Hi all! I'm really struggling with food versus peg feeding. Any suggestions of foods that will at least taste good or even ok? Radiation & cisplatin got my taste buds, nothing tastes as it should or as I want it to. The formulas make me sick & mentally I think I resist. I'm down some in weight, 188 this morning vs. 225 when I started this journey. My wife is freakin' out & I guess I'm kinda with her. Lately I feel like quittin' treatment, really, although deep down I know thats not realistic. Just sick of bein' sick. Being from the NW, I love strong Starbucks french roast coffee w/sugar & half & half, but it tastes salty. Thats just one example of how off my taste is. OK, I'm done bitchin'!! It is a beautiful morning in western Washington so I'll turn my sights on the weather. When it's good in this state, there is no better! My whole yard has exploded in color & is a joy!

Erik, what formulas are you using? Have you tried Carnation Instant Breakfast with whole milk? That is what I was told to try. When I went through Radiation I did not have the PEG so all nutrition was oral. It sounds like you have distorted taste and I had none at all. I had an extremely heightened sense when it came to the texture of everything I ate. Mashed Potatoes - very gritty, Ice Cream - you feel all the ice crystals and so on. That will turn you off of foods real quick. It got to the point that I was even unable to smell for a time. So I pretty much lived on Carnation Instant Breakfast. I replaced Coffee with Tea, it's still not the same morning boost as a good cup of Coffee. I also ate homemade soups, not the canned soups. As time goes on try making some Smoothies or even Milk Shakes.
David

Erik, I can agree about the weather here. Absolutely fantastic this time of year. About taste, salty is the last to go usually, and pretty soon you will probably taste nothing, so you are just going to have to hold your nose and swallow. Before I lost all sense of taste, I found that honey lemon cough drops took away the awful metallic taste from the chemo. The last thing that tasted okay for me was salmon. I remember being in Costco when they were giving samples and I just stationed myself there and ate and ate. I have now recovered both my taste and sense of propriety. Day at a time, Erik, day at a time, and you will make it.

Have you tried yogurt, oatmeal, scrambled eggs, malt-o-meal. I couldn't do mashed potatoes because of the texture, too gritty. Mac & cheese was pretty good. Tunafish with lots of mayo went down okay as well. I was only able to do very small portions at a time. Hardly enough to even count the calories, but you asked for some suggestions. Wendy's frosty are high in calories if you can stand the cold.

Lynn

Have you tried yogurt, oatmeal, scrambled eggs, malt-o-meal. I couldn't do mashed potatoes because of the texture, too gritty. Mac & cheese was pretty good. Tunafish with lots of mayo went down okay as well. I was only able to do very small portions at a time. Hardly enough to even count the calories, but you asked for some suggestions. Wendy's frosty are high in calories if you can stand the cold.

Lynn

Eric,

My mom was practically eating nothing during her last 3 weeks of radiation. She had no appetite after her taste went away we had to force her to drink 1 can of Boost Plus a day which made her gag. She had no PEG TUBE and after she finished treatment I got this recipe from Mandi and she loves these shakes. If shes not in the mood to eat a bunch of food she makes one of these and they keep her going throughout the day. She is going to give all of her team of doctors this recipe. Try it out....

2 cups ice cream
1 cup whole milk
1/2 cup half-and-half
1 package instant breakfast
1 tablespoon malted milk
2 tablespoons Ovaltine

Blend well.

This shake provides 1300 calories per serving

If you can't get much down at least one of these a day should help. How much longer do you have to go? Mark the days off on the calendar and take it one day at a time. Be strong. I know there were days when my mom just wanted to die but now 7 weeks post radiation and chemo and shes doing fine!

Take Care,
Dani

Erik, I didn't have the tube. I eat oatmeal w/lots of sugar, and whole milk, also instant breakfast. I was a 120lbs got to 100 before everything was over, you will make it.

Thanks everyone! I have 2 more cisplatin & days of radiation. I'll try some of the suggestions. I can still eat salmon , Joanna. Last weekend, opening day we caught a 7 lb trout baked that baby just like salmon, mmm! THis morning I tried mixing a can of cream of chicken soup with chili con carne, tasted good , but was way too spicy, abort, abort!! Cream of chicken, tomato, & 1 can of milk makes a tasty smooth soup. Also, chicken noodle w/1 can tomato & 1 can milk works. Ivars clam chowder goes down real well & is full of calories & such.

Oh my gosh, Erik! I had forgotten that I just about single handedly kept Campbell's in busines from the amount of chicken noodle soup I ate, because I could taste the salt and the noodles slid down nicely. Haven't had any since. Trout? You had fresh trout? I am SO jealous. I have some Kokanee in the freezer that I now feel compelled to thaw out, but it won't be the same. Back to treatment, be aware that at the end, some people, like me, lose their voice for a couple of weeks. I was reduced to a very soft whisper and it took me by surprise because no one had told me this might happen. Now I can holler with the best of them, so it is temporary. Just keep your eyes on summer!

Erik,

I remember the salt taste well. It seems like it was just yesterday but it was 6 months ago. I found that spaghetti with Ragu (plain) seemed to work well for 2 months. The noodles went down good and the tomato taste was not too acidic. I tried some with cheese and some with sausage/meat they were a bit too strong. Plain old Ragu and Prego worked the best and it sustained me to the tune of 4 meals per day when even the Boost gagged me. I still lost an enormous amount of weight from 211 to 145 but I think thrush had a lot to do with it. Hang in there, the salt is the only single taste I remember towards the end. It came back within 2 weeks for me but 7 months later the tastes are almost a surprise each time I eat. The prime rib in March was the greatest I ever ate! A nice rare cut was easy to chew.

YOU CAN DO IT!

Ed