How do you get yourself to eat with no taste?
I have tried various soft foods like mashed potatoes, watered down rice, various soups, shakes, etc. The more liquified, the faster I can get it down, it seems the better.
I drink my supplements because they provide the most calories and whatever else is a huge struggle. My mouth isn't sore (yet, 20 rads in) and I know I need to maintain swallowing and importantly my weight.
In fact, there are times I practice using my g-tube to put in a supplement can so I don't have to drink or eat tasteless food for a few hours.
I am using a straw to drink and it seems to help a bit.
Comments
-
Easy
Roger,
When I went through treatment I don't think the G-tube had been invented. I recall today how painful and tiresome it was to eat but I knew to either eat or die and I wasn't ready to go.
For the last year I have had a g-tube and I would recommend that you 1) eat a small amount every day and drink a lot of fluids to keep the swallow muscles working and 2)use the g-tube. Thats what it was put in for. I would highly recommend using "real" food in the tube because it will give you more stamina and prevent constipation. I've been experiementing using my food processor to puree everything including fast food. I just add a lot of juice or soy milk, pull it into the syringe and shoot it in. I feel much better than I did with just Ensure. Yes it is messier but once you get used to it it isn't so bad. Hang in there it will get better.
Denny0 -
Eating
Roger,
I am 2+ weeks post rad and I have to say the worst part for me is the lack of saliva and taste. I have a little of each but not enough to make eating a pleasure. I personally think the lack of saliva is the worst part. I did not have a PEG so I just lived on Ensure and now Ensure and a little bit of real food like homemade soup. Unfortunately at this stage food is just not very appealing so like others I just force myself to eat and look forward to better days.0 -
Same As Above - Easy Decision
I also didn't have the PEG, not an issue, just to mention...
For me around week 4 of rads and a few weeks after, it was painful to swallow food.
So with Ensure Plus being 350 calories/can, I felt it gave me the most bang for the buck. I would drink a few cans of that 2 - 3 times a day along with a few sliced peaches (just to keep the muscles working)... of course that was preceeeded with pain numbing solutions and followed up with a few more pain killers, along with plenty of water.
It was a no brainer, you do what you have to do to survive, and to not wither away. It's not going to last for ever and it's better than the alternative.
Best,
John0 -
Can you still smell?
Can you still smell? Sometimes smelling something you really like that is very fragrant can help. For me almond, Ginger, coffee, basil and vanilla worked for a little bit.
When I had no taste, I ate like a maniac, trying to taste stuff. I didn't have mouth sores yet at that point. When stuff tastes nasty, that is totally different and it does get harder to choke stuff down.
I still think that if you have gone 20 treatments with no sores yet, you may squeak through with minimal sores, especially if you are using the Glutamine.0 -
narrow g-tube lumenGreend said:Easy
Roger,
When I went through treatment I don't think the G-tube had been invented. I recall today how painful and tiresome it was to eat but I knew to either eat or die and I wasn't ready to go.
For the last year I have had a g-tube and I would recommend that you 1) eat a small amount every day and drink a lot of fluids to keep the swallow muscles working and 2)use the g-tube. Thats what it was put in for. I would highly recommend using "real" food in the tube because it will give you more stamina and prevent constipation. I've been experiementing using my food processor to puree everything including fast food. I just add a lot of juice or soy milk, pull it into the syringe and shoot it in. I feel much better than I did with just Ensure. Yes it is messier but once you get used to it it isn't so bad. Hang in there it will get better.
Denny
I want to put real food through there but I'm afraid of clogging it.
It's pretty small at 14gauge.
I also seem to have a hard time if I syringe supplements in. If it doesn't go in slowly by gravity in a bag, I get indigestion, heartburn, etc.
Strange, because I can drink them in a few minutes. Not sure, I might have to test that again.0 -
Minimum calories
That's on my mind all the time.
If I don't get at least my 4 cans a day, I will wither. And I already lost some weight when I was in the hospital last week having my infected g-tube changed (I had no nutrition for 5 days). I caught a cold on discharge and now have a bit of a nagging cough.
I'm using the glutamine (thx sweets!) and raw honey tea daily, really hoping the sores don't come out and get bad.
My mouth isn't too mucusy yet, expecting it soon.
Funny, cooking shows and food commercials really turn me off now.0 -
BeforeGreend said:Easy
Roger,
When I went through treatment I don't think the G-tube had been invented. I recall today how painful and tiresome it was to eat but I knew to either eat or die and I wasn't ready to go.
