Hi Colin, Debbie, Meerkat, Andrea, Annabel,

I'm finally out of hospital after ten days. My operation went well and my recovery has been quick. Apparently I'm "superhuman" accordingly my doctors as I have recovered a bit too quickly!!  Thy can't believe it!

The operation was 8 and a half hours and as planned, 50% of my tongue was removed and replaced using tissues/muscle and an artery from my left arm and a skin graft from my tummy. They also removed my lymph nodes on one side of my neck and removed two wisdom teeth! I was under anaesthetic at 10am on the Thursday morning then in an induced coma in intensive care until the saturday morning. I was then moved to the ward on the Sunday afternoon,

My tongue looks very neat. It's still very swollen on the one side, but the swelling has reduced a lot already. It's odd because part of my tongue is white as in the colour of my arm skin but the old part of the tongue is the usual pinky/red colour! The switches are dissolvable and should come out over the next couple of months. I was told to expect to not be able to talk as soon as I was awake but I was chatting away! My speech was fairly clear too so that pleased me, I didn't even need to use the whiteboard I had bought to communicate! My tummy wound has been fine until now - the dressing was removed yesterday before I left the hospital and it's become itchy and I'm aware of it all of the time whereas before I was not. My neck wound has been fine, very neat and tidy but I can not turn my head too much or too quickly and it has been tighter over the last 24 hours, so I'm going to ask the nurse to look at them today when I'm back at the hospital for an appointment to have the stitches removed from my arm. My arm is by far the worst wound, there is a large area on the inside of my wrist which will be scarred and then a long line up towards the inside if my elbow where the artery was. Luckily I'm not vain and I'm not worried about scars! This wound has been painful at times and it's still heavily dressed with a splint so I can't move it or use my left arm at the moment. I think the removal of the tooth wisdom teeth was probably the most painful part though! This caused a lot of swelling and bruising, I look as though I have been beaten up!

I've never had an operation before so I was very surprised at how incapacitated I was following the operation. I was not allowed out of bed or to sit up at all whilst in intensive care but the day after I got to the ward I was encouraged to move around but I couldn't do much at all. I needed help to sit up, stand, use the loo. My sight was a bit blurred and I couldn't even hold a book or text on my phone. I was very dizzy on my feet for a few days and I didn't expect that at all so that all threw me a little but by 6 or 7 days post op I became very independent. I had a problem with phlegm and saliva for a coupe of days in which I seemed t be producing lots if it but that has settled down now and 6 days following the operation I was allowed to try very small sips of water then on day 7 I was able to try soup. So that's my diet at the moment - soup, ice cream, custard, yoghurt and the nutrition drinks from the hospital. 4 days on and it's already getting tedious!

Overall, it's been ok. My stay in hospital was as comfortable as it could be and I salute all of the doctors and nurses who have looked after me, they've have done a fantastic job and I couldn't have asked for more. I've been sent home with tonnes of medications and instructions but I have felt totally at ease the whole time as I well well informed about everything.

It's so nice to be home and not be poked and prodded every couple of hours for blood pressure checks, temperature etc! I've missed my little girl terribly and everything all still seems a bit surreal, I still can't quite believe what I've gone through and that it happened to me. I now have to wait a week to find out if I will be needing radiotherapy but I'm optimistic that I won't. My surgeon is confident that all of the cancer was removed from my tongue during the operation but they can never be too sure about lymph nodes. It's been an experience but as always, you people were on my ind the whole time. I'm anticipated a long recovery time at home (approx 4 months) which I will certainly make the most of and do as I'm told and rest.

Speak soon,

Nicola

Nicola,

I have been wondering how you are doing when I found your post. It is wonderful that you have and are doing so well. I am delighted to hear you are "superhuman", and home already.

Well done for facing what you had to go through, and I am sure your positive attitude helped overall.

Look forward to chatting over the next few weeks of your recovery.

best wishes

Annabel.

Hi Irene,

Sorry to hear that you're going through a tough time at the moment. I remember the wide varieties of anti-sickness meds. One of the doctors asked me which one works best - I had to laugh and told him I wouldn't know because I just take them all (about 4 or 5 different varieties, from memory). What with those and the anti-constipation tablets, antibiotics and various other things I think I was up to 11 tablets at one point.

On reflection, things certainly became much easier once I'd moved completely over to PEG feeding. I found that trying to maintain oral feeding was putting too much pressure on me. The calories were far easier through the tube than via the mouth. I didn't swallow any food or liquid for at least 2 or 3 weeks.

