On year 21 now. No bread without butter and then eaten slowly with liquids. Cannot eat white rice without either gravy or in a bowl of milk. White meat chicken doesn't go down. I could go on but I found ways. Chicken fried rice with a drink works fine if I don't eat too fast. Toast with butter or hot rolls works better. I'm the last to finish a meal and I don't care. I might make a meal of a custard pie because it's relatively healthy and I can eat it.
In time (years) we figure this stuff out. I think the heavy phlegm issue for me resolved within five years post. I still cannot sleep through the night without water sips however. We all will have our bag of hammers to carry around. But I still fly airplanes, enjoy my grand nephews and nieces, run with the horses, and make the best of this world despite the setbacks (recently had to have my mandible rebuilt due to osteoradionecrosis from the radiation treatments). We will both make it. Good journey.