Muscle Wasting

Amjosmom
Amjosmom Member Posts: 212
in Esophageal Cancer #1
My Dad is Stage IV. Overall, he has been doing quite well. In 2010, he weighed about 190 lbs. @ dx. He has been through a lot the past couple of years, but has managed to keep his weight between 180 - 190lbs. Recently, I would say within the last 30 days or so, he has looked a little thinner... like NOTICEABLY thinner. His weight is at 180, but his face and arms look so thin. Any recommendations for maintaining muscle mass? He doesn't have a feeding tube and he is on his third postponement of chemo infusion due to low platelets. He is still eating normally. His strength and energy levels are good. He has no current restrictions. Any suggestions would be appreciated!

Thanks!

~Jayme

Comments

  • Bermudagirl
    Bermudagirl Member Posts: 114
    #2
    Hi Jayme,
    I don't know how
    Hi Jayme,

    I don't know how old your dad is, nor what his physical limitations might be, but how about working out with some *light* weights? I would think 5 to 8 pounds would be good.

    As an aside, I was looking through some old pictures the other day, and found one of me 9 years ago right after I had finished treatments for Hodgkins lymphoma. My face was sooo much thinner, and my head actually looked too big for my body. Sadly those 20 pounds I lost have come back... :( Granted I wasn't stage IV EC, but I think what he is going through right now probably is normal? Those with experience I'm sure will chime in.

    Best wishes for your dads' continued well being!

    Sandy
  • Amjosmom
    Amjosmom Member Posts: 212
    #3
    Bermudagirl said:

    Hi Jayme,
    I don't know how
    Hi Jayme,

    I don't know how old your dad is, nor what his physical limitations might be, but how about working out with some *light* weights? I would think 5 to 8 pounds would be good.

    As an aside, I was looking through some old pictures the other day, and found one of me 9 years ago right after I had finished treatments for Hodgkins lymphoma. My face was sooo much thinner, and my head actually looked too big for my body. Sadly those 20 pounds I lost have come back... :( Granted I wasn't stage IV EC, but I think what he is going through right now probably is normal? Those with experience I'm sure will chime in.

    Best wishes for your dads' continued well being!

    Sandy

    Thank you, Sandy!
    My dad is 67 years old. He doesn't have any physical mobility limitations. He used to be very physical on a daily basis. He had a landscaping business, but about 2 months ago he had to stop doing all the yardwork. Long hours in the sun made him tired and the doc recommended limiting anything too strenuous. He still looks really good in my opinion... I guess I'm just not used to him being so thin. He does ride a stationary bicycle with those moving handle bars a couple times a day... I guess he may just have to step it up a notch!
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    #4
    Amjosmom said:

    Thank you, Sandy!
    My dad is 67 years old. He doesn't have any physical mobility limitations. He used to be very physical on a daily basis. He had a landscaping business, but about 2 months ago he had to stop doing all the yardwork. Long hours in the sun made him tired and the doc recommended limiting anything too strenuous. He still looks really good in my opinion... I guess I'm just not used to him being so thin. He does ride a stationary bicycle with those moving handle bars a couple times a day... I guess he may just have to step it up a notch!

    This comment has been removed by the Moderator
  • TerryV
    TerryV Member Posts: 887
    #5
    unknown said:

    This comment has been removed by the Moderator

    Thanks for this, Sherri
    This describes perfectly what I saw in Nick as his brain tumors progressed. His legs and tush wasted away to skin and bone - and it happened so quickly. At the end of April, he was using a chainsaw to take down fallen limbs in our yard. By the mid-May, he was relying on a cane. By the end of May, he was using a walker. And on June 10th, he moved to a wheelchair. Nine short days later, he was gone.

    I wish I would have had you looking in on us. Nick's final days might have been more comfortable for him, and (selfish me) I might have had him a bit longer.

    Your knowledge and generous sharing of it is APPRECIATED.

    Terry
    PROUD wife to Nick, age 49
    lost battle to FEC, 06/19/12
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    #6
    TerryV said:

    Thanks for this, Sherri
    This describes perfectly what I saw in Nick as his brain tumors progressed. His legs and tush wasted away to skin and bone - and it happened so quickly. At the end of April, he was using a chainsaw to take down fallen limbs in our yard. By the mid-May, he was relying on a cane. By the end of May, he was using a walker. And on June 10th, he moved to a wheelchair. Nine short days later, he was gone.

    I wish I would have had you looking in on us. Nick's final days might have been more comfortable for him, and (selfish me) I might have had him a bit longer.

    Your knowledge and generous sharing of it is APPRECIATED.

    Terry
    PROUD wife to Nick, age 49
    lost battle to FEC, 06/19/12

    This comment has been removed by the Moderator
  • Brent_McG
    Brent_McG Member Posts: 6
    #7
    Hi Jayme. I pushed and am
    Hi Jayme. I pushed and am still pushing a lot of whey protein. You can buy flavored as well as unflavored varieties. I have had good luck with it myself and have been using it to help build back what cancer stole from me. I mix chocolate protein powder with milk and use the unflavored whey protein powder mixed in foods I eat. Its an easy way to get calories and the protein feeds muscles. You can find whey protein powders online, at GNC stores, grocery stores, even Wal-Mart.

    Good luck to you and your Dad. I will keep you all in my prayers.

    Brent
  • Brent_McG
    Brent_McG Member Posts: 6
    #8
    Hi Jayme. I pushed and am
    Hi Jayme. I pushed and am still pushing a lot of whey protein. You can buy flavored as well as unflavored varieties. I have had good luck with it myself and have been using it to help build back what cancer stole from me. I mix chocolate protein powder with milk and use the unflavored whey protein powder mixed in foods I eat. Its an easy way to get calories and the protein feeds muscles. You can find whey protein powders online, at GNC stores, grocery stores, even Wal-Mart.

    Good luck to you and your Dad. I will keep you all in my prayers.

    Brent
  • RotteeLady
    RotteeLady Member Posts: 4
    #9
    Brent_McG said:

    Hi Jayme. I pushed and am
    Hi Jayme. I pushed and am still pushing a lot of whey protein. You can buy flavored as well as unflavored varieties. I have had good luck with it myself and have been using it to help build back what cancer stole from me. I mix chocolate protein powder with milk and use the unflavored whey protein powder mixed in foods I eat. Its an easy way to get calories and the protein feeds muscles. You can find whey protein powders online, at GNC stores, grocery stores, even Wal-Mart.

    Good luck to you and your Dad. I will keep you all in my prayers.

    Brent

    You might try muscle building powder
    I feed my husband what I call a super shake. It consists of 2 boost, 2 scoops of muscle powder and a cup of milk. They are rather thick. They have about 1100 calories. Then some light work out. It seems to have helped him keep up his body.

    As far as the platelets I don't know what to suggest for that.

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