Taste/DryMouth

Give yourself some time as the taste will come back.  You won't know when so keep trying different foods and one day it will surprise you that you can taste again.  

Some do get some relief on the dry mouth, but it probably wont be back to like it was before radiation.  Some of us have learned to live with the dry mouth and to help with eating we take sips of water or other liquids to help moisten food and get it down.  

Im only 4 days post rad.  Can't taste anything so frustrating..  I do have saliva though, I went to accupuncture throughout my radiation and continue to do so.  It made a world of difference.  Didn't have to have a feeding tube took everything by mouth and my saliva glands work most of the time.

MBE4L,

There are a few members who have very little to no taste, chances are you will not be one of them.  Salt is a good start, you are most likely on your way. Hope in seconds and minutes, but live in weeks and months.  It is all slow to return (for most, but not all).

Try everything, always have a drink ready, be careful about getting caught sticking food in your mouth with nothing to drink, those days have been radiated away.

Dry mouth, get used to it.  Some members get lucky, but most do not. I use xylimelts nad have tried many things.  They all work a little.

Zink, pink, mink, kink, sounds like a money maker to me.

It was never hard for me, I embraced the 7 months of smoothies with a mix of everything under the sun tried.  I had my PEG popped at 2 weeks post and now enjoy virtually everything, be it at a slower pace and lots to drink.

You will be fine.

Matt

My husband completed his initial chemo/radiation treatment in August of 2016 and had his PEG tube until November.  As he transitioned to eating, what helped him the most was drinking whole milk as he ate.  The milk has more "weight" than water, which tends to disperse in the mouth.  This helped him swallow more easily and the extra calories were a plus.  He did not drink milk at all prior to treatment because he didn't like the taste but in this instance, the change in his ability to taste was a silver lining.  Also, we started going to buffet restaurants as they provided a great opportunity to taste many types of foods and textures in small quantities and with the ability to go back for hot food as often as needed because he ate slowly.  And in that environment, no one notices anything so it allowed us to begin socializing more with friends over a meal.  Hope this helps.

Yes, I'm eating better and tasting more but I figure eventually I'll develope a new norm.  I remember finishing my treatment in October and looking forward to a normal mouth without thrush, sore gum and sensitive teeth. For me the progress seemed slow and during my follow up visits I would ask how much longer?  The answer was it will get better.  My goal was Thanksgiving to enjoy a nice thanksgiving dinner and savor all the flavors and enjoy the feast. Disappointedly the only thing I remember getting down without too much effort was the mashed potatoes and gravy which was very bland. ( couldn't taste a thing)  Couldn't swallow any thing without something to drink. Mostly water and yes I started drinking more milk than my grandkids.  Well two months to go since the end of my treatment and I am now able to use catsup on my potatoes, but a nice juicy steak just tastes like chewing leather. I chew and chew, mix water and chew some more ends up being more effort than it's worth.  The good thing about my dry mouth is that I eat more salads, less meat and suspect my diet is much better!  Hey it's all good I'm here getting delight watching my grandkids eat so deliciously even though most it end up on their face. :>)