chemo/nutrition

Misty35
Misty35 Member Posts: 24
in Head and Neck Cancer #1
My hubby is 6 days in on his chemo, which he is getting for 9 weeks. I am worried about his food intake, seems like everyday he can consume less and less food. The only thing that seems to taste good to him are popsicles. I have been reading the posts about peg tubes and I am wondering if peg tubes are put in place during chemo before radiation begins. I am also concerned with his water intake, he hates water, and I am pretty much bugging him all the time to drink it. He says that everything tastes like metal and he just doesn't want anything. Any thoughts or ideas are much appreciated and thanks again to everyone who help with this site.

Comments

  • Hondo
    Hondo Member Posts: 6,636 Member
    #2
    Hi Misty
    Yes you may want to ask your doctor about getting a PEG tube, the most importance thing right now is to keep him eating and drinking. Dehydration is something you need to check him for everyday so he needs to be drinking 6 to 8 glasses of water every day. He is right about the metal or cardboard taste but it will go away once treatment stops.

    Take care and keep posting, and Welcome to the Family here on CSN
    Hondo
  • Kent Cass
    Kent Cass Member Posts: 1,898 Member
    #3
    Misty
    Others have gotten PEGs installed during treatment, so it might very well be possible. It will eliminate the Nutrition intake obstacles that the mouth, and throat can become. Not everyone needs a PEG, but there is no debate on the advantage of having one with H&N for the times when the traditional route of intake becomes problematic. I would urge you to discuss this with your Onco on Monday, or a Nurse who can speak with the Onco for you.

    Of note, though, is that I, and a few others here, was told I had to get mine before treatment started. I think the reason for me was my chemo delivery, but cannot speak for the others who were told the same.

    kcass
  • sweetblood22
    sweetblood22 Member Posts: 3,228
    #4
    He needs to get enough
    He needs to get enough fluids and nutrition. I'd say if he is having issues doing that already, only after 6 chemo, then he really might want to consider it. It will probably only get much harder with radiation. Getting in proper fluids and nutrition is really vital. Also need to keep trying to swallow to keep those muscles moving.

    Its not easy to keep trying to eat when you don't feel well, it hurts, and every thing tastes like cardboard, metal or sweat and stuff feels like sawdust, or glass shards in your mouth. Also it takes a while for the side effects to diminish. Some of us longer than others. It just doesn't stop right after rads, you continue to cook for a couple weeks after rads stops.

    If he gets the peg and he doesn't end up using it, well that's great, but it will be there if needed.
  • adventurebob
    adventurebob Member Posts: 691
    #5
    Chemo food
    Chemo steals appetite and taste with it's nausea and other side effects. Good caloric intake and plenty of water will help with those side effects though. A little bit of exercise will increase thirst and appetite and flush out some chemo side effects. Just 20-30 minutes of daily walking will do a lot. Also, not sure where you live but in California medical marijuana is prescribed during chemo and helps with appetite and chemo side effects tremendously. It's also legal in other states, not sure of all of them though. Some things just need to be done even when they are unpleasant and calories and fluids are 2 of the big ones. Whether he feels like it or not he needs to drink and eat or he will just feel worse. My girlfriend was pretty insistent and just kept putting different things in front of me until I ate and drank. She recommends being creative and really trying to find the foods and beverages that taste best. The book: "One Bite at a Time" was very helpful for us. Even when most stuff tasted horrible there were always a few things that were tolerable. Try to find those things for him.
    Getting through chemo is almost counter-intuitive. When you feel like sleeping you need to exercise. When you don't feel like eating you really need to. When you don't feel like drinking that is when you need it most. Got to keep flushing the system with exercise and food and water. When the system stops moving is when it gets nasty.
    You'll get it. You're only 6 days in. You're just finding your stride right now. Hang in there.

