eating just sucks

staceya

I am feeling really discouraged about eating..sorry for the depressing title!

pattyanny

Yes It Does!
Hi Stacey, I hate the eating part too, but realized, after quite a while, if I ate I had energy to get out of bed! (Duh! - Hey I am a blonde! Lol!)
Soup, and carnation VHC drink was a start. Now I am eating, but you are right - it sucks!
Keep in touch! Patty

Glenna M

pattyanny said:

Yes It Does!
Hi Stacey, I hate the eating part too, but realized, after quite a while, if I ate I had energy to get out of bed! (Duh! - Hey I am a blonde! Lol!)
Soup, and carnation VHC drink was a start. Now I am eating, but you are right - it sucks!
Keep in touch! Patty

Totally agree!!
Hi Patty and Stacey,

I'm 8 months post treatment and sometimes look at eating as more of a chore instead of something pleasurable. And believe me I used to love to eat - lol

I know I have to be careful because I will lose weight if I don't keep my calorie intake the same each day. I have found that on the days I really don't feel like eating I can just drink a couple bottles of Ensure Plus and still maintain my weight. I know I shouldn't do this but sometimes I just don't feel like eating.

Take care and keep trying to eat ;-)

Glenna

Mick123

Glenna M said:

Totally agree!!
Hi Patty and Stacey,

I'm 8 months post treatment and sometimes look at eating as more of a chore instead of something pleasurable. And believe me I used to love to eat - lol

I know I have to be careful because I will lose weight if I don't keep my calorie intake the same each day. I have found that on the days I really don't feel like eating I can just drink a couple bottles of Ensure Plus and still maintain my weight. I know I shouldn't do this but sometimes I just don't feel like eating.

Take care and keep trying to eat ;-)

Glenna

I know how bad it is to eat
I know how bad it is to eat but it is vital that you do. If you keep your strength up by eating, things just become a little bit easier to take and you know we sometimes have to hang our hats on the little things. I had a feeding tube through most of my treatment and even then didn't really have the desire to eat but I knew how important it was to at least get those fluids in me. Hang in there and eat what you can. It gets better. My thoughts and prayers are with you.

rozaroo

Mick123 said:

I know how bad it is to eat
I know how bad it is to eat but it is vital that you do. If you keep your strength up by eating, things just become a little bit easier to take and you know we sometimes have to hang our hats on the little things. I had a feeding tube through most of my treatment and even then didn't really have the desire to eat but I knew how important it was to at least get those fluids in me. Hang in there and eat what you can. It gets better. My thoughts and prayers are with you.

I hear you !
I am going through the same thing. Down to two feeding's a day with the tube. I not hungry at all but force myself to drink shakes & try different food's. It seem's I can only get in little bit's, no apppetite. I love to cook & miss food so much However, on the bright side I do notice taste is slowly returning. I would just love to be hungry again!

debbiejeanne

staceya, no need to apologize
staceya, no need to apologize as we've all been there and vented ourselves. Most, if not all, who go thru H&N C have problems eating and then when they can, food just doesn't taste right. Another BIG let down. It will get better tho. My last trmnt was 10/22/09 and I starting eating pretty good about the beginning of May,2010. There are still flavors that don't tates right, coffee, chocolate, peanuts, peanut butter but I'm still hoping those flavors will come back, especially coffee, I really miss that. Anyway, hang in there, it WILL get better. Take Care.
God Bless,
Debbie

micktissue

You can eat?
I'm still on the PEG I was saying to my daughter yesterday that I would kill for a Subway sandwich and a bag of fritos. I'd kill to be able to eat anything at this stage. I think I still have my taste because I can taste my toothpaste! I am 8 weeks out from end of treatment (EOT) and it looks like I will continue this non-eating act for a few more weekls until my throat stops hurting.

Best,

Mick

debbiejeanne

micktissue said:

You can eat?
I'm still on the PEG I was saying to my daughter yesterday that I would kill for a Subway sandwich and a bag of fritos. I'd kill to be able to eat anything at this stage. I think I still have my taste because I can taste my toothpaste! I am 8 weeks out from end of treatment (EOT) and it looks like I will continue this non-eating act for a few more weekls until my throat stops hurting.

Best,

Mick

Mick, it took 8 mo b4 I
Mick, it took 8 mo b4 I could eat.My last trmnt was 10/22/09 and even today, I still have trouble w/the food getting stuck. I remember when I was saying just what you are saying....I would kill... Hang in there, you will be able to eat again.
God Bless,
Debbbie

staceya

debbiejeanne said:

Mick, it took 8 mo b4 I
Mick, it took 8 mo b4 I could eat.My last trmnt was 10/22/09 and even today, I still have trouble w/the food getting stuck. I remember when I was saying just what you are saying....I would kill... Hang in there, you will be able to eat again.
God Bless,
Debbbie

Mick- I am about 4 weeks
Mick- I am about 4 weeks ahead of you..I WAS hungry until mid April, when that disappeared..due to frustration? depression? I am not sure. I am hopefully hopeful, that I will follow the path of others and things will work out..wish I had more patience..
Well off to eat a lunch of boost, followed by a dinner of boost, followed by a breakfast of....boost???
Stacey..

