My grandmother, who is 94, had surgery on Tuesday to remove the cancer from the inside of her cheek, jaw and roof of mouth. They also took the lymph nodes on that side but we don't yet have the biopsy results on those. She has been recovering unbelievably well, from my perspective, over the past six days since the surgery and went home yesterday. She is now at home, with my aunt providing 24/7 care for now, but we have a big question. She has a temporary feeding tube still through her nose and we are giving her Ensure. The problem is that the Ensure appears to give her diarrhea, which seems to defeat the purpose. My aunt has been trying her on some broth instead, but that's not going to give her enough calories to sustain her weight. I found this forum as I am trying to figure out what we can put in the tube that will help her. She has had NO pain medications at all since the surgery; she says she doesn't need them. Is this unusual?

that's one TOUGH lady! No pain meds, out of the hospital in less than a week...Wow!

Truly, that is astounding. Most people (myself included) were hospitalized twice that long, and spend significant periods on fairly strong pain medication. to not need anything is really unusual.

I would STRONGLY suggest you talk to the nutritionist at the hospital about alternatives for caloric intake. Diarrhea is dangerous because it dehydrates you very quickly.

The Doctors should be able to get that under control quickly, and there is a wide variety of liquid nutrition that she can try.
Wayne

I have had two neck dissections and a total laryngecomty and had no pain after the first 24 hours. Actually, I was too out of it, to know if I had pain the first 24, but didn't need apin med after that. Every surgery is different so if she is nto 'funning you', she may not need them.

I find it odd that she is having diarrhea from Ensure. These products usually cause constipation big time. I'd call dr and see if somethign else may be causing this and also speak to nutrionist on what is best product to use through nasal tube. I had one after surgery but don't remember what I used. There are products with higher calorie counts per can than Ensure encluding Ensure Plus.

Keep us posted and I'm glad she is recovering so quickly. I've got a 92 year Mom. They keep us hopping.

Take care,
Eileen

Sorry about all the typos but got called to dinner before I could edit and we all know I can't type.

I think you need to check what meds they put her on after surgery. Antibiotics and penicillin can cause massive diarrhea as I well know. Call the doctor and let him know about the problem. You do not want her to dehydrate.

Eileen

Get her checked out by her docs but remenber she needs water, calories and nutrition daily. Products like Ensure, Boost and Carnation Instant Breakfast VHC provide a valuable concentrated source of calories and nutrition with VHC giving you a whopping 560 calories in a 8 oz can.