Inability to eat causing drastic weightloss

Hi Shazz66 and a very warm welcome to the online community which I hope you'll find is both an informative and supportive place to be.

Hi

I also had chemotherapy and radiotherapy but didn't suffer as badly as your dad is. I'd already had a stomach feeding tube fitted as the tumour completely blocked my oesophagus and I couldn't swallow anything, so I was able to take the Fortisip drinks that way. Fortisip have a neutral flavour which is a lot less sickly, I don't know if Ensure have a similar one. I struggled with the flavoured Fortisip drinks, they really upset my digestive system. I had a dietician, a Macmillan nurse and a specialist nurse who I rang about such things. Between them they suggested neutral flavour Fortisip and that helped. Eventually I was able to alternate with the flavoured ones (except banana, I really didn't get on with that flavour at all). I suggest you contact your dad's nurse and ask for help. 

Take care

Hi Latchbrook, your so lovley for giving me advise on how to navigate the forum, I truly do appreciate your kindness and I wish you all the very best. Take care, sharon

Ah, that's lovely. Thank you very much and all the best to you.

Anne 

Hi crochet therapy, thank you for sharing your invaluable experience on how to get on top of doing battle with nourishment, my dad was offered the stomach tube but he rejected it and now it can't be put in because of the risk of infection. I'll ask my dad if he has a Macmillan nurse as unfortunately the specialist one doesn't seem very helpful. Thank you for making me more aware, this will help empower me to help empower my dad. Good luck with your recovery, all the very best, Sharon

Hi Shazz66, 

Thanks for reaching out to the forum, I am sorry to read of your Dad's diagnosis, and the difficulty he is having now with eating. 

Are you able to give a little more information on the type of OC your Dad has, whether he is allowed to eat and drink things that are cold, similar to ice cream or cold milk, and any dietary requirements, that he adheres too?

The following LINK will also provide some information that may be useful. 

I read your overview also, and as I don't know your Dad's age, it is hard to see this from his point of view, sometimes age will have an impact on acceptance, denial, determination, and if your Dad is just assuming the worse, I can only imagine that this must be really difficult for him, and for you as a family. 

I hope you get some interesting stories to relay to Dad, to offer him some positivity and encouragement.

Lowe'