nutrition issues

imjb73
imjb73 Member Posts: 34
in Liver Cancer #1
I'm sure it is a common problem. I could use some help.
With the liver function as it is and the swelling we have been told low sodium. Now he is also anemic and his albumin level is low. The doctor says eat healthy and add boost and/or ensure to see if that helps. After his Y90 treatments he has an awful taste in his mouth and nothing tastes good so that makes it even harder. It seems everything has sodium in it. He is to have 2000 mg. or less per day. He wanted french toast for breakfast. Bread,eggs,milk,butter,syrup all have sodium. Even the boost & ensure are pretty high in sodium even though they have 13-15 grams of protein that he needs.He is getting very frustrated because the swelling is getting worse. I need help with low sodium options it adds up really fast.

Comments

  • Tina Blondek
    Tina Blondek Member Posts: 1,500 Member
    #2
    Hello imjb,
    I chat with you.
    Hello imjb,
    I chat with you. Sorry you are having a rough go of it. Hmmmm...have the drs. suggested a feeding tube?
    Jtube is the best from what I have learned. When everything has a bad taste, no one or nothing is going to taste good. The feeding tube goes right into the stomach, so the taste buds are not involved. There are more low sodium options available. Low sodium broth, low sodium soups, the low fat choices are also low sodium. Hope this helps. Keep us updated!
    Tina in Va
  • slg
    slg Member Posts: 200
    #3
    Nutrition
    As with your husband, my husband has also had issues with sodium and was anemic a few months back. In addition he couldn't tolerate the nutritional drinks as they gave him diarrhea.
    He now can drink the Ensure drink, he was taking iron pills and the Doctor prescribed lasix and Aldactone for the water retention.
    We do still watch his sodium. I spend a lot of time checking the labels in the stores. We try not to use packaged foods, make everyone honmemade. There is a brand out there, "Nature" I think, that makes some soups and broth that are low in sodium.
    My husband also eats udon noodles and pasta for some protein instead of meat, fish and poultry.
    We call this our science project! Good luck.
  • mhrosado
    mhrosado Member Posts: 37
    #4
    slg said:

    Nutrition
    As with your husband, my husband has also had issues with sodium and was anemic a few months back. In addition he couldn't tolerate the nutritional drinks as they gave him diarrhea.
    He now can drink the Ensure drink, he was taking iron pills and the Doctor prescribed lasix and Aldactone for the water retention.
    We do still watch his sodium. I spend a lot of time checking the labels in the stores. We try not to use packaged foods, make everyone honmemade. There is a brand out there, "Nature" I think, that makes some soups and broth that are low in sodium.
    My husband also eats udon noodles and pasta for some protein instead of meat, fish and poultry.
    We call this our science project! Good luck.

    Nutrition
    Hi slg. I've been following your posts and just wanted to say hello and tell you to keep being strong. I am so hopeful that all goes well and that you make your trip to Kansas City soon. Take care
  • imjb73
    imjb73 Member Posts: 34
    #5
    slg said:

    Nutrition
    As with your husband, my husband has also had issues with sodium and was anemic a few months back. In addition he couldn't tolerate the nutritional drinks as they gave him diarrhea.
    He now can drink the Ensure drink, he was taking iron pills and the Doctor prescribed lasix and Aldactone for the water retention.
    We do still watch his sodium. I spend a lot of time checking the labels in the stores. We try not to use packaged foods, make everyone honmemade. There is a brand out there, "Nature" I think, that makes some soups and broth that are low in sodium.
    My husband also eats udon noodles and pasta for some protein instead of meat, fish and poultry.
    We call this our science project! Good luck.

    we have lots in common
    I know you have first hand experience. He already had diarrhea issues then they added the Lactulose because of his ammonia levels and that has even made that worse. He has been eating some pasta and I've found a lower sodium sauce as well as made some with no salt added tomato products. It's just getting harder seems the more labels I read the worse they seem to be. I found a no sodium chicken boullion but the store doesn't carry the beef. It just seems the mg add up so fast. Right now he says the only thing that tastes good is the non salted top saltine crackers and 7 up. After the mess up at the doctor's office Wednesday then the good news Thursday I guess I shouldn't complain about anything but he is miserable with the swelling.
  • slg
    slg Member Posts: 200
    #6
    imjb73 said:

    we have lots in common
    I know you have first hand experience. He already had diarrhea issues then they added the Lactulose because of his ammonia levels and that has even made that worse. He has been eating some pasta and I've found a lower sodium sauce as well as made some with no salt added tomato products. It's just getting harder seems the more labels I read the worse they seem to be. I found a no sodium chicken boullion but the store doesn't carry the beef. It just seems the mg add up so fast. Right now he says the only thing that tastes good is the non salted top saltine crackers and 7 up. After the mess up at the doctor's office Wednesday then the good news Thursday I guess I shouldn't complain about anything but he is miserable with the swelling.

    Hi Maria,
    Thank you for your
    Hi Maria,
    Thank you for your nice posting on the Cancer Survivors Network page today. We have found that my husband needs to eat simple meals. Not a lot of ingredients or sauces for one thing. he does take two pills to keep fluid retention down. Although he doesn't have a lot of it anyway. Also he takes Megace to give him a better appetite. That has helped. Just wondering why you are going to the VA now? I would like to recommend CPMC and Dr. Timothy DAvern in San Francisco. If it wasn't for him my husband would not be where he is today. Please email me your email address. I will also put you on my CaringBridge page. it's strickly for us caregivers. I have another one for Paul and I to share with friends and family but thought I should have one of my own too just for all the nice people I have found like myself caring for our loved ones.
    Slg72@aol.com I am staying strong and hope you will too. Hope and postive thinking go a long long way.
    Sue

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