I Lived

It seemed like it was going to be close, though. On the odd chance anybody reads this blog, I just finished the radiation therapy that was the follow up to the surgery.

Here is the big thing about radiation therapy on your throat: even if they tell you you are getting a minor dose, you will probably lose the ability to eat solid food for a good while, especially enough to total over 1000 calories. Once the 4th (of 6) weeks began, I gave up. I went to drinking Ensure Plus (350 cals 13g protein per serving). Toward the end and for the week after the therapy, it was tough to even get that down. The tip off is the phrase "you may have some trouble swallowing". Indeed. They're cooking your throat, it's bound to put things off.

Another problem is that your throat tissues try to heal themselves by cranking out mucus. You spend your waking time spitting, and you don't sleep much because you wake up gagging. There is not much that can be done about this, so get used to it. The situation is made worse by the "trouble swallowing", so the mucus just kind of pools up.

All in all, nothing I'd recommend. I did lose 20 lbs though and am quite svelte at the moment.