Best blender?

Hi Dave,

Long post alert 

Great that tube is out. I had it for 5 days post surgery and hated it so can imagine your relief. I used a cookworks handheld blender that comes with a jar and works very well. Recipes:

1. Banana + avocado + blueberry + milk + 2 spoons double cream or icecream 2. strawberry + raspberry + apple + orange + beetroot 3. Home made soup: carrot + coriander + 1 tbsp of butter + half a tortilla soaked (cutting it into small pieces) in the soup and blended 4. Home made soup: Brocoli + sweetcorn  or Butternut squash soup + 1 tbsp butter + soak half a tortilla and blend it. 5. Pear + cucumber + spinach + steamed Brocoli juice. 6. Soft runny eggs. 

Try various consistencies to know how much milk or yoghurt or water to dilute. Add extra calories by adding double cream, ice cream, butter or ghee (clarified butter). Also i blended a lot of sunflower seeds, walnuts, almonds into a powder to add to my shakes and smoothies.

Please also get your dietician to prescibe some forticips.

For trismus, my consultant told me to pop in a paracetamol, use my thumb and index finger like a jack and try to push the teeth to open wide. The other thing he told me to use wooden ice cream sticks, stack between the back teeth on both sides. Start with what's comfortable, hold position for 10 seconds and then try to insert one more stick on each side. Do this 3-4 times a day. And gently massage the area on the cheek just below your earlobes. 

Hope this helps. Enjoy your food :) 

Hi Dave

The sticks didn’t work for me, it was just too painful, and all the pressure was in just one small area where I tried to insert the sticks. My cancer nurse managed to get me a Therobite , it’s a device that helps to open up the jaw. I used it 5 times a day and went from a 5mm to almost 30mm. I can now clean my teeth properly and see the dentist . If the sticks don’t work see if your team can get you one 

Hi Dave

Good news you now have your G/N tube out and can understand this a huge relief.

I have a K/ wood food processor, not the latest design but I find it serves me very well. 

Some simple things I make that suit me - tinned chicken cream or veg  soup as a base, add my veg, and season, heat and simmer till veg has softened. I then let the  soup cool down then add to the blender and blend,  transfer to a tall slim mug so it is less messy and sip or use a small spoon if using a bowl.  You will need to find a consistency to suit you.

Frozen shop bought smoothie mix I  just add water or milk the coldness of this I find quite soothing.  For the smoothies I have some tall slim glasses to drink out of.

Fruit smoothie, banana orange or apple with milk.  I  add water if I  need to dilute more. I add peanut butter for extra calories, which I found out about on this site. There will be plenty of smoothies you can make to suit your taste  with your swallow and eating functions and trismus in mind and give you good nourishment,  I guess loads more tips on food will follow. I expect your dietitian will  still  be on hand advising you and you are still getting supplements to help you through now you have had your G/N tube removed.

Good luck and wishing you all the best

Nicky

Thanks, Heinze! I’ve tried popping a paracetamol and doing the finger thing, but it’s just SO painful!!

I’ll see about getting a newer blender as I think mine just isn’t strong enough - I reckon I need to do lots of fruit smoothies with extra additives. 
Thanks for your recommendations! 
Dave

Hi Debbie! 
Thanks! I’ve been prescribed a Therabite (horrible medieval instrument of torture). My speech therapist yesterday told me I need to use it 5x 5 seconds each time and 5x a day. I’m a total wimp and it’s just SO painful so I’ve hardly used it. However, if you’ve gone from 5mm to 30mm (in how much time? Weeks I guess?) it tells me I MUST get on and use it. I’ll have to smile through the tears and keep trying - this bloody disease - it never seems to get any easier does it? 
Dave

Thanks Nicky! I discovered consommé soups and find I can sip those with no issues. Anything a bit thicker though is a real issue. 
I’ll start in the morning on fruit smoothies and drinks with loads of fruit, milk, cream etc in them. Realised last night that I need to buy smooth peanut butter as mine has lumps in it and that’s no good when trying to swallow!! 
I have some frozen fruit which I’ll add to a banana, ice cream etc and “chug” down. I have 2cal fortisips too, plus they’re going to get me some packet mixes to help. I need to start putting back the 25kg (55lb) I’ve lost in the last 8 weeks or I’ll be back on the dreaded tube! 
thanks everyone!

Dave 

Hi definitely use it. It took a few weeks, and I won’t lie, at times I was sat there with silent tears running down my face, but trust me it get easier, and then you can crank it up a bit, make it wider. I have gone from hardly any gap to being able to have normal dental treatment. Did you get the card to measure the gap between your teeth. I contacted the company via e mail and they sent me a supply of the cards and gum shields 

Hi Dave

I swear by my Magic Bullet which is a smaller version of the Nutrabullet. I use it to puree everything and it works a treat.

I go for a one stop shop approach to getting all my vitamins, protein, fibre etc in on  a daily basis. I make a soup from stock powder and add in  a whole load of different veg  plus a tin of baked beans and a microwaved Shepherd's pie for the meat.

I then puree the lot. I figured that way I wasn't missing out on any nutrients.

I also have a drink supplement. I use Sustagen but there are lots of others, Ensure, Fortisip etc.

For breakfast I have 2 weetbix soaked in hot milk and add pureed fruit and custard. Very filling and keeps me going.

Get adventurous and you will find what is just right for you in the taste department.

Lyn

Nutriblender. Makes and does everything!

Hi Dave 

Good to see you have a plan with your nourishment and still having fortisips and packet nourishments to help. Keeping your dietitian involved is so important.  It can take a while to build the weight back up. Wow you have lost a lot of weight. Having a blender is a must for me and it really makes things so much easier. 

Good to know you are having help and guidance with your trismus. Keep your SLT involved and any worries or concerns don't be afraid to talk to them. There are other exercises that can help with your trismus too ask about them.  Massaging the muscles as Hienze has written,  I find gently moving head side to side and gentle open wides help me. There are some leaflets on some NHS websites which are useful too and could be discussed with your SLT for you to incorporate in addition.

Good luck  

Nicky