taste buds and eating

LOUSWIFT
LOUSWIFT Member Posts: 371 Member
in Colorectal Cancer #1
I finished folfox March 23rd came back NED for colon cancer. The folfox damaged my liver and I now have cirrhosis. Good news is gastro doc thinks I have a least two years maybe 10 before liver fails. My problem is eating. Since Folfox I have to force food down. Nothing and I mean nothing tastes good. I did 24 days in the hospital and all my muscle and fat are gone. I couldn't even walk when I left the hospital. I went from 240 start of Folfox to now 165. My question do your taste buds and appetite ever come back? It's been three months since chemo ended I still have hand pain but taste buds too. Thanks LOu

Comments

  • pete43lost_at_sea
    pete43lost_at_sea Member Posts: 3,900 Member
    #2
    i hope your appetite picks up
    hi lou,

    glad your liver may last 10 years.

    it maybe your body somehow realising your liver damage suppressed your appetite.
    i did not have taste issues and my appetite has been good all the way through folfox.
    even the numbness is getting manageable.

    wish i could be of more help.

    hugs,

    pete
  • daBeachBum
    daBeachBum Member Posts: 164
    #3
    Hi Lou
    I'm relieved to hear that your liver prognosis is better than you were thinking in your last post :-)

    You gotta eat. I regained my appetite pretty quickly after my regimen started so I don't have great advice for you, but you have to get some calorie dense protein rich food in ya. I did a lot of cheeseburgers and shakes the first few weeks out. I hope your appetite and palate return to normal soon.

    Don't know what state you live in, or what your feelings are on it, but I might consider getting some pot to see if it helps.

    All the best!

    Ray
  • mommyof2kds
    mommyof2kds Member Posts: 519
    #4
    daBeachBum said:

    Hi Lou
    I'm relieved to hear that your liver prognosis is better than you were thinking in your last post :-)

    You gotta eat. I regained my appetite pretty quickly after my regimen started so I don't have great advice for you, but you have to get some calorie dense protein rich food in ya. I did a lot of cheeseburgers and shakes the first few weeks out. I hope your appetite and palate return to normal soon.

    Don't know what state you live in, or what your feelings are on it, but I might consider getting some pot to see if it helps.

    All the best!

    Ray

    Sounds like maybe an
    Sounds like maybe an intervention by your doc may be needed. Your body does need nutrition in whatever way it can get it. Have you discussed a Gtube etc... I know it sucks but you need your strength. I never had issues, I actually gained weight with chemo, because I ate whatever sounded good and that was mostly fried stuff. Hope you feel better soon. Take care. Petrina
  • PhillieG
    PhillieG Member Posts: 4,866 Member
    #5
    Hi Louis
    To answer your question, yes, taste buds can grow back. I remember when I was on FOLFOX that food did not taste great at all. I do not remember exactly how long it took before that changed since it was many years ago but things are back to "normal" and taste buds can indeed grow back.
    Hope this helps to answer your question.
    -phil
  • ron50
    ron50 Member Posts: 1,723 Member
    #6
    G'day Lou
    I had a lot of trouble with food when I was on chemo. One of the drugs I was on ,levamisole,was notorious for screwing up your taste buds. Salty foods tasted sweet and everything had a hot metallic tang. My onc advised to avoid foods I really liked at the risk of putting myself off them for life . What he did suggest was bland foods. During chemo I just about survived on quick oats made on milk with a good dollop of honey. Easy to eat ,soothed my mouth and throat and maintained my energy,regards,Ron.
  • Buzzard
    Buzzard Member Posts: 3,043 Member
    #7
    ron50 said:

    G'day Lou
    I had a lot of trouble with food when I was on chemo. One of the drugs I was on ,levamisole,was notorious for screwing up your taste buds. Salty foods tasted sweet and everything had a hot metallic tang. My onc advised to avoid foods I really liked at the risk of putting myself off them for life . What he did suggest was bland foods. During chemo I just about survived on quick oats made on milk with a good dollop of honey. Easy to eat ,soothed my mouth and throat and maintained my energy,regards,Ron.

    and I was the exact opposite.....
    everything spicy was my claim to fame and weight gain....chili was a staple as was country fried ribs in cageon seasoning...sorry, not very healthy but neither is rapid weight loss...I went from 182 to 227 and now right at 206 and trying to drop 6 more...I think the spicy overwhelmed the nausea and made it possible for me to eat............buzz
  • marqimark
    marqimark Member Posts: 242 Member
    #8
    Taste
    I had oxal, leukavoran (sp) and 5FU. Killed my taste buds and everything tasted like ka-ka.

    Taste buds came back quickly as did appetite.

    Good Luck

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