For the last year I have had a g-tube and I would recommend that you 1) eat a small amount every day and drink a lot of fluids to keep the swallow muscles working and 2)use the g-tube. Thats what it was put in for. I would highly recommend using "real" food in the tube because it will give you more stamina and prevent constipation. I've been experiementing using my food processor to puree everything including fast food. I just add a lot of juice or soy milk, pull it into the syringe and shoot it in. I feel much better than I did with just Ensure. Yes it is messier but once you get used to it it isn't so bad. Hang in there it will get better.
Denny
I to went thru treatment before the feeding tube was considered part of the treatment regiment.
Keep in mind that surviving is most important and a must to help the body fight and heal nourishment is so very important. Just like having to force yourself to go to treatments and continue on daily you must force self to nourish and swallow. Nourish thru tube and at the very least take sips of liquid many times an hour to keep the swallow muscle movement working.
Pain meds were also not part of the regiment unless you were a big time beggar.
I sipped alot with chicken noodle soup broth and banana popsicles at the worst of time with cans of ensure for the only nourishment. Take advantage of the tube and keep the cans of nourishment going also as they have nutrients in them that you can not get enough of.
good luck.
johnvg0 -
GlutamineRogerRN43 said:Minimum calories
That's on my mind all the time.
If I don't get at least my 4 cans a day, I will wither. And I already lost some weight when I was in the hospital last week having my infected g-tube changed (I had no nutrition for 5 days). I caught a cold on discharge and now have a bit of a nagging cough.
I'm using the glutamine (thx sweets!) and raw honey tea daily, really hoping the sores don't come out and get bad.
My mouth isn't too mucusy yet, expecting it soon.
Funny, cooking shows and food commercials really turn me off now.
How are you using the glutamine? Mixing it with anything or just water. Do you drink it or swish/spit.0 -
I drank the cans alsoac said:Eggs
Have you tried eggs? I ate eggs scrambled, fried, boiled or steamed. As they don't really have much taste, it was as close to normal as I could get.
Until the pain in my throat was unbearable which was really just one real bad week that I didn't dare put anything down my throat. It subsides again enough to drink the cans and some soups. You should really get a little practice with the tube now while you can still eat. Don't worry about it clogging up. It's just a tube and tubes can be unclogged. It happens and people have used coat hangers, fishing line, and carbonated drinks to loosen the clogs. They also back up all over your favorite shirt! You're doing great and being careful with nutrition, now stick a meatball through that tube.0 -
or an entire cheesecakeratface said:I drank the cans also
Until the pain in my throat was unbearable which was really just one real bad week that I didn't dare put anything down my throat. It subsides again enough to drink the cans and some soups. You should really get a little practice with the tube now while you can still eat. Don't worry about it clogging up. It's just a tube and tubes can be unclogged. It happens and people have used coat hangers, fishing line, and carbonated drinks to loosen the clogs. They also back up all over your favorite shirt! You're doing great and being careful with nutrition, now stick a meatball through that tube.
No kidding. I was lucky enough to not have any pain swallowing. I gave up on the hard to swallow stuff, like sandwiches for awhile. But I concentrated on high-calorie foods. There's no way to eat as much when you can't taste anything. Your apetite just isn't there. I dropped a bunch of weight, but not enough to need a tube. If I'd had a tube, I'd have been cramming everything of high calorie density I could find through it...0 -
Cheesecakelongtermsurvivor said:or an entire cheesecake
No kidding. I was lucky enough to not have any pain swallowing. I gave up on the hard to swallow stuff, like sandwiches for awhile. But I concentrated on high-calorie foods. There's no way to eat as much when you can't taste anything. Your apetite just isn't there. I dropped a bunch of weight, but not enough to need a tube. If I'd had a tube, I'd have been cramming everything of high calorie density I could find through it...
MMMM, my absolute favorite, especially with cherry toppings....
Actually Shelley has a birthday on Decemebr 1st...she asked me to take her to the Cheesecake Factory in Tampa.
Best,
John0 -
Wish I was getting someSkiffin16 said:Cheesecake
MMMM, my absolute favorite, especially with cherry toppings....
Actually Shelley has a birthday on Decemebr 1st...she asked me to take her to the Cheesecake Factory in Tampa.
