How to support husband struggling to eat

Hi , sorry to read this; it is something we see quite often.

Perhaps the best advice we have seen is it is time for tough love, explain he has a choice eat something or hospital but it is his choice. Sometimes patiens have reported they feel they have lost control of everything but they can still control if they eat or not and so it can become a source of friction.

Have you got any support at home? Often the carer fidns the pressure really high and it is easy to forget to look after ourselves and if we are broken that helps nobody.

<<hugs>>

Steve

Hi Steve

Thank you very much, I have told him that is a possibility of him being admitted if the hospital, it did a trick for few days. I have friends and family, he is lashing out at everyone if they encourage him to eat. I have asked him to see a counsellor, he is refusing, it's hard because, I am worried of saying the wrong things, incase he thinks we are not empathising with him.

Thank you 

There are lots of different flavour fortisips. I could only tolerate strawberry. The rest made me feel sick. If you ask to see the dietician, they should have all the different flavours for him to try. Other than that, it will be a Naso-gastric tube or peg/rig which are both types of tube feeding. If you feel he just needs motivation then the prospect of a naso-gastric tube or rig/peg may just well do it. 

Thank you very much, the dietician have sent a variety of fortjuices and I tried a complan vanilla flavour, he seems to like it, fingers crossed 

I am so pleased you posted this. 

We have a similar situation with my mum, re tastebuds after radiotherapy, now receiving treatment for thrush but having no appetite and the weight loss. Frankly she is skin and bones and I was shocked seeing her yesterday, (when I did a 300 mile trip each way) to attend her hospital appointment, to see how frail she has become.

I have now sent her details of the Fortisips to see if this will help her to. x 

My husband had throat cancer and found it hard to eat for months because of the damage to his mouth and throat from radiotherapy. He found Fortisips revolting. I got a Nutribullet and made my own smoothies for him which were a lot nicer. 

He was on an NG tube for 5 months which was not great. Your husband really doesn’t want to be on a tube if he can possibly help it. 

My husband had throat cancer and found it hard to eat for months because of the damage to his mouth and throat from radiotherapy. He found Fortisips revolting. I got a Nutribullet and made my own smoothies for him which were a lot nicer. 

He was on an NG tube for 5 months which was not great. Your husband really doesn’t want to be on a tube if he can possibly help it. 

Thank you, i have found the forum to be very helpful, I have ready him some of the responds especially about NG tube, it’s has helped he is drinking complan at least twice a day and he is getting a bit better, he had his first solid meal today in a couple of months salad and a cup of tea. 

Regards x

Sadza 

Thoughts and prayers for and your mum,  my husband is getting a bit better, he likes complan vanilla flavour as breakfast and fortysips during the day, his thrush is getting better with a regular wash with Nystatin, 

Wish you and your mum the best 

Sadza