Thank you, Christine! That makes me feel better, knowing that other people have done it. He's just totally against getting a PEG tube. I think this is because he worked in a mental health institution for many years and saw some pretty horrific medical things done to patients. He keeps saying "I'm going to have to get that damned tube" like all the time, and its clearly stressing him out.
He is half way through as of today. Today was treatment 15.
They gave him the magic mouthwash. Here, they call it Mylanta Forte. Same formula you mentioned. It helps some, but is not that effective anymore. They gave him some new medications, gabapentin for neuropathic pain, which he says is helping with the stabbing pain he gets in his tongue sometimes, and Doxepin, which is actually an antidepressant. The pharmacy compounds it with a liquid and it totally numbs dad's mouth, which is cool. I am hoping it has a little added bonus of helping with his depression. He still has not said anything to his doctors about that, but he hasn't been as negative in recent days. The social workers have been helpful in finding grant funds to help with some bills, and have been great at listening to him vent.
Dad's driving himself to treatment 3 of the 5 days and is pretty reluctant to try opioids because he wont be able to drive. He loves cars and driving, its one of his big pass times. He's taking one kind at night, but only when the gabapentin doesn't work.
They're doing his blood work every week and it looks good. The nurse did say she was going to recommend he get some fluids regularly, but so far they haven't done any. Kidney function is great.
Dad is diabetic, and his blood sugar seems to be pretty regularly around 250-300 when it's tested. He stopped taking his metformin, and stopped having stomach pain. He hasn't been able to see his primary care (it seems like there is no time for anything but getting to radiation these days). The nurse said she wouldn't even worry about his diabetes right now because he is losing so much weight. We're trying to add protein to the things he eats to help with the blood sugar spikes.
I'll read through your list of foods! Blender gasket ate it yesterday while we were blending up an avocado/banana smoothie, so while we wait for Amazon to come to the rescue, we're back to finding soft things to eat.
