A list of stupid questions

None of these are stupid....don't be so daft. It's what this community is about. If you don't know what's happening you make things up in your head and imagine the worst.

I'll try with my experience

Aspirating.....You really have to do those exercises frequently. Food used to make me cough so I ate slowly and practiced dry swallowing which sorted it

Jaw pain. It's your TM joint and yes it's had a considerable RT hit. If you don't do your jaw exercises it might seize up. Four plus years on mine still crunches but my mobility is good. If I move my jaw with my finger in my ear that side it sounds awful....but there you go. Exercise exercise .......but don't stretch so far it's painful

Food getting stuck. Dry food still sticks if I don't chew it up. It catches on my epiglottis. It's because the muscles are missing largely on one side. You don't need to go veggie.....just choose your meat well. I can't be bothered with chicken breast ...too dry. The rest is OK. I don't eat much meat but slow pot roast lamb is good

Slop.....try other stuff, just chew it well and have a warm drink to hand to chase it down if it gets stuck

Spice....I can manage a curry but not a strong one. It took a year before I even tried...I'm four and a half years out of treatment...it is what it is

You can do spice without heat and there are masses of recipes on The Net to try for flavour without cremating your throat again

Hope this helps

Hi Matt.   I definitely had that jaw crunchy thing.    Like you, my team said it wasn’t the radiotherapy that caused it !!!!!!  It’s ok now.  Nearly 2 years post.  All the best lizzie

Hi Matt, I can't really add any more, to the good answers you have already had, only that my gag reflex was awful after my treatment, it used to make me heave just trying to speak, brushing my teeth was near on impossible, however it all settled down with time. Please don't think your questions are stupid, there are no stupid questions, when something is worrying, always ask, we are all here to help each other, and if you can have your mind put to rest, that's great.

Regards Ray.

Hi Matt , my partner has just finished he's rt and had surgery and he's 9 days after rt and he has tried eating some food that is more solid and been fine. I think it's all trial and error time but he thought this would be hard as removed teeth on one side of he's mouth as had caner of the mandible. Wishing you all the best and i'm sure that things will get better.

Hi Matt

Danis has brilliantly covered everything.  Will repeat exercise exercise exercise I still  do daily even at   5 years   They are just part if my routine now set aside 5 min I do them in the car get funny looks at traffic light I just stick my tongue out a bit further. 
spicy May or May not  return but I use aromatics to put flavour in coconut milk with coriander cumin turmeric etc. thjnk outside the box. It’s early days for you if yiu can’t eat something leave it well alone a few months then return ti it. A slow cooker can help slow cooked lamb stew. Chicken thigh and leg instead of breast. Now if I want chicken breast I batter in down with a rolling pin season in and cook quickly 2-3 min each side. You’ll get there honestly . Ps roast veg as accompanying veg wrap the meat around them helps it the slide down.  As an example this week I can eat olives in brine taken me 5 years but I can happily eat them now never give up hope. 
Hazel x