Best,
John
Wish I was getting some cheesecake right now!!!!! Yum that sounds good.0 -
Glutamineosmotar said:Glutamine
How are you using the glutamine? Mixing it with anything or just water. Do you drink it or swish/spit.
It's a light white powder, I mix it in some water or put it in my raw honey tea and drink it.
I learned about it from the Superthread. If I remember right, to prevent mouth sores and perhaps even preserve some salivary function.
Normally anything high in antioxidant properties should not be taken during rad as it goes against it's effectiveness, and there is some indirect antioxidant effects in glutamine, so I'm not entirely sure about it.
Last night, my throat was sore and I thought it was coming but since this morning the whole area isn't sore at all. I have 14 rads left and a month after that to find out if it gets worse I guess.0 -
Foods that normally have little taste...
I tried a Chinese pear today, they are like a fusion of apple and pear, round, light yellow skin, high in water content, slightly sweet but not that flavourful. Surprisingly, I enjoyed them (skinned and cut up).
I'm going to try some canned peaches later (thanks John). That should go down easy.
I wonder if foods that normally have little taste will feel closer to normal and go down easier. I did struggle with boiled eggs the other day.
I didn't use to be a picky eater, ate everything, tried everything. How the game has changed with no taste (and further change I suppose as it dries in there).
It's true, psychological or not, I do feel better after eating real food vs the canned stuff.
Too bad the cans pack the most punch, about 470cal, even more than the EnsurePlus 355cal.0 -
Because you mustRogerRN43 said:Foods that normally have little taste...
I tried a Chinese pear today, they are like a fusion of apple and pear, round, light yellow skin, high in water content, slightly sweet but not that flavourful. Surprisingly, I enjoyed them (skinned and cut up).
I'm going to try some canned peaches later (thanks John). That should go down easy.
I wonder if foods that normally have little taste will feel closer to normal and go down easier. I did struggle with boiled eggs the other day.
I didn't use to be a picky eater, ate everything, tried everything. How the game has changed with no taste (and further change I suppose as it dries in there).
It's true, psychological or not, I do feel better after eating real food vs the canned stuff.
Too bad the cans pack the most punch, about 470cal, even more than the EnsurePlus 355cal.
It's your job, your function, your part, whatever you like.
My wife, DrMary, is an excellent cook and is often adventurous both with "American" cuisine and with those of the other countries in which we have lived. And I am often lamenting that I cannot do justice to what she makes nor can she make things that would be more adventurous. I am sure that even now she would like to get away from softer foods and soups and pastas and such.
But whether a year ago in the worst of it as in the picture, when a couple of mouthfuls every few hours was a trial, or now when I eat fairly easily, nutritioning myself and surviving was my primary job. Sometimes it required magic mouthwash, sometimes just the straight lidocaine, sometimes it was pure willpower to put the tiniest amount in my mouth, but this was what I had to do if I was going to stay alive and see my kids grow up. And that's the bottom line, isn't it?
BTW, it has been since Aug 23 2010 that I have had a meal that was not, at least, in some way compromised whether a little or a lot. Nevertheless, I am most grateful for what I have.
Doug0 -
RogerRogerRN43 said:Foods that normally have little taste...
I tried a Chinese pear today, they are like a fusion of apple and pear, round, light yellow skin, high in water content, slightly sweet but not that flavourful. Surprisingly, I enjoyed them (skinned and cut up).
I'm going to try some canned peaches later (thanks John). That should go down easy.
I wonder if foods that normally have little taste will feel closer to normal and go down easier. I did struggle with boiled eggs the other day.
I didn't use to be a picky eater, ate everything, tried everything. How the game has changed with no taste (and further change I suppose as it dries in there).
It's true, psychological or not, I do feel better after eating real food vs the canned stuff.
Too bad the cans pack the most punch, about 470cal, even more than the EnsurePlus 355cal.
What is the supplement that you are taking?0 -
PeachesRogerRN43 said:Foods that normally have little taste...
I tried a Chinese pear today, they are like a fusion of apple and pear, round, light yellow skin, high in water content, slightly sweet but not that flavourful. Surprisingly, I enjoyed them (skinned and cut up).
I'm going to try some canned peaches later (thanks John). That should go down easy.
I wonder if foods that normally have little taste will feel closer to normal and go down easier. I did struggle with boiled eggs the other day.
I didn't use to be a picky eater, ate everything, tried everything. How the game has changed with no taste (and further change I suppose as it dries in there).
