Still not eating enough 6 months post last treatment

TH,

 I did not get back to regular eating for 7 months.  The feel and taste of most foods turned me off.  At 7 months it was like a switch got flipped and eating returned to normal.

I had my PEG popped at 2 weeks post and took to drinking smoothies and protein drinks, but I was always trying foods, ALWAYS!  I liked tomatoes and cucumbers with olive oil and of all things corn-on-the-cob tasted great.  So as you see, somethings were good. 

I was never depressed, just happy that the cancer was gone.  I traveled around with an igloo cooler full of drinks as I had to work and goof off some.

When food felt weird, I had no desire to eat either, but you have to keep putting your tongue out there and sample things.

I am now back to new normal, eat most anything and drinking from 2 to 3 glasses of milk, water or sweet tea with every meal.

By the way, the meal which put me back in the  eating game was a turkey sandwich, yum, yum.

Matt

My husband is 9 months post treatment, and he can eat everything except acidic foods. So no citrus, no tomato based foods, and no salsa....which makes him the saddest because we live in Texas! Also, sweets don't taste good to him, so he has basically given up on his favorite food of all, ice cream. But everything else eventually came back. It really is just one day at a time.  For example, it took him a long time to get back to enjoying coffee, but now he is back to his several cups a day habit. Just keep drinking fluids and keep trying small bites.  He will get there!

Sandraw said:

I had my last of 33

I had my last of 33 radiations in March, last chemo (Cisplatin,F5u) in June, Peg removed in July. I had stage III NPC with neck node involved. I'm now fearful to eat stuff, afraid it may come back if I eat too much meat, I feel so irrational, but this last month I've just turned into a worry wart. I'd love to drink a coke, I'm afraid of sugar, Im not diabetic and have been in remission since July, hade a scope in Sept NED. Anyone else have these fears?  I'm still mostly surviving on Boost and fruits and veggies. 

 

Sandraw,

We have (probably) all entertained some thoughts concerning reoccurrence, but as long as things are progressing smoothly it is not beneficial to dwell on the what ifs.  If treatments worked you need to embrace the positive aspects of your “new normal”.  When moving forward starts to reach an impass, maybe a conversation about depression or a physical checkup are in order.  Remember, cancer treatments can kick the heck out of us both mentally and physically.

For me, the last thing I worry about are my occasional food or drink treats.  As long as I am not crazily consuming something with known negative side effects, I enjoy myself.  I did not fight and win the battle of my temporary lost taste buds to succumb to food and drink fear.

If you lived close by, I would be glad to pop in and have a coke with you.

Matt

TH:

Yes, everything was hard to swallow.  I felt like a baby learning to eat solids again.  For some reason, I remember KFC mashed potatoes and gravy as one of the first semi-solid food that worked for me.  It was not too gummy and could slide easily down my throat.  It's a slow process of introducing different foods gradually to see what works and what doesn't and then trying again a week or two later.  KFC cole slaw is good also because it's finely chopped and the dressing is not acidic.  Go with very moist foods - very fine noodles or orzo in soup.  When the mouth and throat heals, he will enjoy food again.  I still cannot do spicy foods and cannot eat food without water or something to drink.  (13 year survivor of NPC). 

Christmas