 Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 10,507 Likes: 7 | If you are having difficulty in getting 2500+ calories and 48oz water daily you need to let your doc know. If you do not have a feeding tube it may be time to think about getting one. Either type a peg tube which goes into the stomach or a nasal tube thru your nose will do the trick. Your body needs extra calories to fight the cancer.
Without proper nutrition you will feel awful. Its a viscious cycle, it hurts to eat and drink but without it you will get malnourished and dehydrated. This can sneak up on you. I spent several nights in the hospital due to malnutrition/dehydration. I really felt terrible, my whole body ached from head to toe and that was with taking pain meds.
For nutrition, try Carnation VHC. It can be purchased thru the Amazon link. Its 560 calories per can which is alot more than ensure.
ChristineSCC 6/15/07 L chk & by L molar both Stag I, age44 2x cispltn-35 IMRT end 9/27/07 -65 lbs in 2 mo, no caregvr Clear PET 1/08 4/4/08 recur L chk Stag I surg 4/16/08 clr marg 215 HBO dives 3/09 teeth out, trismus 7/2/09 recur, Stg IV 8/24/09 trach, ND, mandiblctmy 3wks medicly inducd coma 2 mo xtended hospital stay, ICU & burn unit PICC line IV antibx 8 mo 10/4/10, 2/14/11 reconst surg OC 3x in 3 years very happy to be alive  | 