Fire34

staceya said:

Mick- I am about 4 weeks
Mick- I am about 4 weeks ahead of you..I WAS hungry until mid April, when that disappeared..due to frustration? depression? I am not sure. I am hopefully hopeful, that I will follow the path of others and things will work out..wish I had more patience..
Well off to eat a lunch of boost, followed by a dinner of boost, followed by a breakfast of....boost???
Stacey..

Eating
Stacey
Dont worry I am 6 months out and eating still sucks for me. I still have no taste yet and for me it is a mind over matter type thing. I also have the better half egging me on. I also still have no saliva and of course that doesn't help. I could go all day without eating as I still have no real appetite, but eat when I can.
Is it the swallowing that is the hard part? I know the first month and 1/2 for me it was and it got better a little at a time. I started out with scrambled eggs and that type of thing. I am hoping and praying things work out and they will. Keep a positive attitude and dont stop trying things.
Dave

vvandamme

rozaroo said:

I hear you !
I am going through the same thing. Down to two feeding's a day with the tube. I not hungry at all but force myself to drink shakes & try different food's. It seem's I can only get in little bit's, no apppetite. I love to cook & miss food so much However, on the bright side I do notice taste is slowly returning. I would just love to be hungry again!

eating
I hear you, I feel the same way. What a chore to even think about it.

vvandamme

Fire34 said:

Eating
Stacey
Dont worry I am 6 months out and eating still sucks for me. I still have no taste yet and for me it is a mind over matter type thing. I also have the better half egging me on. I also still have no saliva and of course that doesn't help. I could go all day without eating as I still have no real appetite, but eat when I can.
Is it the swallowing that is the hard part? I know the first month and 1/2 for me it was and it got better a little at a time. I started out with scrambled eggs and that type of thing. I am hoping and praying things work out and they will. Keep a positive attitude and dont stop trying things.
Dave

eating
I know just what you mean. It is so difficult to eat due to no desire. I tried vegatables beleive it or not they are the best. There is no sugar and no acid to irratate my tongue. Hope this helps.

pattyanny

Glenna M said:

Totally agree!!
Hi Patty and Stacey,

I'm 8 months post treatment and sometimes look at eating as more of a chore instead of something pleasurable. And believe me I used to love to eat - lol

I know I have to be careful because I will lose weight if I don't keep my calorie intake the same each day. I have found that on the days I really don't feel like eating I can just drink a couple bottles of Ensure Plus and still maintain my weight. I know I shouldn't do this but sometimes I just don't feel like eating.

Take care and keep trying to eat ;-)

Glenna

Hi Glenna
Happy to hear you are 8 months out! Hey - so am I! Hooray!
No, I rarely enjoy eating, except, when I can, I will go have a creamy soup at a restaurant for lunch. It just takes so long to eat anything - it IS a chore! I, too am not consistent, so it's bad for the weight and energy issue. The Dr did give me a RX Megace, maybe I should go back to taking it. It brings on quite an appetite! Lol!
Thanks, and keep pressing forward Glenna!

pattyanny

micktissue said:

You can eat?
I'm still on the PEG I was saying to my daughter yesterday that I would kill for a Subway sandwich and a bag of fritos. I'd kill to be able to eat anything at this stage. I think I still have my taste because I can taste my toothpaste! I am 8 weeks out from end of treatment (EOT) and it looks like I will continue this non-eating act for a few more weekls until my throat stops hurting.

Best,

Mick

Soon Micktissue!
Hey - toothpaste, Yum! Lol! Yes it is a good sign. Soon mick, you will be slurping up soups and having that Subway & fritos! I hope you have meds for that throat pain!??
You are in my prayers, as always, Patty

dfdb06c

staceya said:

Mick- I am about 4 weeks
Mick- I am about 4 weeks ahead of you..I WAS hungry until mid April, when that disappeared..due to frustration? depression? I am not sure. I am hopefully hopeful, that I will follow the path of others and things will work out..wish I had more patience..
Well off to eat a lunch of boost, followed by a dinner of boost, followed by a breakfast of....boost???
Stacey..

Boost,boost, and more boost
Stacey, I am 5 months out, 12-30-09 last Tx, and today is the first day I have eaten more calories than I've taken in with boost. I completely understand your lunch,dinner, and breakfast comment as I told my wife that one day. It is getting a lot better, yesterday I had brisket for the first time(I'm in Texas), not much but some. As everyone says, it will get better and I have had problems with my patience wearing thin. I've had one major meltdown over the eating issue as I felt it would never improve, but even though I'm not at 100% it has improved significantly over the last few weeks. I still will be supplementing with boost for a while but feel I am turning a corner. I ate a lot of soups to start with. I understand your frustration completely though, and hope this helps a little bit. You are not alone.
Kenny

