Hi,DonnaJean.

I did not have RAD or chemo, nor did I ever have a PEG tube. I too had a very hard time in the beginning, and refused to use either Ensure or any Ensure type product. Some suggestions for food, cheese cake, pudding (bread and rice pudding were the best), oatmeal, cream of wheat, grits, jello, applesauce, mashed potatoes with lots of gravy, ice cream and milkshakes. I also put ground turkey and beef in my food processor and made it very fine. When it was done I would make a meat patty, cook it, chop it up and smother it with gravy. My favorite veggie was spinach, chopped or creamed. Oh, and don't forget good old creamed soup, celery and chicken just to name a few. The process of eating was so slow that sometimes I would just finish my breakfast and it was time to eat my lunch.

I continued to take all of my meds in the same manner that it is currently given to my mother in a nursing home. (She has Parkinsons and is loosing her ability to swallow pills.) Mash your meds up very fine and mix them with applesauce, they just slide down your throat. Follow with some water and that should work fine.

I hope some of these suggestions help. I was probably just as stubborn as your husband. My surgery was two and one half years ago and I'm doing fine now.

Take care and if I think of anymore of the fun things I lived off of for 12 weeks, I'll let you know.

Anne.