Taste Coming Back

I think it was about a week ago I was in the shower and I took in a mouthful of water to rinse my mouth out with.  I had been doing this when the thick ropy saliva started because flushing my mouth out with warm water was one of the few things that felt good.  Well this time the water actually tasted refreshing like water should, not metallic like it had tasted when I started radiation.  This was a very pleasant surprise.  Since then I had been taking sips of cold water throughout the day to freshen and sooth my mouth even though it would occasionally cause pain.

I've also been concerned about my teeth not having really used them in almost two months.  I figured if I could find some not so spicy gum to chew that would keep them as well as my chewing function in good working order.  So last night after work I went to the store and picked up some fruity gum with Xylitol as a sweetener.  I read that gum with Xylitol is good for people with dry mouth because they're more susceptible to tooth decay and well, gum with sugar promotes tooth decay.

So I got this gum and really didn't expect much as far as flavor but was willing to sacrifice that for the previously mentioned reasons.  To my surprise I could taste what seemed like the full, sweet flavor.  It was painful at first as the full flavor of the gum came in contact with the inside of my raw mouth but after a few minutes that wore off and I could enjoy chewing.  This gave me hope that my taste buds were returning sooner that expected.  Was I excited.

The next day I tried another piece and I had been thinking about how I could temper the initial painfulness of a fresh stick of gum.  I thought maybe I could soak it in water or even have my wife chew it for me to wear out some of the flavor.  No, that's too disgusting even for someone an pragmatic as me.  Then I wondered if I sipped ice cold water during the first few minutes if that would help.  So I tried it and sure enough it did.  I know it's small but being able to chew gum make me feel like I'm a little closer to normalcy.

In the afternoon my younger son made himself some frozen taquitos for lunch.  Now, I've been smelling savory, cooked food and have wanted to try some for weeks now, but the rough texture that that kind of food typically has has been keeping me at bay.  However, the flavor of the gum and the prospect of being able to taste savory food again gave me the courage to have a little taste.  I didn't dare sample the crunchy tortilla, but a little bit of the meat might be OK.  So I got a little pinch of the meat filling and cautiously placed it in my mouth.  Wow! It was amazing!  It tasted better than I remember it.  Savory deliciousness with a little bit of spice.  Of course it burned like hell, not from the heat but because of the condition of my mouth.  Oh! But it was soooo worth it and to taste real food again was wonderful!!!

I am so excited to have my taste return to me this soon.  I was worried that it would take months, now I am filled with a renewed vigor and joy with the idea that I may soon be able to not only eat again but enjoy food again.  This right before my upcoming birthday.  I could ask for a better birthday present.  As a matter of fact, that's all I wanted for my birthday this year was to be able to taste food again.

Now all I have to do is heal my mouth and get past this pain, then I can start eating all the wonderful things I've been missing and work on getting back all the weight I lost.  Speaking of healing, I've been examining the inside of my mouth this week fairly often and I've seen the sores, especially the one on the right side of my tongue, getting noticeably smaller.  So there IS progress.  I feel like I'm almost there.  If I could get there by next weekend, my birthday weekend, that would be the best gift ever.