It's true, psychological or not, I do feel better after eating real food vs the canned stuff.
Too bad the cans pack the most punch, about 470cal, even more than the EnsurePlus 355cal.
Not sure if it matters, but I liked the DelMonte Sliced Peaches in Light Syrup...they are in glass jars, similar to Mason Jars.
I tried the unsweetened, thinking it wouldn't matter since I couldn't taste anyways...apparently it did, I could definitely tell the difference.
It was mainly to keep the throat working, but I could taste them a little.
Best,
John0 -
Roger, here's more info....Skiffin16 said:Peaches
Not sure if it matters, but I liked the DelMonte Sliced Peaches in Light Syrup...they are in glass jars, similar to Mason Jars.
I tried the unsweetened, thinking it wouldn't matter since I couldn't taste anyways...apparently it did, I could definitely tell the difference.
It was mainly to keep the throat working, but I could taste them a little.
Best,
John
Hi Roger
You're post sounds like you are living my life 19 months later !!
No hunger, food looks disgusting, no appetite, etc, etc. I relied on shakes and protein drinks....Try to order some Carnation instant breakfast on line at walgreen. It is 560 calories and I mix it with Starbucks Frappaccino drinks from supermarket, 200 calories and it is really good. Goes down easy and is a cool 760 calories.
Then I order Scandi shakes on line at OTC.com. Mix the powder with 8 oz of milk and you get another 600 calories that tastes pretty good, vanilla, choc and strawberry. All are ok to drink. The reason for two types is one is in cans and the other is a packet. Easy to take with you anywhere. I worked and traveled and took the Scandi shakes with me and would drink 2-3 a day to get as many calories as I needed. I still count calories in my head all day and I can now eat just about everything I want.
I still have little appetite but I understand that my job now is to stay healthy and get my calories with protein and other nutrients.
I had the PEG for 13 months and it was a life saver, just not easy to use at lunch when working or when traveling, so the shakes and drinks are a great option.....
Good luck with the journey Roger, it does get better. You just have to keep your head up and be positive and keep marching forward......You can do it and you will do it....
All the best to you,,,
Steve0 -
I just used the peg, a lot
Hi Roger, I never had mouth sores, and could always swallow, sometimes painfully of course. I had my peg put in before I ever started treatment; that was everybody's advice. I didn't try and homemade concoctions. I had the long tube, that is, an extended tube that goes deep into the stomach. If you get a clog on the inside, it can be a problem, and call for an emergency room visit. I think if you puree it, and thin it, it minimum risk for long tubes, but I didn't do it.
I just got used to the idea of plugging in and doing cans. I'd try somehting to eat at different stages and the whole activity was noxious to me. The texture of the tasteless food was unpleasant. I made sure I kept swallowing with water and juice, lots every day. Eggs were the first things I could eat that didn't revolt me, and that was after several months of pure can. I wasn't working, so it was no problem for me.
I've had a big change again in the last couple of months. I'm approaching two years out. I had regained some taste, but lately, my bud acuuity has made big gains. I'm enjoying eating again, but when I couldn't, I just didn't. That's what the tube was for.
best, Hal0
Discussion Boards
- All Discussion Boards
- 6 CSN Information
- 6 Welcome to CSN
- 121.6K Cancer specific
- 2.8K Anal Cancer
- 446 Bladder Cancer
- 308 Bone Cancers
- 1.6K Brain Cancer
- 28.5K Breast Cancer
- 395 Childhood Cancers
- 27.9K Colorectal Cancer
- 4.6K Esophageal Cancer
- 1.2K Gynecological Cancers (other than ovarian and uterine)
- 13K Head and Neck Cancer
- 6.3K Kidney Cancer
- 671 Leukemia
- 791 Liver Cancer
- 4.1K Lung Cancer
- 5.1K Lymphoma (Hodgkin and Non-Hodgkin)
- 235 Multiple Myeloma
- 7.1K Ovarian Cancer
- 56 Pancreatic Cancer
- 487 Peritoneal Cancer
- 5.4K Prostate Cancer
- 1.2K Rare and Other Cancers
- 534 Sarcoma
- 719 Skin Cancer
- 647 Stomach Cancer
- 190 Testicular Cancer
- 1.5K Thyroid Cancer
- 5.9K Uterine/Endometrial Cancer
- 6.3K Lifestyle Discussion Boards