As other posts mentioned,treatment does change things a little and I sometimes struggle with dry chicken but its minor adjustments.
I was on Ensures for a long period of time and didnt have PEG fitted and had to drink cold from fridge.

Not ideal and not great but at this stage its aboiut getting fuel into your body and nudging way forward on road to recovery. Recovery will vary from person to person and I took quite a while but most of us had the same side effects by and large and each stage was not out by much.

Reality is that there is no quick fix and I remember a quote saying there is no elevator on recovery and you need to take the stairs.

Trust me, your taste will come back and you will enjoy your food again. Just persevere as best you can at this stage of recovery and get as much fuel and water in as you can.

In my blog I stated that I used to look at Ensures etc as medication rather than something that I enjoyed but it was a necessary part of the treatment to recover.

regards
Ian

It's a really tough thing to wrap your head around - food being just fuel. Particularly for those of us that really enjoy our food! That's why swapping to bland things he doesn't usually like has really helped. He's not expecting anything out of custard, and it doesn't disappoint!

Hazel - I'm so heartened to hear of your cycling adventures - and happy birthday to your husband!

Ian - yes we read that bit of your blog and it has really helped my partner by viewing food as medicine. We call it Tastee Wheat as it's the gruel they get fed in the Matrix films (and it makes us laugh!)

Hi Weaselbear,

I'm laughing as I used to say to Hazel we were talking our Bushtucker trial drinks when taking the Ensures but all of us got through it on here one way or the other and there are so many positive stories on the thead. 

I also rember being told by consultant from the get go that it is one of the toughest treatments and recovery, but one with the highest success rates of cure and was a good focus for me through the tough times.

May not seem so now, but you wil get there in the end

Regards
Ian

My thoughts are out there for every one who is going through this mountain climb! i read what you have to say and i lam living it , though i dont know you! i hope you are getting through, i am struggling sometimes and then a lot!

It's hard sometimes mandyjayne when I was going through treatment  I tried to sleep as much as I could good luck it' will all be worth it in the end

Hi all I'm post start of week 6 tomorrow still sore to eat and food gets stuck in throat if not chewed really well and washed down with water. Is this normal does any no. I had half of hard tablet painkiller even then got stuck in my throat. Answers would be much appreciated thanks james 

Hi James. It's not unusual. So  don't stress it does get better. Time is what you need it's fine to sip water I was n g tube fed for 3 weeks befire and afterwards. Baby steps done days 2 forward and one back. You might also find later on what you can eat one week you can't eat or drink the next. I'm 3 years post radiotherapy for tonsil cancer with several affected lymph nodes snd on occasion I can struggle. Bacon or most pork cuts are hard but give me a rare rib eye no problem. 
you'll get there we all do 

Hazel x

Hi James - my partner is a week post treatment for tonsil cancer. Week 6 was when his pain really ramped up and he was having problems swallowing. We made a plan with our care team to move him solely onto a liquid diet at that point (prescription shakes via his RIG/PEG tube) Plus we got all pain meds prescribed as either soluble (cocodamol) or liquid form (oral morphine) Please do ask your care team about changing your diet to prescription shakes and getting easier to take meds. It's really important to reduce the pain as soon as you can. 

A week after final treatment, and my partner has just had his first cup of tea in 2 weeks! He can't taste it yet, but its still progress! His pain has also decreased (he can talk again!) and his skin is a lot less red (thanks to MooGoo cream!) Slowly slowly getting there. Hope you're doing ok.

My husband has been diagnosed with tonsil cancer with lymph node on right side also PET scan showed it in voice box so targeting there too. He is just starting week 5. Last radio is in Xmas eve. Peg in use. 8x125ml daily.  Plus flushes. He is managing cold tea during the day. Think he needs to increase fluids. I'm on that tomorrow!!! 
Mouth sprays and mouth washes are a good help to ease the dryness.
Having more problems with increased mucus. He is getting weary and tried. 
He gets toothpaste on prescription. Very high in flouride. Soft toothbrush. As a family we have changed our regular toothpaste from a frothy aqua fresh to a none foaming sensodyne. As there has been reports of SLS (sodium lauryl sulfate) is harmful. 

Chris