White foam

Cadharose,

I appreciate a good, thick, ropey spit.  I think it is sign of better spit ahead.  Listening (reading) Skiffin’s recovery status, i.e. 95% - 100% after 2, 3, 4 years, I wonder if I’ll ever make it. 

Currently, I go to bed with a large glass of water and 2 Xylimelts, but lately I’ve been tempted to try a night without any help. It is probably too soon, but Skiffin was right it is getting better.

After 18 months post I have no illusions of returning to the old me, but with a little luck the new me will work out fine.  Conditions on all fronts are improving still.  I an even enjoying a vanilla cone.  With ice-cream seemingly to be the H&N Kryptonite, this is good news.

H&N bumper sticker,  Warning:  Do not follow to close H&N spitter.

Happy saliva ahead,

Matt

Like both above, I don't think that's thick ropey stuff... That is the stuff that sticks in your throat, almost (if not) gagging you.

I think yours is more like the first signs of your saliva returning.

I too had what you are discribing, like a thick pasty glue. You can't even spit it out.., you can try, but at best, it'll fly out just enough to stick on your lips, LOL..., and you have to scrape it off.

More than likely, little by little both your taste and saliva will return. It took all of two years for me to get to a point like Matt mentioned. I have 100% of my taste (or darn close), and maybe 95% of saliva, just drying a little at night during sleep.

It took the two years to regain the ability to eat ice cream and not lose the taste after the first bite or two.

Best,

John

fishmanpa said:

Spit and shine

Congrats! Sounds like you're getting some saliva back for sure! What you're describing, like John said, is not the mucous so many get during and after rads. I had the same thing happen about three months out. I awoke and my mouth was dry as usual. About ten minutes later, it was as if a faucet turned on and I had a thick saliva for about an hour before it dried up again. 

Every day since then it has improved. Now, close to 5 months post Tx, I'm better than 70% back. I'm even able to eat some things without sipping water at this point. I'm even able to go long periods without needing to sip water. I was very fortunate not to lose my taste buds (docs shrug their shoulders and chant the "everone's different" mantra). Some things were a bit "off" but I'm at 100% concerning taste. Even the elusive ice cream is fine. The only reason I couldn't eat certain foods was because of mouth pain and swallowing issues.

Swallowing issues are my only nemesis at this point but that's improving as well. The key is to continue with swallowing exercises. There is a link in the Superthread I posted outlining them from my SLP at Johns Hopkins. 

Patience... things will improve in time. 

Positive thoughts and prayers

"T"

 

As you've probably read on my posts after neck dissection I had the usual swallowing problems of choking and swallowing and being over cautious, so much so if I was thinking about swallowing I couldn't, only when I was doing something to take my mind off it could I swallow naturally. I have now got my normal swallow and can eat proper meals. What does the radiation therapy do to stop the swallowing apart from swelling and pain, does the food/drink go down the wrong tube ie:- into the lungs or is it just too painful. I,m starting my rad Wed 18th sep and I'd hate to go back to the choking. Once the treatment side effects go can you swallow normally.  I'm making the most of eating all the things I like at present..over indulging. I've put the stone back on since the swallowing problems. I'm stocking up on ensure type drinks at the moment, I liked them when I couldn't eat anything they tasted to me like mcdonalds milkshakes.

CivilMatt said:

10 glasses of water a day minimum

JF22,

The rads do change things, my throat just does not feel as flexible as it once was.

I never quit swallowing all through treatment.  Drinking lots of water was the easiest and best advice I got from the H&N forum.

I still need 2 -3 glasses of fluids with every meal, but it works.  Now if my bladder will hold up.

Matt

Rob gets really jealous of the cat and dog. They drool like crazy and he tells them to quit wasting it. LOL

Sandy

phrannie51 said:

I know the stuff you're talking about....

it is spit of a new abi-normal variety....I have it, too.  It isn't the thick ropey stuff others complain about, however.  That particular type of mucous one could paste paper on the wall.....  

p

I'm having the same problem. It gets so bad in the back of my throat I sometimes gag. I always have my spit bucket next to me.