I had similar. I am in the UK & use Benzydamine Hydrochloride mouthwash & spray. Sometimes after I eat it is so painful it brings me to tears (even a banana will do this some days). Quick mouthwash or spray, wait a few minutes, better. I also use throat lozenges which have Hexylresorcinol in (its is an anaesthetic). And, I take acid reflux tablets daily as the dry mouth means your saliva does not protect your throat from acid coming up. This has really helped in last 3 weeks. At night I take painkillers so the throat pain does not wake me up in the middle of the day. I try hard to eat normally (steak, toast, salad and so on), sometimes I have to battle through, other times it is easier. I am only 4 months post treatment. I consider myself lucky if it is only the throat pain I have to deal with..... I love that you used the term "it's not linear" - my partner and I laugh about this because this is exactly what my oncologist said for 12 weeks (my brain works in a very linear way so the healing process being non-linear was tough). Hope you are improving, keep fighting and thank you for sharing!