sportsman

Eating Just Sucks
I am now a little over three years post treatment and still struggle to eat. I have been dilated four times now and another one scheduled for June. I refer to my wife that it is time to choke rather than to eat. This makes her mad but in essence that about what it is for those of us who have been maimed by radiation. This is extremely hard on your social life as you can't go out to eat with friends and family, can't go to social functions etc. It is hard to watch someone else eat and enjoy food when you know you can't do the same. I smell really well and my taste buds are still there for the most part, but without saliva and a throat that feels as though it has a lump in it all the time eating is now for entirely survival and nothing else. I lost fifty pounds during treatment and have only gained about twenty four of it back in three years. I will say that anything beats that peg tube hanging out of your gut and having to take care of all that goes with it. Maybe someday there will be some hope for us who have gone through this if we don't die before it happens. I know the teaching hospital I go to with my swallowing problems is working on saliva gland transplants now but who knows how far this is out there in the future. In the mean time let us all pray for others that will have this terrible treatment and it can be progressed so it will not be so devastating.

Hondo

Hi Staceya
Hey its OK we all understand, my food was just grits’ for many months even after treatment.

fishingirl

sportsman said:

Eating Just Sucks
I am now a little over three years post treatment and still struggle to eat. I have been dilated four times now and another one scheduled for June. I refer to my wife that it is time to choke rather than to eat. This makes her mad but in essence that about what it is for those of us who have been maimed by radiation. This is extremely hard on your social life as you can't go out to eat with friends and family, can't go to social functions etc. It is hard to watch someone else eat and enjoy food when you know you can't do the same. I smell really well and my taste buds are still there for the most part, but without saliva and a throat that feels as though it has a lump in it all the time eating is now for entirely survival and nothing else. I lost fifty pounds during treatment and have only gained about twenty four of it back in three years. I will say that anything beats that peg tube hanging out of your gut and having to take care of all that goes with it. Maybe someday there will be some hope for us who have gone through this if we don't die before it happens. I know the teaching hospital I go to with my swallowing problems is working on saliva gland transplants now but who knows how far this is out there in the future. In the mean time let us all pray for others that will have this terrible treatment and it can be progressed so it will not be so devastating.

Hi Stacy! What I do for
Hi Stacy! What I do for nutritious calories is mix banana, strawberries and blueberries with a can of Ensure in a blender. And does it ever taste good!! Give it a try:)

Cindy

stevenl

sportsman said:

Eating Just Sucks
I am now a little over three years post treatment and still struggle to eat. I have been dilated four times now and another one scheduled for June. I refer to my wife that it is time to choke rather than to eat. This makes her mad but in essence that about what it is for those of us who have been maimed by radiation. This is extremely hard on your social life as you can't go out to eat with friends and family, can't go to social functions etc. It is hard to watch someone else eat and enjoy food when you know you can't do the same. I smell really well and my taste buds are still there for the most part, but without saliva and a throat that feels as though it has a lump in it all the time eating is now for entirely survival and nothing else. I lost fifty pounds during treatment and have only gained about twenty four of it back in three years. I will say that anything beats that peg tube hanging out of your gut and having to take care of all that goes with it. Maybe someday there will be some hope for us who have gone through this if we don't die before it happens. I know the teaching hospital I go to with my swallowing problems is working on saliva gland transplants now but who knows how far this is out there in the future. In the mean time let us all pray for others that will have this terrible treatment and it can be progressed so it will not be so devastating.

same here
I am the same way. I am trying now to eat things. The only thing that tastes good is Apple Jacks cereal. I can eat about 1/2 a pancake, if it is soaked in butter and syrup. It just drives me crazy and I can drink all the boost and ensure I need for my calories, so I am going to ask to get the tube taken out next week. I don't have trouble like sportsman, I can swallow and the soreness is almost gone. But eating pears and cottage cheese?? Never have I eaten it before and I don't like it that much but at least it is not boost. Yea, eating sucks.

Best,
Steve

survivor31

stevenl said:

same here
I am the same way. I am trying now to eat things. The only thing that tastes good is Apple Jacks cereal. I can eat about 1/2 a pancake, if it is soaked in butter and syrup. It just drives me crazy and I can drink all the boost and ensure I need for my calories, so I am going to ask to get the tube taken out next week. I don't have trouble like sportsman, I can swallow and the soreness is almost gone. But eating pears and cottage cheese?? Never have I eaten it before and I don't like it that much but at least it is not boost. Yea, eating sucks.

Best,
Steve

im having the same problems
hi there im four months out of treatment and feel just as you do staceya it is very hard my mind and body still craves for things I once enjoyed it is at times deppressing really when the taste is so mute I guess all can do is hang in there and hope for the best

staceya

survivor31 said:

im having the same problems
hi there im four months out of treatment and feel just as you do staceya it is very hard my mind and body still craves for things I once enjoyed it is at times deppressing really when the taste is so mute I guess all can do is hang in there and hope for the best

Thanks so much! It is so
Thanks so much! It is so helpful to hear from others point of view...
My taste has gotten so off, the other day when I was drinking (Believe it or not a boost) through a straw, I did not notice that I was eating a bit of the paper straw wrapper as well...must have tasted the same as the drink!!
Stacey