WATER ?????

I wish
I had more to suggest, but we didn't really have great successes. Sometimes club soda works better than water. I tried mixing some enzymes in with Doug's water - room temperature spring water with a spoon of alpha-amylase mixed in does seem to make the food slide down better, as it starts breaking down the starches in your mouth the way spit does. I could feel the difference, but Doug felt it was more trouble than it was worth.

I do recommend room temperature or even slightly warm water - it's not appealing, but cold water slows down what little enzyme action you have in what saliva you produce.

Doug has pretty much given up on sandwiches. Most of what he eats is "foobricated" - it has some kind of gravy or sauce on it. You can buy gravy/sauce mixes (Knorr's are not bad) or make your own (cook 2 T butter and 2 T flour together until bubbley - stir in 1 cup of broth, vegetable juice or milk and simmer for a few minutes - add a few drops of gravy color if you like). Go with braising for your meats and cheese sauces for your pasta. Risotto instead of rice and mashed potatoes instead of bread (try putting the fixings for a Philly cheese steak on mashed potatoes instead of bread - Doug asked someone to do this in a restaurant recently and they were nice about complying).

In other words - make your food more slippery. What are you taking for the acid reflux? It's common - most folks do omeprazole nightly at least.

BTW - yay for you for eating! It might seem like baby steps, but you are moving forward.

thicker liquids work better for me.
i drink milk, milk, and more milk. smoothies. almond milk. coconut milk. but, regular milk, (i cut down to 1% now, to cut my fat and calories. i would rather have whole milk) is what works best for me.

Almond Milk
I drink the Almond Milk mixed with yogurt; if it is a little too thick I thinning it with water taste great and is good for the body

:+)}
╠╣ONDO

Hal61 said:

Thickened water
Hi Robert, when I finished my neck dissection I was having trouble drinking water because I was aspirating, taking in air when I drank, like water boarding yourself. The nurse there suggested "thickened" water. But I can't remember the name of it. I saw it later at Walgreens, on the shelf. If you have a Walgreens you could call the pharmacy and ask the pharmacist if he knows it. I just did a search, and found a Nestle's water thickener, but the one I saw that was recommended was in a bottle. Just can't remember the name. Darn. But it sounds like what you're looking for.

Another search. Lot's of product, "Resource" is one, but Walgreens has the most on hand. Run a a search on "thickened water" if you have Internet, or just call Walgreens. (Doesn't everyone have Walgreens?) Email me if you don't have Internet or Walgreens and I'll find some other sources if you want to try it.

best, Hal

I think it's called 'thicken
I think it's called 'thicken up'. There is a link on the superthread for nestle products and it's on there. It is available through walgreens, I believe. Lemme see, I'll get the link.

Ok, let's try this again. I keep getting booted off. Here are thicken up links and products:
THICKEN UP

OTHER PRODUCTS, LIKE THICKENED JUICE AND WATER:
NESTLÉ CANCER NUTRITION PRODUCTS


IN CONVIENENT PACKAGES FOR ON THE GO AT WALGREENS (or you can order cans, I believe):
NESTLÉ CANCER NUTRITION PRODUCTS