In terms of weight, pre-treatment I was 12.3 or thereabouts, the lowest I got to was 10.5 a week or two after the treatment finished. Today I am 10.8. I did worry about this but on checking the weight for height charts this is not deemed to be underweight so now I'm not so bothered. The only advice I can offer in this respect is to keep pumping in the required calories via the tube. Incidentally, I found that there was little point going over the recommended amount (which for me was 2400 cal) - I put in 3000 or 4000 for a week or so and it made no difference. As long as I put in the recommended amount things were okay.

All the best Irene and remember that the light at the end of the tunnel is getting closer and closer.

Simon xx

Hi Simon

Thanks for yours, that's all very reassuring.  Yes on the subject of meds, my sister joked when she collected me from hospital yesterday that our Dad (89 and slightly obsessed with all things bowel and medication related!) would be jealous of the size of my pharmacy carry-out bag!!

I'm finding that I'm struggling quite badly to get the feed into me without feeling or being sick.  I was sick again this morning, but I do have a back-up of Levomoprazine which I've now taken 3 times to counter the nausea which has kicked in since the feeding started.  I was also alarmed to see blood in the vomit until I realised it was coming from a blister on my lip!  I'll speak to my nurse when I see her tomorrow and hopefully it will all settle down once my tum gets used to the richness of the disgusting stuff - how could anybody actually drink it I wonder?!

I really do appreciate all your support and encouragement Simon and hope things are continuing to go well for you.

Thanks again, Irene

Hi Irene

I was 10.10 and I went down to 9.2. It happened fairly quickly and then stabilised. I haven't put any of it back on and the doctors are fine with that as I'm now the weight I should be! I think my stomach shrank after not eating for so long.

I would suggest that you try and avoid morphine for as long as you can as that's not great for the bowels! I managed to keep on a fairly low dose and didn't have patches but, when I came off it, I was quite ill for a week. The gp wasn't sure if it was an unrelated bug or withdrawal from the morphine!

Soon you'll be drug free!

Debbie

Hi Debbie

Thanks for the weight info.  That's exactly what I'm hoping might happen to me!  I was 3 stones overweight to begin with (not complaining now, better to have a bit extra to fight it off!) but if I end up a stone or two lighter and keep that stable, then I'll be happy.  Yes, I thought probably best to keep the Oramorph up my sleeve for now. It never occurred to me about withdrawal symptoms, but of course I can now see that is highly likely and will heed your warning.   I've been having a real problem wth the Ensure drinks not staying down.  I was supposed to be aiming for 5 bottles a day but at 5pm yesterday found myself still struggling with my second!   I rang my support line who consulted a Doc and said I could ditch the Domperidone in favour of the Levomepromazine I was prescribed as an extra anti-emetic to be used as required.  It was prescribed at two half tabs per day but they've said I can up that to 4 and so far this seems to be working!  Did you have Ensure as well, or some other foodstuff?  Mine comes in strawberry, vanilla and banana - it's weird that you can tell the taste if you burp or vomit!  I think I'm going to ask for all strawberry for the next batch because I seem to be tolerating it better.

Time I was back to sleep, thanks again for your help.

Love Irene

Hi Irene,

Sounds as if you've finally got the nausea under control. I think that it was levomepromazine that sorted me out in the end as well. I seem to recall that this drug was originally designed to treat schizophrenia - it did the trick for my sickness though. I hope that you can start getting the calories in now as you need to be as well nourished as possible towards the end of your treatment.

Well down, Irene - we're all behind you girl.

Simon XX

Hi Irene

Yes I was on ensure although I stuck to the plain one. I was told to have 4 or 5 but I don't think I ever managed more than 3 and most of them came back up! I wish I'd been offered that anti sickness drug as none of mine worked.

I know it sounds shallow but it has been quite nice not having to go on a diet this January! That's a first for a few years! Every cloud and all that! Ha ha!

What date does your treatment end?

