Trying something new

Greend
Greend Member Posts: 678
in Head and Neck Cancer #1
I have been tube feeding for over a year using Ensure. While I have been keeping my weight around 158 I wasn't gaining and I have been tired all of the time. I didn't want to bother my wife with trying to fix special blends because I thought it would be too much trouble. However she finally insisted I try blending foods so I went and bought a new device (a Ninja food processor - this thing will grind up a small block Chevy) and for the last four days I have been eating regular food and I must say that my fatigue factor has almost vanished. We are using many of the foods listed on the super-thread and trying out a few of our own. Next month we will be back in Mazatlan for New Years and I'm going to pulverize some of that great food Hondo discussed, especially the avacados and mangos.

It really makes me feel better for what its worth.

Denny

PS My keyboard can't spell worth a crap

Comments

  • Hondo
    Hondo Member Posts: 6,636 Member
    #2
    Ninja food processor

    Just last night I was telling my Wife I need something to grind up my food but was not sure what to get, I will take your word on it and get this one today.

    You are going to love Mango and Papaya; both are extremely good for you. My Avocado trees should start producing next year; man I can’t wait, Avocado is rich in everything the body needs.

    Hondo
  • Skiffin16
    Skiffin16 Member Posts: 8,305 Member
    #3
    327 Chebby
    Down there it's a 327 chebby.....

    Glad you have found something to better the quality of your life and health. I'm really happy for you, it's been a hard road brother.

    You deserve something positive for a change...

    Best to you and the wife....
    John
  • jim and i
    jim and i Member Posts: 1,788 Member
    #4
    ninja food
    So happy you are able to eat again. I envy you being able to go south and et all that fresh mango and papaya.

    Blessings to you both.

    Debbie
  • sweetblood22
    sweetblood22 Member Posts: 3,228
    #5
    I know what a huge difference it made for me to finally eat real food. That canned stuff is ok for a while, but there is no way you can live on it and feel good. Your body isn't designed to work like that. If you get a powerful blender/emulsifier and strain through a fine sieve, you can "eat" everything the rest of the family eats. Fresh fruits and vegetables, legumes, whole grains, a little dairy, a little meat, and a tiny bit of of good fats like EVOO, and like avocado, that is what your body wants and needs. I am so glad you are doing this, Denny. So much better for you.

    I've said it a hundred times before, but I will say it again, I really think a blender/emulsifier and a mini chopper are two items that are invaluable for a HNC Patient. Hondo, my little mini chopper, was $9.00 at the kitchen shop at the mall. It just makes sense if you are having problems eating and swallowing, to mince your food and prepare it in ways that are easier to swallow, making it easier to get the nutrition in. Hondo, I wish I could cook for you for a month. I bet I'd be able to put weight on you.

    Too bad we all couldn't convince the Food Network to give me a Cooking For HNC show.
  • jim and i
    jim and i Member Posts: 1,788 Member
    #6
    sweetblood22 said:

    I know what a huge difference it made for me to finally eat real food. That canned stuff is ok for a while, but there is no way you can live on it and feel good. Your body isn't designed to work like that. If you get a powerful blender/emulsifier and strain through a fine sieve, you can "eat" everything the rest of the family eats. Fresh fruits and vegetables, legumes, whole grains, a little dairy, a little meat, and a tiny bit of of good fats like EVOO, and like avocado, that is what your body wants and needs. I am so glad you are doing this, Denny. So much better for you.

    I've said it a hundred times before, but I will say it again, I really think a blender/emulsifier and a mini chopper are two items that are invaluable for a HNC Patient. Hondo, my little mini chopper, was $9.00 at the kitchen shop at the mall. It just makes sense if you are having problems eating and swallowing, to mince your food and prepare it in ways that are easier to swallow, making it easier to get the nutrition in. Hondo, I wish I could cook for you for a month. I bet I'd be able to put weight on you.

    Too bad we all couldn't convince the Food Network to give me a Cooking For HNC show.

    What a great ideaa
    I would sign a petition to have you start a cooking show for HNC patients. Any ideas for taste issues and nausea?

