Yes we have had visits with Karen the Nutritionist! She has helped immensely to get us into proper tube feeding using a gravity bag. But now Michael is supposed to start eating when he can. He is doing mouth and jaw exercises. But he has much trouble with food ‘burning’ his mouth. He has some open sores that have not yet healed. We have tried almost every bland tasteless soft food we can think of and vanilla pudding is all he tolerates. He is 10 weeks post radiation now.

His eating or not eating has nothing to do with appetite or wanting to eat. It’s a matter of learning how to eat again using muscles that have not been used in months. Hence the exercises. His mouth hurts too much when trying to eat. He is able to take sips of water!

I’m going to ask his doctor if he may need stretching of his esophagus as he complains of food getting stuck!

Thanks for having this site. I’m hoping we can help someone else going thru this. Michael has oropharyngeal cancer/HPV. And we are looking for help from any of you with suggestions.