Bowel cancer CARERS, FAMILY & FRIENDS chat

Afternoon I’m not having a very good day today been listening to records and had a visitor who thought it was our son Paul who had died so that has upset me for the rest of the day.

Suppose there are good and bad days

Helen x

Oh torry. I can’t believe someone said that to you. That would have just threw you over the edge. Take a deep breath, a cuppa and listen to your records. I really feel for as you have been so strong throughout. Take good care of yourself. 

huge hugs Maggie xx

Thanks Maggie, have been stuffing my face all afternoon feeling down. Sally just rang and asked me to go for a walk so think fresh air might do me good.

Speak later

Helen x

Hi Kleigh87 I am having the same problem with Barry, he struggles to eat and when I put a meal in front of him he says he can’t face it.. I have tried the small bottles of Fortisip but as he is diabetic they sent his sugars through the roof. He can eat soup usually and occasionally he will feel like a proper meal. He does eat some cereal and a boiled egg at breakfast, maybe 1 crumpet at lunchtime and then downhill from there on. He will eat cake though but just a small piece. 
I was really worried and asked the pharmacist for advice and he suggested Slimfast. Strange I know but it does have vitamins and minerals. I make it with full fat milk instead of skimmed and he drinks it throughout the day. 

Not been on for a while as family things happening so hope everyone is doing ok and sending hugs to you all. Pauline x

Hi Helen how awful for you and strange bless you hope tomorrow is a brighter day you are doing a amazing job dealing with everything hugs to you xx

Hi Pauline it's really difficult and worrying when they are not eating I watch Simon like a hawk he has good days and bad. Once you find something he likes just stick with it .Small amount is better than nothing I always think sending you hugs xx

Strangely the one thing he will eat  is sweet and sour chicken. We have had it 3 times this week. It is something he shouldn’t really have but I am going for anything he will eat at the moment.  Very small portion though. Pauline xxx

There are juice drinks that can be prescribed which we got for Kevin as doctor said the others were far too high in sugar as Kevin was type 2 and the steroids he was on made his sugars higher anyway. I think so long as he is eating anything just go with it. Plenty other things to worry about so long as he is eating something. Hugs

Helen x

Thank you Helen. We went to the docs on Tuesday and I did ask was there anything like you describe. She just said she wasn’t sure and to ask his palliative nurse. The nurse can’t prescribe anything so I was very frustrated as she didn’t even check on the computer to see if there was anything suitable. I shouldn’t have been surprised though as the reason we went was because his blood pressure was low, I had been checking on my home machine. The doc didn’t even take his blood pressure to see if I was right just took my word for it. Who knows how accurate the little wrist monitors are. 
I did say that I was worried everything was being put down to the cancer whereas some things might not be and I wouldn’t want him suffering when there might be something that could help. She just shrugged. Enough said.

Hugs to everyone

Pauline x

Have you tried Barry on simple fruit jelly? I am Type 1, insulin dependent and eating was a chore for a while. However, chilled sugar-free fruit jelly (which is a good protein source) and a smooth yoghourt  kept me going without overdoing the carbohydrate. Also,drinking a pomegranate juice drink was quite pleasant and refreshing and not too sweet.

I love peanuts but can no longer digest them so I now eat spoonsful of smooth, unsweetened peanut butter. Curiously this is a pretty good substitute for that particular craving. Nourishment doesn't have to be meat and veg every day.