    Debbie
  • Hal61
    Hal61 Member Posts: 655
    #7
    Put on some pounds
    Hi Denny, good for you. I lived on the tube and can for many months, but even when I upped the amount I couldn't gain weight. Didn't gain any weight until I started eating. Eating regular food through the tube is no different to your system than chewing it up, I'll bet you gain some weight now.

    One thing you already know. My nutritionist during my treatment said yeah, fine, just make sure it's all handled real clean. Without the action of saliva and digestive tract, impurities have a leg up.

    I remember the original VitaMix commercials. They would throw a chunk of 2 x 2 pine into the thing and mix it up. My ex has one . . . she doesn't use it, hmmmmm.

    best, Hal
  • sweetblood22
    sweetblood22 Member Posts: 3,228
    #8
    jim and i said:

    What a great ideaa
    I would sign a petition to have you start a cooking show for HNC patients. Any ideas for taste issues and nausea?

    Debbie

    Taste and nausea
    Not really. :( Sorry. The only thing that seemed to help with the taste issue was time. As far as nausea, nothing worked for me. That is how I lost my 40 lbs, because I could not keep that liquid nutrtion down. The only thing that finally saved me, was getting the pump for my tube, and going super, super slow, 55mls per hour. Course I was always hooked up to the darn thing, but I gained about a pound a week for a while there.

    I have a friend that swears by Ginger tea. Course Ginger can be a bit bitey on the tongue. Good home made broth or the Magic Mineral Broth calms my belly. Root beer, has to be Mug, with all the bubbles stirred out, so it's flat. I might have ideas and links on the superthread under things that help side effects and under chemo.
  • Hal61
    Hal61 Member Posts: 655
    #9
    sweetblood22 said:

    Taste and nausea
    Not really. :( Sorry. The only thing that seemed to help with the taste issue was time. As far as nausea, nothing worked for me. That is how I lost my 40 lbs, because I could not keep that liquid nutrtion down. The only thing that finally saved me, was getting the pump for my tube, and going super, super slow, 55mls per hour. Course I was always hooked up to the darn thing, but I gained about a pound a week for a while there.

    I have a friend that swears by Ginger tea. Course Ginger can be a bit bitey on the tongue. Good home made broth or the Magic Mineral Broth calms my belly. Root beer, has to be Mug, with all the bubbles stirred out, so it's flat. I might have ideas and links on the superthread under things that help side effects and under chemo.

    Freeze dried
    Email one of the big backpacking, freeze-dried food companies with your idea Sweet. It's already going to be emulsified, so dehydrating it would be a cube of cake. I know, I know, some of the nutrients would be lost, but a whole lot of micro nutirents that aren't in the can would be there, and guys like me, who don't have a wife to make their food, could just add water and bag it. I'm only half joking, might be worth an email.
    Hal
  • Patti678
    Patti678 Member Posts: 55
    #10
    I have eaten a ton of "baby
    I have eaten a ton of "baby food" that I buy at Target. It's different fruits and veggies that are in a squeeze tube. They are quite tasty and most of them are organic.
  • fisrpotpe
    fisrpotpe Member Posts: 1,349 Member
    #11
    Chow down
    I love the great news that your feeling less tired.

    Maybe there is some other foods you have not tried yet that will help with the input to your keyboard....

    Enjoy your Chow

    John
  • Hondo
    Hondo Member Posts: 6,636 Member
    #12
    Chemo Brain

    When I got home I was telling my Wife about the Ninja food processor and told her to get one of them for me, so she went to the pantries pull it off the middle shelve and said here you been using it for almost year now.

    That’s it I am not saying anything more then that. :+})
    Hondo
  • Skiffin16
    Skiffin16 Member Posts: 8,305 Member
    #13
    Hondo said:

    Chemo Brain

    When I got home I was telling my Wife about the Ninja food processor and told her to get one of them for me, so she went to the pantries pull it off the middle shelve and said here you been using it for almost year now.

    That’s it I am not saying anything more then that. :+})
    Hondo

    Coffe Grinder
    Did you tell her that you didn't know that it was for food.... But it does make a mean grind for Cuban Coffee...LOL.

