Are you Full Yet?

dennis318
dennis318 Member Posts: 349 Member
edited March 2014 in Head and Neck Cancer #1
I, had some great news and alot of support, I thank everyone for that...I have a question...Does anyone every get tired of eating?????? I eat day, all day, and have gained only 12lbs,....why is it when you have cancer it takes more food to gain weight, I weigh a whopping 152-lbs, and I was at 140...I need to get back to at least 175, Malts, ensure, normal food, where's it going, I should be packing some major weight, i'm tired of food....LOL
Thanks, Dennis In Tennessee! P,S...I was sick during radiation for 2 solid weeks and didn't eat a thing, could my stomach shrunk???

Comments

  • kimmygarland
    kimmygarland Member Posts: 312
    #2
    High metabolism?
    My husband is in the same shape, says he eats all the time and isn't gaining weight. BUT, I don't think he is eating as much as he thinks he is. It takes him a lot longer to eat a meal now, and even though it takes him a long time, he's not eating as much. He's not having malts, etc., but he does eat whatever he wants (that he can, he's diabetic) and doesn't gain weight. Maybe the radiation revs up the metabolism? I don't get it either.
  • davidgskinner
    davidgskinner Member Posts: 81
    #3
    Yes...
    I was wondering the same thing. I eat all the time and seem to stuck at 158. Not terrible for me but less than I weighed before this business.
    My jaw gets tired of chewing....
    Could it be that our metabolism has been altered in some way? I asked a couple of docs and just got shrugs...
  • staceya
    staceya Member Posts: 720
    #4
    davidgskinner said:

    Yes...
    I was wondering the same thing. I eat all the time and seem to stuck at 158. Not terrible for me but less than I weighed before this business.
    My jaw gets tired of chewing....
    Could it be that our metabolism has been altered in some way? I asked a couple of docs and just got shrugs...

    I think we probably eat
    I think we probably eat less. I know I get tired of chewing and coaxing the food down my throat before I am full. It is way better than it was but eating is not nearly the same experience it used to be. I seem to stop eating when I am done trying to make it work, it seems to have little to do with either taste or appetite...
    Stacey
  • Scambuster
    Scambuster Member Posts: 973
    #5
    Are you working out ?
    Hi Dennis,

    You may not regain all the weight you lost. I have found that by working out. I am putting some muscle back now though only a few pounds, but its a healthy few pounds. I am only doing push ups and bike riding but I weighed in today at the Docs at 170lbs. I was down to about 150. I was entirely dependent on the PEG for about 3-4 months. Resistance exercise might be what you need to try if not already.

    I also still take L-Glutamine which is good for muscle building so that might something to look into. It's also really good for your general healing & recovery. might be good for your throat.

    Good to hear you are doing better.

    Scam
  • JUDYV5
    JUDYV5 Member Posts: 392
    #6
    Eating
    I get very tired of eating. I've cut back on the tube - to hopefully make me a little hungrier. I am thin - I have always been thin. I lost 14 pounds during the treatments.
    I need to be able to maintain without the tube to get rid of it and I truly want to get rid of it. I am having a swallow study done today. Barium cookies - yummy !!
  • Kimba1505
    Kimba1505 Member Posts: 557
    #7
    JUDYV5 said:

    Eating
    I get very tired of eating. I've cut back on the tube - to hopefully make me a little hungrier. I am thin - I have always been thin. I lost 14 pounds during the treatments.
    I need to be able to maintain without the tube to get rid of it and I truly want to get rid of it. I am having a swallow study done today. Barium cookies - yummy !!

    Ideal weight
    At the beginning of this process, Mark was told by his ENT surgeon he would never have trouble maintaining his ideal weight. I do not recall an explanation, but I would think that it is a change in behavior, like you all have said, eating slower, not being food driven any more, making different choices as to what to put in your mouth, no appeal to the taste of sugar...
    I feel most certain that Mark will regain some of his lost weight, but will probably never be at his pre-surgery weight of 195, which I thought was a nice weight for him. Oh well, I can love a skinny Mark.
    Kim
  • Greg53
    Greg53 Member Posts: 849
    #8
    Kimba1505 said:

    Ideal weight
    At the beginning of this process, Mark was told by his ENT surgeon he would never have trouble maintaining his ideal weight. I do not recall an explanation, but I would think that it is a change in behavior, like you all have said, eating slower, not being food driven any more, making different choices as to what to put in your mouth, no appeal to the taste of sugar...
    I feel most certain that Mark will regain some of his lost weight, but will probably never be at his pre-surgery weight of 195, which I thought was a nice weight for him. Oh well, I can love a skinny Mark.
    Kim

    Still eating and eating and...
    Nutritionist said for me to gain weight to eat (or pump) 2200 calories a day. I must have a high metabolism rate. Either that or a tapeworm. The only way I gain weight is if I put in 3000 or more calories a day. I went from 200# to 150#. I'm at 162# now and still trying to put on good healthy weight. I'm working out a lot, but always have and being the anal guy I am, I track every calorie I eat. But I do like the lighter weight. I'm guessing I'll be able to gain more when I'm eating versus using PEG. I eat about 75% of my food now. We'll see..... As long as I'm eating healthy I'll jsut see where that takes me on weight. Now I just gotta go buy a bunch of new clothes.

    Positive thoughts to everyone!
    Greg
  • CajunEagle
    CajunEagle Member Posts: 408
    #9
    JUDYV5 said:

    Eating
    I get very tired of eating. I've cut back on the tube - to hopefully make me a little hungrier. I am thin - I have always been thin. I lost 14 pounds during the treatments.
    I need to be able to maintain without the tube to get rid of it and I truly want to get rid of it. I am having a swallow study done today. Barium cookies - yummy !!