Love

Debbie

Hi Debbie - you don't sound shallow at all - just honest!  I was tipping 13st at the start of this so I really do need to shed some weight, just hadn't anticipated it this way.  I will be very happy to come out the other side a bit lighter than I've been for years.  Also my nephew gets married on 14th April so am looking forward to shopping for hopefully a dress size smaller!  My treatment ends on 31st January.  I saw my support nurse yesterday when I was in for radiotherapy.  She has arranged for the dietician to see me again tomorrow (chemo day).  I managed a bit better the second half of yesterday, now that I'm taking more of the Levowatsisname anti-sickness pill.  She did however say they might consider pump feeding for me.  My immediate reaction was what's the point of pumping it in if it still turns my stomach when it hits home, however this will be a different type of nutrition altogether, which is very slowly fed through constantly (overnight?).  I'm now wonderig if it might be like the driver I had for pain/sickness when I was admitted to the ward last week.  I really appreciate your support and advice Debbie.  It's so kind of you to keep contributing so long after your treatment and recovery to help others through the process.  Love Irene x

Hi Simon,

Really pleased to hear you are progressing well. You seem to be ploughing on with trying new foods, I bet that feels so good! I'm really looking forward to eating again. I don't feel ready just yet, I think I will know when the time is right, but my mouth is beginning to feel more 'normal' already.

So was your PEG pulled out from your tummy or did they choose the other option of cutting it and then letting the inside stopper pass naturally? I'm very worried about having my PEG removed after the problems I've had with it and I must say it doesn't sound very appealing having it tugged out! I too was sedated when they tried to put the PEG in the first time and it's a strange feeling! Did you have the camera put down your throat too? Did they stitch the hole? Is it sore now?

It's interesting to know that salt water can help with saliva - thank you for that tip. I've been advised to rinse with warm salty water to help keep my mouth clean and sooth any sores but I will also keep an eye on any benefits to extra saliva. I've also noticed my chin becomes slightly swollen sometimes so it's interesting to know this could be another side effect of the Radiotherapy. I had a very swollen chin following my surgery last year (it's hard to believe my operation was already four months ago!) and that was due to my lymph nodes being removed and it took around two months for my chin to reduce and look normal again. I also have lymphedema in my tongue. Unfortunately, when my teeth were removed, the graft on my tongue swelled out towards the side of my mouth and has not yet gone down in size. Radiotherapy hasn't helped this either so I have to wait and see if this swelling reduces on its own. If not then it could mean another tongue operation  

On the whole I'm feeling pretty good. I'm still getting some pain in my mouth, which has been slightly worse these last few days. My nurse suggested substituting cocodamol with paracetamol a couple of times a day but I was finding I was in pain before my next dose was due, so I've given up on paracetamol for now and have gone back to cocodamol three times a day. I'm wondering if the increased pain could also be due to me getting less rest now that I'm feeling so well again, so perhaps that's a sign that I need to slow down a bit and rest more. I'm also beginning to feel very hungry at certain times of the day, probably because I'm burning off the milkshakes rather than resting all of the time. The good news is I've finished one course of anti biotics for my chest infection so that's four doses of medication I no longer need to remember each day! Just a few days left of the other anti biotics for oral thrush and I can feel the improvement already. My sleep is still broken but I'm getting there.

I'm very pleased that both of us seem to be making such good progress, I'm so happy that the worst is now behind us.

Speak soon,

Nicola

Hi Irene,

You are doing so well. You sound as though you are taking on every bit of advice we give you and are asking for all of the right help at the hospital. You're halfway through week four now and I promise you it will fly by from here. Just incase no one else has mentioned this already, there is another mouth wash called Gel Clair. You can order some samples online for free and my Hygienist advised half a sachet at a time, diluted with water works well to sooth any mouth sores. Or gargling can help relieve throat pain. I did not need to use mine in the end as I found Diflam to be very good, but something to bear in mind.

I'm feeling so well already after only less than four weeks of Radiotherapy ending, so you really don't have far to go now. Keep up the good work!

Nicola xx

Hi Nicola,

Great to read that you're feeling pretty good at the moment. You sound like me in that you're 'doing more' and resting less! I seem to have more energy these days, but then forget I should be building in some rest time into my day!  The feelings of fatigue seem to bite me on the bottom during early evening, when I drop off on the sofa around 7o'clock. I have to catch up with the soaps the next day!

Glad you're feeling hungry and you've finished one lot of antibiotics!

You and Simon seem to be making great progress and it's brilliant that you can both offer support to Irene and others on the site!

Take care and keep up the good recovery!

Hugs, Jo xx

Hi Nicola,

Great to read that you're feeling pretty good at the moment. You sound like me in that you're 'doing more' and resting less! I seem to have more energy these days, but then forget I should be building in some rest time into my day!  The feelings of fatigue seem to bite me on the bottom during early evening, when I drop off on the sofa around 7o'clock. I have to catch up with the soaps the next day!

