My husband was prescribed Marinol to help stimulate his appetite. which overall considering what he's been through - hasn't been "that" bad - but for the most part he still isn't eating enough and he complains of nausea. He started taking the Marinol - but it doesn't seem to be doing anything for him. Does anyone know of a better appetite stimulant (not the obvious illegal alternative!) that has helped? Thanks.

Donnajean

P.S. The post about the "Easy-to-Swallow, Easy-to-Chew" cookbook is a godsend! I definitely plan on ordering it - but how do I get my hubby to get an appetite in the first place? He does some occasional "swim therapy" for exercise - but still hasn't done anything to change his lack of eating habit.

I was prescribed compasine(not sure about spelling)thi helped more with nausea. My appetite was poor for about 8 to 10 weeks in part due to lack of taste and the radiation after effects. But it has started coming back. I have regained about 10 pounds of the 45 I lost.

Well it's good to know there are some other alternatives out there - and if his appetite doesn't improve, he will have to check into what you have suggested. He's lost about 70 lbs or so - but he was a big guy to begin with (360 llbs.) But I know what his appetite was before treatment - and what it's like now and what a diiference! I suppose time heals all wounds as they say - so hopefully he just needs more mending time for his mouth and throat. He still does have mouth sores which obviously hinders his appetite along with a painful ear (on the side of the treatment) and he has many other health woes too. But thanks for the info. We will keep that in mind.

Gee whiz, DonnaJean -- finally a medically necessary reason to smoke pot and because it is smoking, that won't work. When I was getting chemo, and for those who haven't had the pleasure it looks kind of like a dormitory with a long row of patients, there was one guy who in a loud voice kept demanding a prescription for marijuana for his appetite -- and he must have topped 300 lbs. at about 5'8". All up and down the line the rest of us were trying very hard not to laugh.

On a more serious note, you are absolutely right about time being a healer. What we all need to realize is that our bodies have undergone a terrible assault, and the variables of state of health, other disease, and age all play a part in determining how readily or slowly we bounce back. Patience is definitely a virtue we could all use more of (says THE most impatient patient ever).

Joanna

Donnajean...please note that the post regarding the drug Compazine recommends it for nausea, not for increasing the appitite. I know of no such effects (making you hungry) from this drug.

Donnajean,

I can understand fully why your husband has no desire to eat. It hurts and doesn't taste good. This will pass.

But I will tell you (from someone who lost a lot of weight) when I started chemo in November a nutritionist came to talk to me and my husband (the cook-thank goodness)
She explained how easy it is for someone in our position to become anorexic (sp?). I also didn't realize before then that the body will burn it's muscle before it's fat. That contributes to the tired and weak times.
I don't get hungry, but I still eat. It does help me feel better ultimately. Just keep encouraging him.

Take care,
Dinah

I have been hearing about the use of steroids (Prednosone) used for some cancer patients to stimulate appetite. I know that during my 4 weeks of chemo, each time I received chemo I took steroid pills called Decodran (Dexamethasone) to prevent allergic reaction. One day early on, before the concurrent radiation began to affect me, following chemo I headed for a local seafood house and ate everything in sight.

Danny G.

When Jim was going through his radiation for squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue, I tried everything i could think of to get him to eat. Our oncologist told us that Carnation Instant Breakfast has the same nutrients that Ensure has, and tastes better, (I know he couldnt taste a lot but it helped to KNOW it tasted better). I put it in the blender with frozen fruit and ice cream to make a cool thick shake. He drank a lot of them. We went ot WalMart almost every night and walked around and looked at food, I bought him anything and everything he wanted. We took it home and opened it up, he tried everything. We threw a lot of stuff away, but even if only a sip or two of each thing got down it was considered a victory. He refused to have a peg, so near the end of treatment he was in a lot of pain. He tells people that chicken noodle soup saved him, because whenever I threatened to take him to the emergency room because he was not eating he drank the chicken broth of chicken noodle soup.

Thanks for the great advice folks! Karen - I have to laugh, because I know my hubby can eat the chicken noodle soup - no problem there! In fact he "prefers" the Mrs. Weiss's Noodle Soup as his choice for a "gourmet" meal!! But like you too - I have bought anything and everything I could think of that he could eat and would like. I have thrown tons of stuff away. And time seems to be helping him already. A few weeks ago - pudding was out of the question (too thick) but just as of yesterday - he had 2 small banana pudding cups!! It's amazing how something that would seem so trivial to most people (who are not sick) is a joyous victory for the patient and the caregiver in achieving this accomplishment! I will take all information given me to heart and depending how the eating goes in the next few weeks - we'll decide if asking the doctor for something else would be helpful. I'm also thankful for chocolate milk and ice cream - they have been a blessing for him too. (Of course being a diabetic - that's not the best choice - but I'm grateful for "whatever" he manages to consume.

I took steroids (Prednosone) for two weeks around the 4 month mark post RAD treatment. Prior to taking the steriods, I had a lot of swelling in my neck and inside my throat from the RAD and neck dissection. The steroids seem to help reduce the swelling, which in turn allowed me to swallow better. Additional the steroids also increased my appettite to eat. I have been off the steroids for two weeks and see my doctor on next week for evaluation and follow up. I am able to eat, but still have problems with aspiration. Prior to the steroids, eating was very limited for me.