    Bob
  • buzz99
    buzz99 Member Posts: 404
    #6
    chemo/nutrition
    I would advise you consult your oncologist about a peg tube. Buzz quit eating/drinking entirely after the first chemo. He landed in the hospital! Popsicles do supply fluid but not much. One-half of a popsicle is 2 oz. Buzz too had that metallic taste and everything was a turn-off. Karen
  • sangora
    sangora Member Posts: 213
    #7
    adventurebob said:

    Chemo food
    Chemo steals appetite and taste with it's nausea and other side effects. Good caloric intake and plenty of water will help with those side effects though. A little bit of exercise will increase thirst and appetite and flush out some chemo side effects. Just 20-30 minutes of daily walking will do a lot. Also, not sure where you live but in California medical marijuana is prescribed during chemo and helps with appetite and chemo side effects tremendously. It's also legal in other states, not sure of all of them though. Some things just need to be done even when they are unpleasant and calories and fluids are 2 of the big ones. Whether he feels like it or not he needs to drink and eat or he will just feel worse. My girlfriend was pretty insistent and just kept putting different things in front of me until I ate and drank. She recommends being creative and really trying to find the foods and beverages that taste best. The book: "One Bite at a Time" was very helpful for us. Even when most stuff tasted horrible there were always a few things that were tolerable. Try to find those things for him.
    Getting through chemo is almost counter-intuitive. When you feel like sleeping you need to exercise. When you don't feel like eating you really need to. When you don't feel like drinking that is when you need it most. Got to keep flushing the system with exercise and food and water. When the system stops moving is when it gets nasty.
    You'll get it. You're only 6 days in. You're just finding your stride right now. Hang in there.

    Bob

    Chemo Food and FT
    I had my Feeding tube put in several weeks before the first treatment. I hated it at first but due to the fact that I had lost over 80 pounds it was a necessity. If it is possible to do so, you should seriously consider it. It removes the bad food taste and hydration is easier. I actully gained 26 pounds my first 6 weeks of treatment. I don't think I could have survived without it. I no longer need it, but it is still in place for the next crisis. Talk to your doctor.
  • Pam M
    Pam M Member Posts: 2,196
    #8
    Roll Up Your Sleeves
    Misty,
    Hate to say it, but I had to give up popsicles early on, because they hurt (I blamed citric acid). I'm with the others - whatever it takes to get nutrition and water in. Good luck. Do well.
  • hawk711
    hawk711 Member Posts: 566
    #9
    Pam M said:

    Roll Up Your Sleeves
    Misty,
    Hate to say it, but I had to give up popsicles early on, because they hurt (I blamed citric acid). I'm with the others - whatever it takes to get nutrition and water in. Good luck. Do well.

    we men are tough
    HI
    I had a PEG tube for 14 months and I didn't want it, but the Dr said, just for safety. WEll, thank god for safety, I used it constantly during treatment and I was also hydrated by IV for 6 weeks. The PEG tube can help hold weight and give good nourishment when it is most needed. Get with your Dr and talk about it. I think it is a good idea to put in earlier, rather than later.
    good luck
    Steve
  • DrMary
    DrMary Member Posts: 531 Member
    #10
    hawk711 said:

    we men are tough
    HI
    I had a PEG tube for 14 months and I didn't want it, but the Dr said, just for safety. WEll, thank god for safety, I used it constantly during treatment and I was also hydrated by IV for 6 weeks. The PEG tube can help hold weight and give good nourishment when it is most needed. Get with your Dr and talk about it. I think it is a good idea to put in earlier, rather than later.
    good luck
    Steve

    Going without PEG
    Doug's doctors are anti-PEG, so he made it through without. He lost 35 pounds but is gaining it back and was eating semi-solid food within a week of his last radiation treatment. He can pass for normal at a restaurant (4 months after treatment) - he just eats more slowly and drinks a lot of water (and stays away from spicy food and alcohol).

    The bad taste issue is tough - bottled or filtered water might taste less metallic, and carbonated water seemed better at times. We went through all of the supplements and settled on Boost Plus - I'd suggest you get a variety of the liquid supplements and try them out. Check out the body-building supplements at GNC or a similar place - you can put together milkshakes and such that pack 500 calories into about 8 oz.

    His compliance will change with time - no one likes to think of eating as a chore, but it does become one, and he might need to lose a few pounds before he believes that the problem will not fix itself. Try not to say "I told you so" when this happens - just nicely offer him the array of choices again.

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