Glad you're feeling hungry and you've finished one lot of antibiotics!

You and Simon seem to be making great progress and it's brilliant that you can both offer support to Irene and others on the site!

Take care and keep up the good recovery!

Hugs, Jo xx

Hi everyone,

Thanks for all of your replies again.

Jo - How are things with you? Have you finished chemo yet or are you still having it at home? What's the next stage with your kidneys? How are you feeling? I also fall asleep on the sofa in the evenings and wake up to find I have missed what ever I was watching! By the time I get myself up to bed I only get a few hours of comfort then before I know it I'm being woken up by my two year old! The fatigue seems to strike now and then, mostly I feel fine and then suddenly I feel awful and I know I must sit down and rest. Funny how chemo can do this to us!

Simon - I laughed at your "Gandhi's flip flop comment as I know exactly what you mean. On the whole, all symptoms of radiotherapy are a nuisance but when speaking about them with you and the others who have experienced the same, I have a little giggle about them! As I have gradually become used to the dry mouth, painful throat and neck etc, when it occurs (usually first thing in the morning or during the night) I smile to myself now. Have you found the salt water to help with your saliva at all? I do worry about my teeth as my mouth is permanently dry so I shall mention this to the hygienist when I see them next. How are you getting on with your food?

Irene - final week! We told you it would go by quickly. I've been thinking of you an awful lot, I hope you're feeling a bit better this weekend. Sorry to hear you have been in hospital. My head and neck nurse told me last week that most patients having our kind of treatment do get admitted to hospital at some point. This week and the next few weeks will probably still be difficult weeks for you but like me, you'll probably be so relieved that you've come to the end that it will all seem so much more manageable. You'll probably sleep like a baby and feel so relieved that there will be no more daily treks to the hospital. How are the feeds going now? I don't have any tips for a fresh mouth unfortunately, I didn't feel the need as nothing was going in via my mouth, although I do taste the metallic flavour in my mouth occasionally even now and still could when I didn't have any taste buds left. Strange isn't it?

I haven't posted on here for a few days as I've not had a good week. I had my check up with my oncologist last Monday but I didn't see my usual doctor, it was a different one. She did the usual checks and asked me the usual questions etc and prescribed me another round of anti biotics for oral thrush then when I asked her about my periods (my last one was week 4 of radiotherapy, so 8 weeks ago) she looked really awkward and then told me that my periods probably won't return and I will most likely be left infertile due to the chemotherapy. I had heard of this being an effect of chemo but I was told by my head and neck nurse right at the very beginning that my chemo drug and my dose wouldn't have any adverse affect on my fertility therefore I never worried about it, so you can imagine my surprise when the oncologist told me something completely different last week. She also said it's likely I could go through the menopause now. She apologised that no one had had his conversation with me before and so I left the appointment feeling very down and upset. I am 33 and I already have one child but I never thought my daughter would never have any siblings so hearing such news was devastating for me.

The following day my usual oncologist called me and left me a message saying not to worry about it, he wasn't expecting my fertility to be affected and my periods will come back but will take some time. I had my usual appointment with my head and neck nurse on Thursday and my usual oncologist came along too to reassure me some more which I really appreciated. He spent a good half an hour with me, talking to me about statistics etc so I feel a lot better about it now however I suppose I'll never know until I try. He says my fertility shouldn't be affected but as me and one other patient of his are the only two young people he has ever treated for head and neck cancer, it's hard to say for sure but he did go onto to reassure me that he has other young patients who he has treated for lymphoma and they have gone on to have successful pregnancies. Also, my dose of Cisplatin was a low dose of 40mg where as a normal dose would be 100mg. It understand that fertility reduces with age but having had chemo as well, my chances could be slightly lower than the average person, but at least there is hope. I really do hope he is right but for the few days last week I had no appetite and it was constantly on my mind. I began regretting having the chemo but since being reassured I feel happier.

