Hi,
I am looking for some advice for my father, He is 69 and suffers from CLL and is having ongoing treatment (Chemotherapy tablets) at the moment.
He is really struggling with his taste buds and says that everything *tastes funny* to the point where mosts foods make him sick.
He is losing so much weight and we are trying to help him continue to eat, but this is proving difficult.
The hospital have provided build up drinks but even these are difficult for him to drink.
He has also become what we think is slightly depressed, as he doesnt move from his chair all day and you can barely get conversation from him.
Does any one have any suggestions or advice?
Is anyone else also going through this?
Thanks in advance.
Sarah
Hi Sarah , I am just dropping in past from our Lymphoma groups as I noticed your post had not received and answer.
Sorry to hear that your dad is having some challenges with his treatment. The tastebud thing is difficult and yes, at times everything tastes like sucking on an old penny.
There is no simple answer. I did find having fresh Pineapple and Melon cut through the ‘sameness’ also folks say that sucking on toffee’s helped, some even say chilli flavours crips did the trick!!!!!
I hated the supplement drinks - they were disgusting.
I lost 27kgs during my treatment (see my profile by hitting my name) so had to go on a high protein diet but I just could not eat so for 3-4 months I basically lived on scrambled eggs at breakfast then small cups (every 1-2 hours) of good homemade soups that were liquidised with some cream in it. I also could keep down some mash potato with a little cream and even some melted cheese and sometimes mixed with some beef gravy. Eventually moved on the small amounts of mince beef them some white fish simply poached........ it just takes time, effort and persistence....... the worst thing to put in front of home a plate of food - think grazing - little and often as his stomach needs to relearn the art of eating.
Food tasting good is not the main priority, its all about protein intake that is important.
Fatigue is a big problem - the more he sits and does nothing the longer it will take to get back on his feet. My wife always said she had to be cruel to be kind and had to show tough love In insisting I got up and walked - not far initially but it was getting the muscles working again.
When I came out of hospital I was in a wheelchair after spending weeks in bed so it took lots of determination, will power and months to get up and moving again.
It’s very hard when someone’s head is down but it’s all about seeing the goal, the greater good in getting through this. You may need to challenge him in some areas as he may just not realise how he is doing. My wife kept moving pictures of our granddaughters around the house reminding me that this was not just about me but about a lot more people.
I am happy to help out as best as I can ((hugs))
