Hey folks, been a while since we last checked in. Richard is a year out, and most things still taste like cardboard, but he mans up and eats because he is hungry, not for taste. He says he remembers that it used to taste good. Yesterday, he actually had 2 sweet rolls stuffed with coconut and I asked him if he could taste the sweet, he said he could taste a little sweet - so there is his progress. Having minimal taste, has not stopped him from eating when he is hungry.
Aloha,
Barbara

Great news, an indication that his recovery is on-track. which is more good news!

i had BOT resection/neck dissection 30 rads and no chemo -rads ended august 7 2013 so i am 10 months out---my taste returned slowly after the first month and is nearly all the way back---acidic foods such as ketchup still sting but i can taste it--carbonation bothers me too so i now drink nitro filled stouts almost exclusively--i was a big IPA drinker and while i can taste it, the carbonation irritates my throat--everyone is obviously different but your taste should come back--my goal is never to drink an ensure or boost shake again

Sounds good, Barbara! I thought the attitude lunch was his and I was amazed at what Richard was eating then realized it was CJ. What a dork I am!

Yep, getting sick of the old baby formula. I'm nearly three weeks out and some taste is returning. Going to try pumpkin soup soon:) However I keep channeling Christine B and drink the milkshakes as well. I've lost more weight since treatment than I did during it. Because I lost some weight before surgery, some after and a little during rads I've changed from a rounded, stocky shape to a taller slimmer profile. Very nice but then I think of what everyone is telling me and force down the shakes.

Alpaca we'll worry about the body shaping later. lol

Tried a can of tinned spaghetti today. The sauce stung a little but it was soft and frankly anything is a break from those damned Resource thickshakes.

Another tip I found works, try a hot drink with the thickshake. Hot chocolate, tea, coffee, whatever. Sip of the shake, sip of the hot drink. Mixes it up a little and doesn't feel like you're swallowing 227ml of phlegm all in one go.

Good point. I tried a beef and tomato cup of soup today - no useful calories but for a taste test and I fancied it. Tasted too strong ans salty but not foul. There's NO sense of enjoyment in anything though although some taste is very reminiscent of normal. Maybe I enjoy the first few mouthfuls of coffee ...

Dairy helps neutralize the acidity of tomato based foods. Have a glass of white or chocolate milk handy when trying foods that could be acidic. Beware of Chinese food too, for me it burned worse than any other food. Eventually I was able to eat won-ton soup. Its basically just broth so hardly any calories in there but its great for keeping you hydrated. You probably have seen this already, but it may help others who read this thread.

List of Easy to East Foods.


PS... Please push yourself to take more in. Losing weight now means you are not taking in enough to heal properly. I know Im the biggest nag about intake and I probably always will be! Im speaking from experience, I struggled and found out the hard way by being hospitalized a couple times for malnutrition and dehydration. I felt so bad I actually thought I was dying and thats what it felt like. Even if you spent your entire life overweight, it could be years before you have properly recovered and rebuilt your body enough to gain weight. Im now almost 7 years post rads and Im still slim after dropping 65 pounds. Its a real struggle to take in enough to maintain myself. When in doubt, take a 3 more bites or sips and then repeat

Your body will be producing a lot of mucus and milk can exacerbate the thickness. Follow it with water and guafenesin if it gets too thick and causes gagging.

As far as milk, it burns some, it did to me, from the lactic acid, sugar. As far as producing more mucus, it really doesn't. Milk has enzymes that replicate saliva, lasts longer than water does, and coats the mouth, which may cause a feeling of thickening of mucus. Speaking of Chinese food, I ate mostly egg drop soup during my last two cancer treatments, which soothed my throat, lessened my mucus, has protein, little carbs for my diabetes, in addition to my canned Glucerna. I guess everyone finds out what works for them, and wasted many foods in search.