My dietician gave me a new goal last week on achieving 5 spoonfuls of soft food, three times a day as well as my five fortisips. I will also be having three calorie booster drinks each day, these should arrive with my delivery of fortisips this week so I haven't started them yet. I have put on 300 grams this week but at 5 stone 10, I really need to get some weight back on now, I have been managing half a bowl of ready break for the last two mornings with lots of sugar, then during the last few days I have had a few cups of tea, a couple of spoonfuls of jelly or rice pudding or custard but 5 spoonfuls three times a day is a bit much at the moment. I think I will have to work my way up to that and I find I feel quite nauseous after eating anything. Probably because my stomach isn't used to it. Hopefully I will get used to eating again over the coming weeks, as it took me a few weeks to get used to eating via my peg, so I will just need some time to build up to eating by mouth again after all this time. I also have another over granulation of skin at my peg site so I'm back on the steroid cream for that and it's been sore again - roll on the removal of his damn thing!

I will update you all again soon with progress, I hope you all have a good week, especially you Irene.

Nicola xx

Hi Nicola,

Lovely to see a post from you, but sorry you've not had a good week!

It's a shame you had mixed messages from the Oncology team regarding your fertility. So glad that your regular oncologist was able to allay your concerns and go through the statistics with you. It's great that your appetite picked up too, once you felt more reassured!

I hope you're able to reach the goal your dietician has set you. It sounds like you're getting there with your Ready Brek, custard and rice pudding! Keep up the good work! Hopefully, the Fortisips and calorie booster drinks will help you put some weight on too.

My weight seems to have plateaued just below 49kg (7st 10lb) no matter what I eat! Ah, the joy of a stoma! You put food in, but  it's out mighty quick!

My chemo had to be stopped as I was intolerant to it! Apparently I was in the 5% of folk who are unable to process it (something deficient in my liver!)

This pleased me as I'd had a rough time over Christmas, but the downside is, I can't have anymore, should I need it, after my liver resection! Let's just hope the liver surgeon does a good job!

I did have some good news regarding the chemo though; my last CT scan showed that one of the cancer spots on my liver was now undetectable! Yay! Though this does mean that a resection op may need to be delayed as the surgeon wouldn't be able to 'see' the cancerous area to remove it! And we'd need to wait until the cancer grows again!

I'm having an MRI scan on Weds and when the results are in, I'll be sent an appt with my liver surgeon. I'm hoping this scan will show where the cancer spots are and the op can go ahead! Am I odd for wanting an operation to go ahead?

Another plus, my energy levels are building and I seem to achieve great things each day (I painted a window sill one day!) and I'm also able to stay awake until 9 o'clock at night before I crash and burn on the sofa!

Well, Nicola, keep up the good work of putting weight on and supporting your other buddies on the forum!

Love and hugs to you and everyone else on this thread! Jo xx

Hi Jo,

Sorry, I got muddled and asked about your kidney, when I should have said liver! So it sounds as if it's good news and not so good news - good as in the spots have shrank and you don't have to have anymore chemo but then not so good as in you can't have anymore should you need it. I'm sure the surgeon will do a good job should you have the op, if I were in your position I would want the op too so you're not strange!

Great to hear your energy is up. Some days I feel like I have lots of energy but then other days, including today, I feel as tough I have none and I need to nap, but a bit difficult when I have a toddler wanting to pay all day!

Have you been following Hayley and Roy's story on Coronation St? I have found it difficult to watch so glad it's over now. Hayley was diagnosed at the same time as me and although a different cancer, it was all a bit too close to home.

It's very difficult to gain weight isn't it. Sometimes I feel like saying to the dietician, (as nice as she is) that its easier said than done!!

Love and hugs to you too,

Nicola xx

Hi Nicola

I was told at the beginning of my treatment that the chemo might bring on the menopause. (I'm 46). My periods stopped for 6 months and so I thought it had. I felt a bit annoyed that the cancer was responsible for that too! However, after 6 months, my periods just started again and have been as regular as clockwork ever since!

I know we're all different but I just thought id let you know my experience.

Debbie

Thanks so much Debbie, that makes me feel so much better! It's strange that we all get told different things isn't it, you being told it could bring on the menopause and me being told I had nothing to worry about. Do you think your weight loss contributed to your periods stopping too? I'm hoping some weight gain will help mine return, but it's still good to hear from another female who has received the same treatment as me.

Nicola

Hi Nicola and everyone else (this thread is really like one big support group),

Nicola, I am glad that you seem to be doing so well - you really have made excellent progress overall and I feel that you are ahead of me in terms of recovery. The dry mouth is a worry as far of the welfare of our teeth is concerned. I think that my saliva situation may have improved very slightly - I now only wake at night maybe twice with Ghandi's flip flop. I must confess that I haven't been doing the salt water as often as I should. I'll step it up and let you know how it goes as salt water is good for the gums and teeth in any case. I do clean my teeth now maybe 4 or 5 times per day and I use Difflam 2 or 3 times per day.

