dealing with taste changes and loss of appetite - advice for mom needed desperately

My Mom has HCC too - 13 cm large and some other nodules too. She is taking Nexavar and has lost her appetite to some extent.

The Dr prescribed Dronabinol Oral Capsule 2.5 MG. She has not taken it yet, but may help appetite.

Who is the boss in the hospital setting? The patient for the most part.. My brother had suffered from pain, and last month the pain was so severe he drove himself to the ER. We'd been estanged for years.. and when I walked in, he said "Linda?" "I have cancer" and then he cried and sobbed. Well, I've been there for him and am having trouble with lies. He insists he is eating but the nurses have called and said "what are his favorite foods?" "if we can just get him to eat" I'll check his tray and there are maybe two bites taken, but he'll tell me he ate his meal. Another meal arrives I cut it in pieces for him and it's chicken and rice with veggies. He literally gags and wants to vomit. He's lost so much weight they've discussed a stomach tube or IV nutrition, but what's odd is that he's on a low sodium, low fat and sugarfree diet. How the heck can you gain weight when you are on this diet and also won't eat it. He's been there a month, and they just added "Boost" drinks to his meals and he will drink those. That's not enough for him to "gain" weight for this "Whipple" procedure the surgeon wanted to do. So weak, he asked to go home and this was set up. Then doctor said he's too weak and dangerous for him to go home and said "NO 24 hr nurse" as the discharge planner had said and set up. I want to bring in food for him even though they have chosen his diet Brats from the grill, pizza, milkshakes, and snacks that are salty and sweet. That might help him gain weight because they have used the word "Nursing Home" and now he's scared to death. He feels as a medicaid patient they want him out of their acute care bed, and out of there. I feel that the surgeon has put off the surgery until he's stronger but don't know why they didn't put in the feeding tube. They said he would have the surgery at the first of August, which coincides with his 65th birthday and Medicare where he'll have dual coverage. Then last night, the second time I've spoken with his doctor he said he has adenocarcinoma of the bile duct and no mention of his pancreas. They said he's an adult, they talk to him about his condition each day. and ask if he wants the family to be called and they say he tells them "no" which he denies. So, we are all scared because now we don't know the actual diagnosis and treatment or prognosis. Because he hasn't eaten he's so weak he has an alarm on his bed because he can't even stand up on his own. I think this is killing him. how can they let him lose weight IN the hospital??? Can I bring in meals no matter what diet he's on? I have his POA and feel like I know better than them. If his blood sugar goes up, it can be regulated with insulin and that's the last of his problems. Gaining weight it the number one thing along with pain control. I want to help him. He asked once for a slice of pie and was told No. I don't understand.