6 months out

Right after treatment for my first bout of cancer in 2007, I changed primary doctors.  I wasn't healing - still getting fluids everyday at the hospital - not eating or drinking.  He put me on anti-depressants, but it took me a week or so before I finally took them.  I didn't think I needed them.  Boy, was I wrong.  Once I started taking them, I started healing, eating, and drinking.  And, I was back at work within a month after that.

Best thing I ever did.  About 13 months later, I was able to wean off of them.

I hope your husband will reconsider taking the medication. 

For cancer #2 (2014), which was much more invasive and disfiguring (a total laryngectomy), they started me on meds while still in the hospital.  I did try to get off them once, but was not successful.  I will try again this summer.

Lorna

kdot2003 said:

Hi, 
At three months out my

Hi, 

At three months out my weight has evened out.  I am still losing but VERY slowly.  About 42# so far.  I'm sure Ive lost alot of muscle with the fat.  On another forum they are saying you should have at least 2500 cal/day for the first year after treatment and I usually get in about 1200.  I'm happy about my weight loss but worried about my weakness and lack of stamina.  Went back to work but still its hard.  Protein shakes and smoothies taste pretty bad.  Mexican food tastes good.  I end up eating the same thing every day and its none too healthy although sweets and chocolate arent on the list because they taste horrible.  It IS depressing not to have much saliva and poor taste.  Sounds like your husband has just decided to eat how much he wants even if its just a little.  I decided just to eat what tastes OK even if its not that healthy.  Both of us are delaying our recovery I think.  We should be concentrating on eating HEALTHY and make every bite count especially if its only a few bites.  Weight loss is bad for a recovering body.  Sigh.  My immune system was improving very slowly but last bloodwork showed it was getting worse.  Poor diet isnt helping.  I wish I could help him.

Karen

Keep working at it and trying different things. You'll hit on something that tastes okay AND is good for you. It will probably be hit or miss for a while. Maybe try some buffets? Best of luck to you...

Barbara

the_wife said:

Karen

At 3 months if your weight loss is slow, I think that's normal. I remember at 3 months the dietician telling me not to worry about healthy yet....just eat calories and protein. Use supplements when you need to and keep experimenting. Oatmeal seems like one of the easiest things hubby could eat early on and still does. He's getting to the point where he can eat just about anything as long as it is coated in some kind of sauce, but still - halfway through his meal food gets stuck in this throat no matter how much water he drinks. I'm going to have to go back to soups, I think. He keeps doing this hacking thing to get food to go down and I'm certain that's not a good thing. Not much I can do, though. The hubs is very stubborn, and you're right.... His mind is made up to stay within a certain BMI. He thinks it's more healthy to be thinner and I can't convine him otherwise, but his docs are aware and have warned him, so I think he'll be trying to maintain where he is now. I hope!

 

One thing I remember is that it took so long and was just so tiring to eat that I filled up quickly. It worked better to eat several smaller snacks a day. Another trick is to take a small sip of liquid before trying to swallow. I will chew my food and then squeeze in a little sip right before swallowing. Using olive or coconut oil, gravy, butter, etc. can also help food slide down more easily. For pills, I found dissolving them in a bit of water and adding a teaspoon of applesauce works better than crushing them and having all those tiny sharp particles to swallow. (Check with a pharmacist first.) Don't neglect swallowing exercises since they help strengthen those muscles. Things will get better!