Hello everyone, My name is Tim and I'm new to the group. My wife has been reading everyone's comments for several weeks now. She said I should get on here and be a part and so here I am.
Before I start with my story, I just wanted to let you know that I had pain in my right ear and was unable to keep my hearing aid in it. My primary doctor said I had TMJ and go take Yoga classes to relax. I insisted to go to a ENT and he relented and wrote the referral. I was HMO at the time because I really didn't need a PPO. At open enrollment I'm switching to PPO. My first ENT told me I possibly had a clogged salivary gland I try eating sour candy. That didn't work. Fortunately, I went to another ENT who first was dismissing as well, but ordered an MRI to appease me. When the results came back with a small mass his tune changed immediately. By the way, I'm changing my Primary when I receive my new insurance card.
I had HPV cancer in my right tonsil and it has spread to one lymph node. My ENT performed surgery on my neck to remove my tonsil, mass, and lymph node. He took several others in the chain for precaution. After surgery recovery I went through 25 rounds of radiation. I finished exactly 1 week ago today. I breezed through the radiation treatment fairly well. But, after the treatment stopped every hit me hard. My throat was burning much more intensely and foods doubled in their bad taste. I'm on Fentanyl patches and Xanax to help intensify the patches? Everything I eat now is horrible and gagging...foods I normally loved. I'm only getting down Boost, Cream of Wheat, Oat Meal, and Campbell's Chicken Soups. I'm getting real tired of all of them. I'm not loving life right now due to the eating situation and burning. My only hope is reading that several of you got your tastes back in several months. I'm hoping for that outcome as well. Thank you for all your posts, they really help.