So I thought I read here once that someone would consume 3000cal/day after treatment, I don't know if it was either by PEG or mouth but my question is, what is a good rule of thumb of how many calories we should be needing after treatment?

I have lost nearly 60lbs since the beginning (alot due to the radiation and the mucus making me puke my guts out everyday, multiple times per day) and my husband seriously thinks I will be hitting the double digits in weight soon. I no longer have help with my 3 girls so my activity level has gone way up, I'm still consuming the same amount but the weight is just dropping.


I see the nutrionist at MDA in 2 weeks but wanted to get yalls insight before I talk to her. One of my neighbors is an oncologist and I use to work with him, he saw me outside the other day and immediately asked me how much I weighed and how many calories I was getting in. He said he tells his pts to eat 3000 calories/day too. So why has my nutritionist kept me on 1800calories!! I don't even get that much, I get 1200 per peg and the rest is suppose to come by oral food, so on average more like 1600calories/day.

No wonder I'm always hungry!!!!

I have been telling posters to consume 3000 cals each and every day both during and post Tx. Don't forget the water but that's usually not a problem post Tx as the dry mouth usually sets in by then.

Elizabeth,

I was told 1500 cals was a minimum and 3000 was preferred. Your body is healing from radiation burns internally. You need more calories then regular folks.

Kelly

You need to get some help with the girls. You will need every calory yet get for your healing process. The amount of calories varies as you can see. if you are mainly flat on your back you can get away with 2K calories. if you are more active 3K calories. The main idea however is to balance out your caloric intake so that you neither lose or gain weight. The docotrs prefer to see consistency.

I had no PEG and lost over 60 lbs as well. The docs were always freaked out about that but at least my BMI was well under 25 ;-)

Thank you, I'm gonna have to have a serious talk with my nutrionist!

I was told to go for 4000 because I looked like a fish that had been out of the water for a couple of weeks. I lost 70 lbs in a short time and it is much easier to lose it that to gain it back.

During treatment and after to heal you need more calories. Your body is fighting to heal. Shoot for 3000+ per day.

At one point while I was healing I had many days where my calories would be 7000+. I drank 3 xlg choc peanutbutter milkshakes per day plus did my tube feedings and ate pudding or yogurt too.

Thanks!

I finally got a hold of my nutrionist today about my PEG. I was wanting a new one since my stitch came out and I need something faster to feed, of course I only have a 12fr and it sucks, I can't push the food in! She thought I was eating 50% by mouth in addition to the 1200 calories I was getting per peg. I don't know where the communication fell since I have access to my medical record and can see she clearly knew last visit what I had told her since its in her report. UGH!!! So frustrating!!!