Hi! All,
Well things are looking GREAT, Saturday night I went to my little sisters 60th Birthday bash which was Catered for and there was food in abundance and Grog gallor, I had had my 2 cans of Ensure before getting there as I was not going to be able to partake of the festivities, but DEB would be, anyway when the food was served up I thought I would try a little Potatoe Salad which went down easy(so so)which I washed down with a Vodka Cruiser(that didn't have a good taste but then I have never had one before), I followed the salad with a slice of Cheese Cake that was YUM I had to follow that with more cruiser, I thought this is great as with Xmas approaching I might be into real food by then. The next morning I had 2 Weat Bix and milk(Lo-Fat)and a cup of Hot Chocolate. Later that day we went back to my little sisters for a BBQ and I was feeling real game by now and got to eat 4 large Garlic Prawns and some Pasta Salad and followed up with some Cherry Tomatoes and litle Chocolate Cake with Yoghurt on it(This was not too successful)but Boy was I excited as food has always played a BIG part of my life & Belly. That night I had my usual 2 cans of Ensure as the food I had had did not have the neccesary nourishment in it so I needed the suppliment, but I did have another cup of Hot Chocolate. Monday arrved with 2 WeatBix and Milk, honey, sugar and Hot Chocolate, boy was this getting better and better, Monday night I decided I was going to have Bangers and Mash so off to the shopping centre and I bought 2 klg of mixed fat sausages Yummo, Deb knocked up a really good meal and with a lot of Garlic in the Mash and a nice Gravy the meal was a big success, except for the Gravy as this took all the saliva ouy of my mouth(and thats not much when you don't have any saliva)so I couldn't enjoy the Gravy, and I was to full to eat the second Sausage BUT It was wonderfull to be almost back to eating again(even if it does meen having to constantly drinking)come on Xmas.
Well Guys & Gals this is the start of my recovery so if I can do it so can YOU by being positive with yourselves anything can happen.
I will keep you informed of my successes and my up and comming visit with the ENT Specialist(on the 20th), that is if you are interested with my gleeful ramblings, take care and "BE Strong"
LOVE TREV

Way to go Trev!!
I'm really soso pleased that there's another happy tale to tell here!
You're doing so great you should be proud!
You & Debs are stars!
Once again, i'm so pleased!
Now have a fantastic chrimbo!!!
Michelle

thanks for sharing that trev its good to know that there is light at the end of the tunnel and maybe next year i will be able to eat.you are an inspiration to me.take care love shirl xxx

Trev - that's fantastic news and gives hope to everyone who is suffering.

My mum has gained almost 1kg in weight this week, and has cut her NG feed down by one third, so she must be getting her calories from somewhere.

She's trying little bits of stuff every day, but they are VERY little bits.

She is adamant she is going to have the NG tube removed when she goes to see her team at the hospital on 21 December.

Brilliant Trev., you are well on your way now. Deb will be so pleased for you, I remember how I felt when Brian managed his first plated meal. Its onward & upwards now. Big hug to you both.

We'll keep our fingers crossed for your Mum on the 21st, Winnie. All the best.

Hi Everyone
Isn't it fabulous news of Trevor's!
It honestly seems like there has been a miracle because just a week ago we wondered if T was ever going to be able to get something substantial down his throat and next thing we know he's on his way.
I wonder if confidence plays a part in all of this. Trevor has wondered what to try, what will go down OK and so on but I guess scared of failure so didn't (or wasn't in a position to) quietly get in and try things in his own space. Going to a very crowded outdoor (so fairly dark) party that had an assortment of food available, I think gave him the opportunity to pick and try his way through anything and everything and if it didn't work, it didn't matter. Does that make sense?
Maybe everyone on the verge of being able to eat and swallow should be able to pick their way through a smorgasbord to find things that are appealing and that they can just try little pieces of rather than having someone go to the trouble of preparing food they may not feel like only to feel terrible and a bother if it isn't palatable or won't go down the hatch.
That's how it seems from my perspective anyway and might be worth considering for those eager to 'have a go', especially with Christmas around the corner. There is no other way that I can understand such an improvement, so quickly.
It's wonderful to see the lift in Trevor's spirits and I hope his story offers some inspiration to someone else on the verge of some culinary exploration.
Good luck to you all.
Love
Deborah
PS Some time ago Chelle you posted a suggestion for mashed pumpkin and sweet potato with garlic butter. It made my mouth water but of course at that point Trevor was nowhere near ready to eat and besides he hates pumpkin AND sweet potato (not that he's fussy or anything like that!!!!) Last night I made mashed potato with lashings of butter and piles of garlic (phew! rather on the nose!) and it was heaven on a stick. Just delicious. Thanks.

