Eating

Can he tolerate spices? if he can try a little and see if it makes food taste better, also if struggling have soups the smooth ones not lumpy ones. I found that lentles and mushrooms went down well, you can add a little spice to see if it tastes better if he can take it some people can't, I still have problems with potatoes so if swallowing is hard try very small amounts (a teaspoon full) of the more solid foods and see what goes down as if you are struggling there is no point making it even harder for himself trying to eat normal food as this makes it even more of a chore, after time you need to keep trying as things should improve.

Thank you so much for replying , the thing is he has no problem swallowing it's just the taste ,but anyway he doesnt do spice lentils or mushrooms ,yes he is fussy .he us just trying his normal foods but everything taste disgusting ,wondering if this lasts a long time x

I can't help with the time scale as I didn't have a problem with taste as such, someone will be on and give you a better idea. He is lucky he can swallow though as lots of us have problems with that. Is there anything he will eat with a stronger taste to see if it helps.

He sounds just like my husband. We're 9 weeks out and he's not eating either. He won't try custard, mash, soups etc, he wants to eat like before and gets so frustrated when he can't. I feel your pain. 

I wish I could eat as I was before my Op 4 years ago this month, it is very hard to come to terms with, that is if you ever can, I still eat more when the food is things I really like but I have always tryed to eat the so called good things but as it's hard and takes so long it is easier to just go with with what you like best.

Good luck to you both.

Hi Honey123

My taste was very badly affected after radiotherapy.  Things either tasted totally bland, of cardboard, like eating a handful of coins or absolutely revolting.  It was trial and error to find out what I could swallow and what it tasted like.  If it was bland or cardboard I thought I was onto a winner as at least it was palatable and I settled for that - it's so important to keep the swallow function going.  If it was revolting I obviously didn't eat it.   

I would say my taste went on in that vein for 3 to 4 months.  I'm still having problems with taste 8 months on but the trick is to periodically try things again and again.  Although some of the foods I found absolutely revolting at the beginning are not quite so vile now but  they're still not nice enough to eat.  Other foods aren't so bland but still don't taste the way I remembered them.  There are a few foods that I could actually identify by taste if I was blindfolded.   

I'm sure my taste will continue to improve over time.  I've read several posts on this forum where people are finding their taste still improving 3 years down the line.

So my tip to your husband would be to try lots of different foods.  If he finds some things are at least palatable, even though they might be bland, settle for those for now and just keep trying little spoonfuls of various foods periodically.  Something that wasn't pleasant one week might taste different the next, even day to day I find.

Keep persevering and all the best.

Linda

Thank you so much for your excellent advice, we appreciate it x

Hi it was about 12/13 weeks after my radiotherapy finished before my taste came back and I can say how your husband said the food taste like is how I said it did too, spices made and still do make me sweat on my face so stay away from rich foods like that, porridge with honey, to see if he can taste the sweetness, veg sopus, spag Bol, just normal foods for the first week of his taste buds returning, after radiotherapy my liking to foods switched from curries and spicy food to a milder version but it was explained with my dietian and speech therapist hope this helps a bit and good luck to your husband x

Hello.

I had cancer in my left ear . first of May 2018 the operation took from 8.30 am until 11.30 pm.

I must say i felt good at the time. I am a happy person. After three months I was sent home.

The hospital asked me to have radiotherapy on the  side of my head ,every day for seven weeks,               i

I did and was so ill ended up back in hospital for on  week.

could not swallow food ,lost my hair my teeth where a mess and I lost my balance.

I have still lost my balance after a year and cant drive my car. I will continue to fight it.

All the BEST to everyone. there is hope and with NHS help you can get through this very frightening time in your life.

Hi, It is 2 years past March since my treatment ended and I know exactly how he feels, but I also struggled to swallow.

I survived on scrambled eggs, porridge and chicken soup, for months, before progressing to mashed potatoes with gravy, but everything tasted either salty or like metal. Please be assured it will get better, I used to enjoy going out for a meal and thought I would never be able to do that again, but I am now eating almost everything I ate before, although I do struggle with bread, chicken and meat without any gravy or sauce. Chocolate was another thing that I really enjoyed but is now far too sweet for me, so your dads taste buds will change, just keep doing what your doing trying wee bits at at time and I’m sure you’ll progress just like me.