Chapter 32

I have to announce that on Dec 30th 2010 I had my first beer since about July 2008 when the chemo and radiation started to destroy my taste buds! It was a Samuel Adams Draft at Red Lobster where my wife and I went with a gift card given to me by my baby sister! Yes, I did get a bit of a buzz but the best thing was the TASTE! No one knows what it's like to lose your "taste" for so many things. Things like chocolate, salad dressings, beer, wine and many other foods! But, after just over 29 months different taste buds are starting to come back on line!

I know I brought it up earlier but losing your taste can be a mental exercise in staying sane! I know I said that the learning curve of this oh so fun disease of cancer is that there is no curve! It’s a straight up high wall that we have to climb!

Not only the cancer but the stupid tumor that the radiation caused and the brain surgery that it brought on!

Now not only did I not have any taste, because of the damage done to muscles in my face my jaw doesn’t work as it used to and I can’t put in my dentures.

OK, yes I can BUT I can’t get food through the 1/2 “ that is the opening I get between the teeth after opening my mouth as far as it’ll go! This makes for a nice problem! Before brain surgery, I was finally able to eat crunchy stuff like a salad, steak, and crackers but most of all my favorite vegetables that were thick and chewy and nuts of all kinds! Yes, some still had no taste or not what it used to taste like but I was still able to eat them!

Like last week when I had that oh so wonderful beer! I had asparagus! The only problem was it had been pan sautéed and a tad bit tough but the tips were fantastic and after cutting the stalks open and in small pieces I was able to enjoy them! Both of those were wonderful but the shrimp made the night complete! Shrimp I can do easily!

I’m glad my taste buds are coming back on line even though not as fast as I would have wanted but it’s like having a Christmas or birthday when I do find something that has decided to work again!

Now if my throat will finish being so stubborn getting food to start the trip down to the stomach I’ll be able to eat more and gain some of those 25 pounds I misplaced! As much as I love Italian food and noodles and spicy sauces and soups I’m getting real tired of them! I want real food!