven't got a lot of tastebuds working at the moment. I can remember living on mashjed potatoes, and pasta with cheese sauce. I found it really strange the way that mine recovered. The last taste to go was sweetness, and this was the first to come back. It was right on the tip of my tongue, and I would make sure that i used the tip of my tongue to taste the food I was eatting. After that the salty tastes returned, they are slightly further back. When this taste returned I eat a lot of bacon sarnies. Adter that most tastes retuurned slowly, but the sour/bitter taste associated with any sort of fruit or alcohol is now really horrible.

Hi Anne,
I tried Guiness, but that still has the awful aftertaste for me. However I have found that I can drink Magners, what is even better was that I discovered this at a Christmas do. I didn't drink a lot, but it was nice to be able to do something as normal as having a drink at a Christmas party, and not having to drink mineral water.

Jenni,
it just goes to show how different we all are with our recovery. I can now drink a whie wine spritzer occasionally. I find that when I eat my capacity to drink alcohol worsens -it must be a chemical reaction of some sort! I tried Magners I do like cider but no good for me at the moment! Ive just got back from Amsterdam -what a great city so different from the UK. I managed to eat a full English!
Lets hope for a happy and healthy Christmas and New Year
anne

Hello, well I am starting year three after my two ops, salty is mega salty, sweet is mega sweet, red wine tastes like vinegar, can still only manage weak tea, can't eat bread, as my throat will not let me swallow. So am still on very soft foods, and when mouth very sore, have porridge with double cream. However I am great with fish. Roof of mouth always very sore.
Big Bear Healing Hugs to you all

Hi Anne
My experience is not that different to yours. I was diagnosed with tonsil cancer July 2006, with a secondary in one of my neck lympf nodes - this is what I noticed, I was happily unaware of the tonsil problem!
Surgery in August - neck disection, removal of lympf glands on RHS, removal of tonsil tumour & fitting of a flap from my right forearm. Discharged from hospital after 8 days.
3 weeks rest, then into 6 weeks of daily radiotherapy & 2 chemotherapy sessions.
Needless to say I have dry mouth problems & also lost my sense of taste. Hospital gave me a zinc supplement which brought my sense of taste back very quickly. Can drink beer OK, but can't stand wine yet. Also very sensitive to spicy food, which I used to love.
Surgery left me without sensation to a large area on my right - ear, jaw & neck areas. I'm hoping some feeling will come back.
Like you I've kept active. Running is my thing, kept going as far as possible during treatment, although the last week or so of radiotherapy defeated me! I'm now getting right back into it & picking up my training. London Marathon in April.

hi anne

i hope you are feeling a lot better now and getting back to normal

take care

jeff

As you say we have similar experience only it is my left side that is numb. I am now deaf in my left ear as of 6 weeks ago. I am being referred to ent chap as my surgeon says I will probably need a grommet fitted. Also got lots of tingling in legs which, I am told is also due to radiotherapy. We do seem to carry on cooking after our treatment!
I am eating and drinking most things now although couldn't eat my curry tonight!
You are a month behind me in treatment I should think- my op was 5th June and now I am full of energy and get so much done in my day. Can now play tennis and golf on same day as I used to.
Keep smiling!

Anne

The tingling in the legs really worried me until it was explained to me what it was - a RT side effect. I would have liked to have known what to expect beforehand. It was one nervous breakdown after another having to put up with these side effects. The RT margins can be very close to the spine and this is what causes it.
I also get feelings of "pressure" in the right mid section of my back muscles. No doubt due to the RT or surgery - but there you go eh!

Side effects - don't you just love them!!

cheers Tony K

PS 200 minutes (i did a half marathon in 82 mins once) over a period of time you will get more sensation back in your neck, jaw and ear region. It won't be perfect but after 2 years I have been satisfied with my progress in all areas of my surgery and and RT side effects.

Hi Jenni, I understand what you say about Guiness. Have you tried Murphy's it is stout like Guiness but does not have the after taste.
Cheers Maurice

Tony,
My oncologist has just phoned me and wants to see me tomorrow about my tingling!
Perhaps all will be revealed1
Anne

Hi Anne (again)

Whaen I replied to your message I hadn't taken the time to read your posts, I have now, and I feel that you and everyone else who is dealing with similiar illnesses are very courageous, and you all show great strength, I wish you all well.

Good luck to you as well tomorrow I hope you have your questions answered when you go to hospital.

Thanks again Susie x

Hi Anne
I too had hearing problems. Right ear was never much use from the operation onwards, finally went in the last couple of weeks of RT. Tests at hospital confirmed "glue ear" & I was booked in for a grommett. Just before going in left ear became troublesome & when I got there they agreed to do both. Unfortunatey left ear canal proved troo narrow, but they did one for the right & hearing on that side has been fine ever since (about a month now). Idea is that left ear will get better on its own - anyone got any ideas on what could be done besides a grommett?

Tony K
Impressive time for a half, I've not gone below 90 minutes yet, although I didn't start until age 45.