    Yuck
    I'm 14 months from the end of treatment, and still staying at 185/86 no matter what. Eating is still a slow process and I'm okay with that. As long as I've got water to sip on between bites, I can eat almost anything. That Barium test is one bad memory. I had to go through 6 of those while re-learning to swallow. When they mixed Applesauce with the Barium........man, that was some bad stuff.

    Larry
  • chris731
    chris731 Member Posts: 24
    #10
    Weight
    I'm the same way. Before I was at 220 lbs. I went down to 147 lbs at end of treatments. Now 5 months out I'm holding at 153 lbs no matter what I eat. It seems like I'm stuck here. Doc says it's normal. He said try to stay at least 2500 calories a day, and the weight gain will happen. He didn't say why it happens, but said it's common and he's seen it before. My sister-in-law gained weight through her treatment of breast cancer. But I believe she was on meds that had steroids.
  • pattyanny
    pattyanny Member Posts: 544
    #11
    So darn sick of eating!
    Good question dennis! It seems that's all I do all day, snack & drink, snack & drink....
    I was 144 last August, which was still on the thin side being tall. I have been 105 at my lowest point in January. Yikes! Now that was scary! I weighed 117 last week. Big whoop!
    Anyway, I too, am sick of the once-enjoyable-and-now-a-chore eating, then going to each MD, and them all telling me to eat!!!! What the heck? It has become a job if I want to get healthy again. I eat about 5 times a day, (besides ensure) and finally belched for the first time in months! Lol!
    I think the stomach does shrink dennis. Feel like a skinny cow-grazing all day! _:)
    Anyway, it is good to see I am in good company!
    Don't know what I would do without you all. Thanks!
    Slow & Steady Dennis.
  • dennis318
    dennis318 Member Posts: 349 Member
    #12
    pattyanny said:

    So darn sick of eating!
    Good question dennis! It seems that's all I do all day, snack & drink, snack & drink....
    I was 144 last August, which was still on the thin side being tall. I have been 105 at my lowest point in January. Yikes! Now that was scary! I weighed 117 last week. Big whoop!
    Anyway, I too, am sick of the once-enjoyable-and-now-a-chore eating, then going to each MD, and them all telling me to eat!!!! What the heck? It has become a job if I want to get healthy again. I eat about 5 times a day, (besides ensure) and finally belched for the first time in months! Lol!
    I think the stomach does shrink dennis. Feel like a skinny cow-grazing all day! _:)
    Anyway, it is good to see I am in good company!
    Don't know what I would do without you all. Thanks!
    Slow & Steady Dennis.

    Thanks for the input!
    Thanks All, Patty nice to see you ans well as everyone else. It's strange what can happen in a year, i was a gym bunny, good weight and cancer snuck up and got me. though I weigh 152 now, up from 140....I never new the body had so much skin...lol, I will keep on eating and drinking gallon malts, and one day maybe I will hit my goal of 175....I remember the days when my mother and I would go on diets every other day, I was a very heavy child...she passed away a few years ago, and had breast cancer. she didn't die from it...but I know she looks down on me with my brother who died of mellonama and there watching me!Mom.....your son ain't heavy no more.....Thanks all..Dennis
  • santa6
    santa6 Member Posts: 29
    #13
    Different Twist
    I have a slightly different observation. I'm 9 months out of weekly chemo w/35 rads. Had a PEG for about 7 months, no eating at all. Saliva comes and goes but has definitely improved from the dark days. Taste is pretty good. I still choke often if I'm not careful and my weight is locked at 170 - right where I want to be. I started treatment 80 lbs overweight and lost all of it - my silver lining. Also lost the high blood pressure.

    My eating oddity is that when I started trying to eat I realized I have absolutely no sensation of being hungry or being full. It wouldn't phase me to skip eating for days at a time. Likewise, I could wipe out a buffet. Have to be careful to eat small because if I don't it just refluxes on me.
  • dogsrule
    dogsrule Member Posts: 96
    #14
    santa6 said:

    Different Twist
    I have a slightly different observation. I'm 9 months out of weekly chemo w/35 rads. Had a PEG for about 7 months, no eating at all. Saliva comes and goes but has definitely improved from the dark days. Taste is pretty good. I still choke often if I'm not careful and my weight is locked at 170 - right where I want to be. I started treatment 80 lbs overweight and lost all of it - my silver lining. Also lost the high blood pressure.

    My eating oddity is that when I started trying to eat I realized I have absolutely no sensation of being hungry or being full. It wouldn't phase me to skip eating for days at a time. Likewise, I could wipe out a buffet. Have to be careful to eat small because if I don't it just refluxes on me.

    Glad you brought this up
    I can't seem to put on much weight either. I eat a normal amount of food. I eat when hungry. when I started all this I was 138. 5'7". Now I am stuck at 127. It's an ok weight but I have no butt. I know I need to work out more to build up my muscle mass. Right now I walk and ride my bike. Need to really work out more. Oh well, one day at a time.
  • dennis318
    dennis318 Member Posts: 349 Member
    #15
    dogsrule said:

    Glad you brought this up
    I can't seem to put on much weight either. I eat a normal amount of food. I eat when hungry. when I started all this I was 138. 5'7". Now I am stuck at 127. It's an ok weight but I have no butt. I know I need to work out more to build up my muscle mass. Right now I walk and ride my bike. Need to really work out more. Oh well, one day at a time.

    Same thing here
    The last two comments are right on the money, I can have an appetite one minute and not eat for hours....and you notice something, the butt and arms are the first to go in muscle mass, Now I eat, gaining a tummy, and getting it shift back out to the right places...I'm glad I brought this up...Thanks Again...Dennis

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