That's great news Trev, onwards and upwards now. You've hit the nail on the head Deborah. Robert can eat loads if we go to a buffet and is allowed to just cruise around eating a bit of this and a bit of that. If we go out for a meal nowadays it tends to be to a Chinese buffet because he can eat Chinese food really easily.

So pleased for you Trevor. You really have cracked it now.

Lorraine

Spot on Trev, you're well on the way. I agree with you on being positive about things. I think it's one of the most important "weapons" we've got. I'm sure you will inspire others on the forum. Hagg.

So pleased for you Trev, it's these sort of posts that lifts everyone's spirits, puts a smile on thier faces and keeps them going forward.

Love across the miles to you and Deborah

Mum xxxxx

Hi! Guys & Gals,
WOW What a response it's great the way you replied, I am thrilled with my new found FOOD, I am like a kid in a lolly shop "Buy Me, Buy Me, Let me have it Yum" ETC well last night I tried some Filleted Fish with Honey & Sesame coating,Fresh Tomatoes (Skinned), Beetroot,Sliced Gherkins and Mashed potatoes with Garlic. This was Followed by Banana (Sliced) Vanilla Icecream and Custard with Chocolate Sauce (Iam in Heaven), well everything went down well but I still had to keep drinking but what the heck I'AM EATING YAHOOOOOO, OOPS sorry about those who are not up to it yet but the time will come when you will and I wil rejoice for you as you rejoice for me, Thank You every one of you.
Love TREV

PS Off course there is a down side my weight will now steadily go up, I had lost about 37kgs and am looking quite trim(Iam so vane)and now I'll have to start watching what I eat BUT hang it I want Food.

I keep reorting back to my mum with your progress Trev.

When did you have the op ?
When did you finish RT ?

I kow we are all different, but it lifts my mum's spirits so much when she hears of people who could hardly eat at all suddenly getting it back.

Great News - keep the progress reports coming - you are making an old lady very optimistic (my mum that is - LOL) and a slightly less old lady optimistic too (that is me !!)

Woo Woo Trev. Absolutely great! am so pleased for you, just shows, where there's a will there's a way. Just brilliant.

Hi! Winnie,Angie,
Great to hear from you all and I am always happy to be a help. Winnie to your Mum I had my Radical Neck Disection on the 22nd of June 2007, started Chemo/RT on the 31st July 2007, had my PEG fitted on the 20th Aug 2007, I finished Chemo on the 11th Sept, and finished RT on the 13th. I had trouble with my PEG and had it replaced on the 15th Oct 2007, after that I had no trouble with my PEG and I had my first Cup-of-Soup on the 6th of Nov 2007 which went down reasonably well but the next day I tried Porridge with Milk and that was a fail as the milk made my mucous flare up. Apart from the occasional Cup-of-Soup and IceCream(small amount)I have had to stay with my PEG that was up until the 1st of Dec 2007 when I went to my sisters 60th and my eating habits took a big turn. Since then I went to a Chinese Restuarant and had Sweet & Sour Fish with s&s Vegetables(I needed the sauce to help everything go down along with 2 pints of "Lemon Lime & Bitters". Before the Main meal I had a dim sim(a specialty of the House) which is the size of a Billiard Ball and a copiuos amount of Soy sauce and my mistake SALT(Fail) They are delicious but the result was a sore roof of my mouth and a bit of bleeding the next day(only a little and went away with a mouth wash). Boy do I go on!!!! but these words I hope will help MUM out and give her some forward planning as I had almost tossed in the towel when Xmas was coming and thinking of all my family enjoying the food of Xmas and not me but now I will be with them eating as well(there is a side effect with this new found delight and that is I am starting to put weight back on.......DAMM).
Hang in there Mum and there is a bright light at the end of the tunnel.
See you all later
LOVE TREV

Dear Deb.
Look at Trev going on when its all thanks to you ,he is eating up half of Australia!!! I am really happy Trev and you will never imagine how much. I really wish I had been there when you started gobbling all that stuff down. Why dont you get snaps of Trev attcking his food and post them? That would be great.

With lots and lot of my love,xxx and hugs,
Ananth