My mum is still struggling with trying to eat stuff. She still has the naso-gastric tube but is desperate to push ahead with proper food.

She can manage Weetabix with warm milk, but says that nearly every other thing she tries (a) either tastes of nothing or (b) she can't manage to move around her mouth with half a tongue. I assume all cases will differ as to what you can actually taste and what tastes either too salty, peppery etc.

What did you try first and what were your successes ?

I know everyone has their own problems, but any suggestions would be gratefully received.
Mum was crying today because she thinks she will be like this forever. (I know - she only finished RT 6 weeks ago and has healed marvelously)
She's a tough old bird ............ but impatient !!!

Hi Winnie

Some suggestions

Porridge with cream and syrup or honey fortify the milk
liqidised soups or any meal liquidised

drink plenty of fluids with food

custard

egg custard home made

yougurt

also food supplements fortisips ensure

anything really soft ice cream

If you check my posts i was the same and on Suday eat dinner and 1 whole yorkshire pud


so it does get better

if i think of anything else i will post

Dave and Sue

Think Dave & Sue has it covered.
I would suggest Manuka honey in ready brek. Mad quite runny. As Ready Brek is fortified with vitamins and minerals and manuka honey has great healing properties.
It really wont be like this forever.
I think we all felt that way.
I know Dave did, and i said all along it DOES get better. The old cliche - it takes time, times a healer. But it does!
Ambrosia custard pots were handy for me. & soft ice cream was good.
My mum made some fantastic home made soups.
Thses are all things i'm fed up wtih now but they helped me gain 2 stone in just 2 months when i started to eat again.
Also, ask for a perscription for Scandishakes.
They taste better than fortisip & you can add the neutral flavour to boost the calories in milk & soup.
All the best to your mum Winnie!
Michelle

Hi Winnie,

I lived on pasta with cheese sauce for so long that I can't face it any more.

Hi Winnie, You must tell you mum how well she is doing, Bill is about two weeks further down the line and is having trouble swallowing anything.

Aaww thanks everyone.

She's tried the fluffy omelette which I found on an old thread and she managed half of that.

Biggest surprise for her was milky cocoa, which she says "actually tastes of something" and a dipped custard cream biscuit (which she did not used to like at all).

I think it's getting used to the things not tasting as she remembered aswell.

Thanks again everyone - you really are a super bunch

Hi Winnie,

My favourite cocoa is when I float white chocolate malteesers in it. They melt when the cocoa is hot and add a bit of extra taste.

I've also discovered Tesco 'Creme Caramel' desserts.They are really easy to squash in the mouth and slide down like a dream! I can only eat baby portions of anything but am able to eat a whole one no problem at all.

SusieR. X

Bill refuses anything. I have tried homemade soups, custards, brulee, veg, baby food, yoghurt, dips, mousse, smoothies, you name it I have tried it. He says it just makes his mouth foam up, dips his spoon in an wont eat anymore. I think maybe, I will leave out the creamy side, I remember some alternative medicine therapy's saying dairy products affect the mucous. He also days his throat is too soarto get anything down, but at the momemnt, even chocolte horlicks made with water, he says stays on the roof of his mouth.

It all coats my mouth too Ange. I think the difference is i've now become used to this new 'normal'. I guess i must have resigned to the fact that it will always be this way now. & even though things don't taste or feel the same my body has managed to adjust and get on with it.
The alternative is to be tube fed forever and i know what i'd prefer. I have to follow just about every bite witha sip of water to get it down but i do it cuz i have to!
He'll have to get used to washing down the horlicks with a sip of water.

When i first tryed eating there were things i'd avoid cuz i didn't like the way it made my mouth feel, i didn't like it getting all stuck up round my gums and in my teeth. But i've come to the resolution that it's just tough luck!
It's the new norm!
& Bill will have to get used to it too!
It's amazing the things i eat now, when i basicaly ruled them out as NEVER TO EAT AGAIN. But it's not because they go down easier. But because its what i'm used to!
When i went for my pre-op i was explaining to the nurse about making sure my saliva spray was used. She then accidently spat at me while talking - What a tease!
I can't even remember what its like to have a normal mouth anymore!
Lets hope Bill adjusts soon
Michelle

hi all
I totally agree with Michelle my mouth went the same and You guys and esp Michelle helped me through

like michelle says most times food stuck to my mouth
tasted so bad i spit it out

but percivered and today i had Sunday lunch washed down with milky weak tea

the meat was done in a slow cooker overnight to make it tender loads of gravy

There are food i try and cant eat but i do go back to them some weeks later

Dave and Sue

The milky cocoa tastes horrible now !! I think the mouth and taste buds change on a daily basis.

I have had to give my mum a good talking to today. It's so easy for her to get into a downward negative spiral, when in fact she is doing fantastically well, all things considered.

She looks at all the foods she can't eat, or has had to leave and wasting things really upsets her.

She fancies trying some fish, so I've told her to cut a tiny portion off the frozen lump of haddock and cook that - then if she fancies any more she can cook some more, but at least she will be able to look at a clean plate, which I think will do more for her morale than looking at what she has wasted and feeling a failure.

Thanks again everyone

Your mum is doing so tremendously well Winnie. Give her a big hug from me and say well done,

Hang in there folks. I thought taste would never improve, but with 'real' time it does. Time - years that is. Give it 3 and things will be much better. 4 even better and at 5 pretty good.I know you will hate me for saying that long, but that's how long it has truly taken for me.

I think we all get used to waiting, for results, diagnosis, prognosis, treatments, more results, more treatments. But when the treatment are over why do the learned ones say 4 weeks when they really mean 4 years?

Krishan, Habe ve nuw git a spul chek?