Getting frustrated with throat pain post radiation

I'm 6 months out (Rt tonsil HPV cancer surgery and 25 rounds radiation) and I'm not having any type of foods I can't eat. Tasting them is another story? I'm getting some tastes on food items with oil in or on them? Strange huh? Almonds, Avocado. Breads and sweets are still difficult but doable. But, my tastes are slowly returning. I have a knot in my throat from Radiation Fibrosis that I'm constantly fighting with and working on. But, I have no pain while eating or swallowing. I did not have a g-tube.

I had a similar treatment schedule for the same thing.
It's been 8 weeks since my last treatment and the timeline doesn't make sense.. it's not been like recovering from a cold or any kind of injury I've ever had.
Just exactly like you said, sometimes I can eat soft foods with relatively low pain.. but other times my whole skull hurts from chewing and/or swallowing.
Event water hurts to pull down. Zooming out at the bigger picture there was a point I could hardly talk. But now I'm back to work full time.
Thank God for the G-tube and the boost shakes or I'd be a gonner. I'm totally battling my weight also. Have been trying to find any type of soft foods to add to my diet, but it's slow going and again doesn't make sense when other recovery periods were definitely liner in progress.
The graph for the pain is like a fun house mirror, why Wednesday was excrusiatingly painful but Friday was nearly pain free I can't find a reason.
But others that are many months ahead of us are having good results, so, we press forward!
Good luck with the food search!

@colleenyoung
Thanks for asking. Yes, there have been further improvements—subtle day-to-day, and not linear. The same big picture concerns dominate. Keeping my weight up and managing pain. I’m getting better at these and they are getting easier. Still 90% Boost diet, slowly introducing normal food as much as the throat can stand. And am starting to wean off pain meds. Sense of well-being has been helped by interacting with others in my same boat.

@jimmydeb123, were you able to ask about a pain management solution to help the person you care for? How are you doing?

I like your phrase of hitting a "real turning point". Side effects can seem insurmountable and the improvements so miniscule, then boom, there's a noticeable improvement that gives hope.

@tbveblen, thanks for your message that gives hope. It's been a further 2 weeks since you posted. Have there been further improvements? How are you doing?

Hello @sart we do have popsicles which are fruit flavored ice on a stick, and freeze pops which are the same flavored ice but in a stick of plastic. You cut the top off and keep pushing the ice up and eating it off. They don't last as long as a popsicle. Orange was always my favorite.

@sepdvm hi I'm in Australia and we have icy poles. I keep a bunch in the freezer ,they are perfect for sore throats . I prefer the pineapple and raspberry ones. Do you have anything like that ?

Omg I thought the pain would never end but it does slowly till one day you can swollen without wanting to keep. Took me like 8 weeks before I was out of real paid. Eating whole other thing I am 4 months post treatment and still have feeding tube but everyday better

Takes time and patience. Your throat has been through hell. Try to keep using your throat. If you don’t use it, you lose it. Each day will get a bit better. I know you’ve heard this before. Best wishes. Good luck.

@jimmydeb123 Hello. I am so sorry to hear of this suffering. The caregiver has a very difficult job to do, almost beyond human capabilities. You must take time for yourself, even if it just for a few hours. You are in my thoughts. Best wishes.