My food is very slowly improving. My main hurdles now with food are the odd ulcer that I seem to be getting, the fact that I have no appitite most of the time and the reduced saliva in my mouth. I am only getting around 1200 calories per day but I don't seem to be losing any more weight. I do have three meals although I cannot take anything with a lot of sugar in for some reason - probably just as well with the teeth situation in mind.

My issues at the moment are occasional extreme fatigue - for instance, today I could barely drag myself out of bed and it was a real struggle to make myself do anything constructive. I have also been experiencing some strange itching all over my body for a few days - this has been so bad that I scratched to the point where I drew blood. Fortunately the itching doesn't seen so bad today so maybe it's going away. The good news is that I haven't had any night-sweats for a couple of weeks now. One concern I have is that I have noticed that the lymph nodes in my groin are palpable. They are baked-bean size and are hard - I noticed them when I was in the shower. I don't think it is anything to worry about but you know how the slightest thing can set hares running. They may always have been like that and it could be that I've only just noticed. I will keep an eye on them and raise them with the oncologist at my next appointment.

Well done for all the progress you have made, Nicola. We are all so pleased for you.

Simon xx

Hi Nicola

I was told that it was the chemo drugs that would make my periods stop. Although I lost weight, I've only gone down to what I should be so I don't think it was that.

You are doing so well - keep that positivity going!

Debbie

Hi Simon,

Could it be that you are coming down with something to cause your lymph nodes to swell up? Sometimes that can be a sign of a virus or similar? Worth getting checked though. I'm sure it's nothing but I understand how it will worry you.The dry mouth I can sympathise with. It's like no other dry mouth ever before isn't it?! I don't think I can put into words how dry my mouth is in the mornings, and during the day sometimes. Even water doesn't slide down like it should, it kind of gets stuck amongst the dryness!! How is your taste? Have you re-gained your taste buds or has it been gradual? I don't seem to have much taste yet.

I'm not sleeping well at the moment, can't get to sleep then when I do, it's broken sleep, then I really don't have the energy to get up in the mornings so I understand your lack of energy. It's frustrating isn't it? The cocodamol doesn't help either. I'm avoiding driving at the moment until I'm feeling up to it, also my neck is still pretty sore and stiff from the radiotherapy so I'm stuck in the house all day everyday. It's getting increasingly boring, I'm going mad! Not having three meals a day to break up the time doesn't help but I do look forward to my daily bowl of porridge! I ate a yoghurt today too which I was dreading as I thought it was going to be painful but wasn't too bad although my throat did sting after. Yawning is also very painful, it stretches muscles I didn't even know I had!

Debbie - thanks for the info. I spoke to my GP about this yesterday too and she was also reassuring. Also, how was the recovery of your taste buds? Did they gradually come back? I have some taste but not a lot and I'm hoping this will improve as it's still early days.

It was Irene's last day of treatment today, I do hope she is ok.

Speak soon,

Nicola xx

Hi Nicola,

Apologies for not replying sooner to your last post to me!

I have been following the Roy and Hayley story on Coronation Street. Although I'm not in the same position, the storyline has really moved me and there are so many aspects of it that I'm sure most of us can relate to. I think it will have raised a lot of discussions/debates in many households too.

Sorry to read in your post to Simon that you're not sleeping well. It must be hard having such low energy levels during the day, especially with an active toddler to look after! As you can see from the time of this post, I'm in a similar boat to you! Thankfully, it's a bit of a blip and the fact I fell asleep on the sofa for a few hours, hasn't helped!

I hope your sleep pattern soon improves, along with the neck pain you're experiencing. You've come such a long way, Nicola. Keep going!

Love and hugs, Jo xxx

Hi Nicola

My taste came back fairly quickly. Certainly within three months of the treatment ending. I had been told that I may not be able to eat spicy food again but fortunately it's fine and I was soon back on the curry! Yippee!

I can't drink red wine any more as I no longer like the taste. Also, dry food can be a bit difficult so, for example, it is now better for me to eat a tuna sandwiches than cheese sandwich  and chip sandwiches are too difficult. I think it's the lack of saliva because I find it harder to swallow really dry food. However, it's all pretty minor and nothing to worry about.

I didn't live on a diet of curry, red wine and chip sandwiches before! Honest!

Debbie