Eating post treatment

Hi JD. The transition from tube feeding to oral feeding can be hard. We lose taste for a start and how can you enjoy food if you can’t taste it? I wasn’t hungry for months after I finished but food is fuel and if you don’t want to be dependent on a stomach tube forever you just have to force yourself. 
Thick mucous can be eased by drinking lots AND by eating. Some people used a nebuliser( Amazon) but I managed steaming over hot water. Diet ginger ale and soda water are good to drink. 
Soft foods? Just experiment and don’t be put off if he can’t. Try again another day. 
Scrambled eggs, add Philly cheese to keep it soft. Tinned peaches. Biscuits dunked in warm tea. Toasted tea cakes dripping in butter. Pasta. Tinned macaroni cheese. Rice pudding. Ready brek then porridge made with whole milk. 
Just a few suggestions. 
He’s bound to be feeling down. If he’s still in pain that has to be addressed. 
Have a read of this too. It’s an eye opener. 
https://workingwithcancer.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/After-the-treatment-finishes-then-what.pdf

Best of luck. 

Hi JD10 That's about the time they told me to start eating soft foods, as I had been totally reliant on my RIG for several weeks. I remember the thought of trying to eat was daunting. I never felt hungry and had no taste, however starting with things like yogurt, custard, milk puddings, porridge with lots of cream where possible. I moved on to things like poached or scrambled eggs, with lots of cream and butter, it's all trial and error, trying different things. Try to get him to look at food as fuel for his recovery, which it is. Things will get easier for him, with time and he will enjoy his food again. 

Hi JD

If he is not up to soft foods yet, there maybe something on here that might tempt him, hope it helps.

 Liquid diet ideas 

Cat x

Hi others have covered the main bases. All I can add was I used the mantra food is fuel and eat to live not live to eat. When my n g tube came out week 3 recovery I was told to aim for 85 gram of protein and 2500 calories a day. Ti start with I was swallowing 50 % of thise calories  by having 4-6 ensures a day then poached egg etc etc. my hubby encouraged me . Just be prepared for one day he can eat  something then the next day he cant  eat the same thing. It’s frustrating to say the least. My blog below might help plus link tk a head n neck cook book. 
Liquid diet ideas
 Ideas on this link from one on here. 

https://www.yumpu.com/en/document/view/66263025/cookbook-by-andrew-gaylor-head-and-neck-cancer-survivor-2022

Hazel 

Good evening JD10, this is a lot of the problem, nurses and Drs do not fully understand patients feelings and struggles recovering from treatment, i would stick with his feeding tube until HE feels comfortable in switching over, and let him recover from the treatment first and then sort the feeding out when he is happy, we all know the feeling of having the mucus which does make us very frustrated so why make it worse by swallowing food. Sometimes its just best to let the patient do things on their terms so they are in control, as long as he is getting enough nutrition through the PEG then i would not worry, i always say between 3 and 6 months is a good area to aim for everything to settle down. Wishing you and your husband all the best with his recovery i know how important it is to have the support of a wife or partner is and what you go through, its not easy so im pleased you have asked for advice on his behalf. Take care.

                                                                              Chris x

Hi JD i am 13 post treatment and still using tube to feed.  I try all sorts of food but most things taste terrible, i can see me using the peg for at least another 3 months. The liquid food also keeps you feeling full so food doesnt appeal.  Mucus also is a constant pain in the backside but i am hoping eventually in reduces.  Best wishes to you and your husband.  Alan 

Hiiii

im 6 weeks since finished radiography, still sore still on meds, I avoided feeding tubes, but still struggling to eat, I can not drink the fortisips or meal replacements and Iv lost 4 stone!

food taste awful Iv no saliva so it’s difficult and hurts to chew, and I have bad nausea and sickness, I’m on 2 different anti sickness tablets and still get it.

im constantly looking for food and meal ideas, I like on mainly weetabix 

I came on here tonight feeling bit low with pain and wondering when it’s going to end, but kind of comforting to read I’m not alone it’s not just me 

Caroline xx

Misscjayne said:

im 6 weeks since finished radiography, still sore still on meds, I avoided feeding tubes, but still struggling to eat, I can not drink the fortisips or meal replacements and Iv lost 4 stone!

food taste awful Iv no saliva so it’s difficult and hurts to chew, and I have bad nausea and sickness, I’m on 2 different anti sickness tablets and still get it.

im constantly looking for food and meal ideas, I like on mainly weetabix 

I came on here tonight feeling bit low with pain and wondering when it’s going to end, but kind of comforting to read I’m not alone it’s not just me 

Caroline xx

Hi Caroline. It's still early days. At six weeks I had only just lost my NG tube but was still on morphine. I wasn't going to struggle with eating so was happy with my NG. I'm sure not having to push food past an ulcerated throat helped it heal faster but it's what your mind is comfortable with after all. The body heals pretty quickly, the head not so.

Misscjayne said:

im constantly looking for food and meal ideas

I know what you mean...it's awful when you can't taste anything. I couldn't be bothered with food for six months but I made myself eat.

Let him read these answers. They told me they are removing the tube so I started drinking the fortisips. Too sweet for my liking but full of what you need. Alongside these I've tried easy to swallow foods such as b beans, egg, soup, soft bread, dunking biscuits, good stews with lots of gravy, porridge n mashed banana, mash n gravy,  I've even moved onto other foods but it does take an age for me finish. My wife moves to the kitchen or somewhere. It's a struggle but hang in there you got to work at it