Hi Markrut, 

I'm sorry saliva is still proving to be troublesome 9 months on but I'm glad to hear the acupuncture may be helping with that.

I've had a quick look through the forum for you and found that one of our lovely regulars [@RadioactiveRaz]‍ had auricula acupuncture and found it helped them during their recovery from their tonsil cancer and hopefully they will pop by when they can to tell you more about their experiences now I've mentioned them in this post.

I hope this helps but if you'd like to talk things through with one of our cancer nurses at any point, then do give them a call on 0808 800 4040. Their phone lines are open Monday - Friday between 9a.m - 5p.m.

Kind regards,

Steph, Cancer Chat Moderator

Thank you Steph, if I could find out what accupunture points work best for saliva that would be really good.

Hi I too had auricular acupuncture. I am now 3 yesss post radiotherapy for tonsil cancer with several affected lymph nodes. It did help me but only thjng that has improved saliva is time. I have improved more in the last year than the previous 2 years. I always have water and occasionally need it in the night , but not as often as I used to . My pressure points were in the web between thumb and index finger behind ears at edge of wrist snd top of crown  also in tips if fingers  ankle points above bone . 9 months in scheme us early days   At night tins I still use xyimelts have you tried them ? Amazon and other online retailers sell them  plus I chew orbit sugar free gum  

hope thus helps good luck Hazel 

Hi Hazel,

thanks for the reply, I have seen some of your blog.

 I do use Xyimelts every night. Sometimes I want to run before I can walk and expect my dry mouth to get better overnight!

I am eating almost everything now, except spicy foods and vinegar which leaves me dry for days if I have some. Chicken and bread are a problem and find it hard to swollow.Water is a normal thing for me as with all of us.

All the best

Mark

Hi Mark. 
yes all the classic ones.  Spicy I've resigned my self that for me it's gone. Vinegar I coujd do ftom about end of year one for 18 month but sadly I've lidt it. Bread now is fine yipeee I can eat artisan breads wholeness granary   Still better toasted but a sandwich as long as there's some moist stuff in it find. Egg Mayo especially good.chicken took a while but start with chicken thighs or legs.  Breast battered with a rolling pint t break fibers is goid plus supermarkets do chicken  breast in tempura batter that's easier to eat. It's all about time I'm typing now and I wiukd say my mouth is almost normal . Ok still get dry periods and watch out for ulcers with acidic stuff tomatoes in particular and burning tongue. Oh the joys but better than the alternative ! As for swallow like warm tea or coffee at mealtimes became part of my routine. No longer need it. 
good luck thank you for reading blig hope it helped. Hazel 

Did you still get mouth soreness at 9/10 months post therapy, especially the tissue between the top and bottom of the mouth at the back. 
I also had a huge ulcer which went the left side of my tongue which has left a scar and gets sore.

Hi yes it's not unusual it all takes time. I now get burning mouth syndrome ftom time to time especially if u try anythjng study's or fermented. In early days I got tired tongue for  want if a better word. Just mention to consultant at your next appointment. Plus ask for a face to face don't accept phone calls us cancer patients need to be seen. 
hazel 

My tongue alsohad ulcer full length of side of tongue it's a different texture ti rest of tongue. It no longer gets sore what I used to do was if it was dire rinse with gelclair and avoid irritants ie go blabs for a few days. 
hazel 

Hi Markrut

i hope you don't mind me replying to your post a while ago. I was just looking to see other peoples experience. I noticed you had a large ulcer, I too had a very large ulcer which covered the right side of my tounge. I am 5 months nearly 6 post radiotherapy for throat cancer. Can I ask when the soreness went in your mouth, I still struggle with swallowing and the soreness on my tongue. Can I ask as well were you always tired ? This is what's frustrating me I'm 64 but was very active gym member etc but now I'm constantly tired, did you find this ? 
Thankyou for your time 

kind regards Debbie

HinDebbie what you are feeling is radiation fatigue it's debilitating.although I was very  fit inhad to learn to,pace myself and at all times listen to my body. I am now 3.5 years post radiotherapy and it was  only last September at 3  years I stopped my 20 min power naps. Maybe it's not what you wanted to hear but no use in me saying anythjng other than my experiences. Ok from early days I coukd cycle but always had to offset by having naps. 
As for t mouth pain now I would say I'm 95% normal  but I still do get episodes of new ulcers flaring up I have learnt what my trigger points are namely tomatoes , cheese anything fermented I get burning tongue syndrome which there no cure for I just have to adapt what I'm eating. If it helps we're over in spain at the minute and alls we'll ( apart from both hubby and I tested postive for covid last week can yiu believe it) Thankfully fully vaccinated and boosted we've had very mild. I can now walk quite happily 12 km a day and ride up to 60 km  but there no quick fix. If you look at my blog www.RadioactiveRaz.wordpress.com you'll see my recovery mapped out. 
i know you might not think it is early days my oncologist said I'm going to cure you but will take a year of yiur life and he wasn't wrong. I haas I  just learned to listen to my body. By doing that I could get uo at normal times do what I wanted to then fit a nap in every day and stay up until at leastb11 p,  plus for first year I ate regularly 2500 calories to enable my muscles to regain strength. After 15 month I started to gain weight so reeled back to normal eating. Our bodies need protein to replace the radiation damage. Hope this helps 

plus online a great article by dr Peter Harvey

After treatment what happens next. 
hope this helps Hazel