    JG
  • SamandIrene
    SamandIrene Member Posts: 10
    #14
    Do you puree the food?
    Hi Denny,
    That is great that you are less fatiqued!! My husband is 2 months post treatment and managing to get only tiny amounts of food down each day - relying on the cans for his nutrition - and tired quite a bit of the time. Are you now blending 'real' food until it is like applesauce or are you just chopping it into very small pieces?? I would like to try the food processing and am curious as to how you are doing it..

    Thanks and God Bless,
    Irene
  • Hondo
    Hondo Member Posts: 6,636 Member
    #15
    Skiffin16 said:

    Coffe Grinder
    Did you tell her that you didn't know that it was for food.... But it does make a mean grind for Cuban Coffee...LOL.

    JG

    Submission

    Yes Dear, you are right Dear, I love you Dear.

    It always works

    Hondo
  • Greend
    Greend Member Posts: 678
    #16
    SamandIrene said:

    Do you puree the food?
    Hi Denny,
    That is great that you are less fatiqued!! My husband is 2 months post treatment and managing to get only tiny amounts of food down each day - relying on the cans for his nutrition - and tired quite a bit of the time. Are you now blending 'real' food until it is like applesauce or are you just chopping it into very small pieces?? I would like to try the food processing and am curious as to how you are doing it..

    Thanks and God Bless,
    Irene

    Like water
    Irene,

    Yes I puree it and add juice to make it even more liquid. Now don't forget I am putting this through a tube so I don't care what it tastes like. I just throw a lot of "stuff" in it and let it run. I had an appointment with my ENT today and he likes what I'm doing but did warn me to not use food in the tube that is too thick or it could cause it to become blocked....I haven't had that problem. If he is drinking it then I would follow a "menu". Fact is it has helped me and that feels good.
  • Greend
    Greend Member Posts: 678
    #17
    Hondo said:

    Chemo Brain

    When I got home I was telling my Wife about the Ninja food processor and told her to get one of them for me, so she went to the pantries pull it off the middle shelve and said here you been using it for almost year now.

    That’s it I am not saying anything more then that. :+})
    Hondo

    I worry about you
    Hondo...smart move blaming it on chemo brain
  • SamandIrene
    SamandIrene Member Posts: 10
    #18
    Greend said:

    Like water
    Irene,

    Yes I puree it and add juice to make it even more liquid. Now don't forget I am putting this through a tube so I don't care what it tastes like. I just throw a lot of "stuff" in it and let it run. I had an appointment with my ENT today and he likes what I'm doing but did warn me to not use food in the tube that is too thick or it could cause it to become blocked....I haven't had that problem. If he is drinking it then I would follow a "menu". Fact is it has helped me and that feels good.

    aha - through the tube
    So it is going through your PEG tube - awesome! So glad to hear it is helping - all these 'tricks' are invaluable to getting through the changes we are faced with!

    God Bless,
    Irene
  • sweetblood22
    sweetblood22 Member Posts: 3,228
    #19
    SamandIrene said:

    aha - through the tube
    So it is going through your PEG tube - awesome! So glad to hear it is helping - all these 'tricks' are invaluable to getting through the changes we are faced with!

    God Bless,
    Irene

    Irene, if you look at the
    Irene, if you look at the superthread, under liquid nutrition, there is a link to Lucy's Real Food. She has a site dedicated to preparing real food for peg tube feeding.

    I did not know about that site, or this one, during my treatment. I did however, put through baby food, thinned out with water and my canned nutrition, as well as prune juice, and Activia yogurt every day. I let my RO know what I was doing, and he was very happy with that. I did that at the time, because I needed the extra fibre, and it helped to stay regular, plus I struggled with low potassium through radiation.

    You just have to make sure that your food is well blended, thin and strained of any lumps, so you do not clog the tube. I never had a problem with a clog in 18 months using the baby food, etc.
  • connieprice1
    connieprice1 Member Posts: 300 Member
    #20
    Denny, It makes me happy to
    Denny, It makes me happy to hear you are getting your energy back. I love to read your post, they always make me laugh! Wishing you the Best, Homer & Connie

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