New here, tips on liquid diet welcome

elswickgirl said:

He flatly refuses to be tube fed as he thinks he will be eating normally in a couple of weeks.

Give him a cuddle from us all and a bigger one for yourself. Bear in mind that RT has a residual effect and peaks at around two or three weeks after treatment ends. Best keep that one to yourself but at least be prepared. 

Afternoon All,

I'm 3 weeks post radiotherapy, and went onto an NG tube 2 weeks ago. It is a game changer because the anxiety surrounding food has finished and I have some actual energy so I can do stuff. I have a back pack so I can leave the house. The tube means I can experiment with what I can and can't eat. At the moment it is mostly can't eat, but it is less worrying as I am not relying on it for nutrition. 

I am avidly watching for suggestions on the 'can eat front'! 

I'm basically fending for myself on the feeding front, nobody is trying to feed me anymore!  In fact it really gets on my nerves when people who haven't been in this position make helpful suggestions! They are facilitating which is a lot better! 

Good luck with it all! 

R

Hi good luck like Dani says the treatment continues to work so he may well go backwards but if he’s refusing any tubes just keep trying to get him to eat. Protein is crucial to aiding recovery eggs were my go to food on top of the ensure. Hadn’t a dietician read the root act to him. I know mine used to to be weekly and I barely lost any weight. Try protein powders from health stores to add into soups. 
Hazel 

Hi try these links 

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

https://www.yumpu.com/en/document/read/67107065/eating-with-confidence

poached eggs on cheap well buttered white bread toasted. Today g alters texture of bread. Then eventually smashed avocado on top. Jaffa cakes dipped into coffee I couldn’t drink coffee but used it to dip. I used to wash food down with lukewarm herbal tea do swallow exercises several times a day I still do them now. Homemade soups fortify with double cream. Protein and calories are your friend. Good re ng tube it’s a game changers. 

Hazel 

Experimentation with food was my way forward....tried different things....a lot of it went for recycling...but got some nice surprises after a few months....Fried haddock and chips....Battered black pudding....bacon butties....

Peter

At the moment he's really digging his heals in and told me not to put any protein additives in anything, but it's early days. Seeing the nutritionist on Wednesday for his first post treatment review, so hope she can knock some sense into him. I'm going to try wide smoothie straws.

At the moment everything has to be liquidised and he thinks he's going to be eating more solid food in two weeks. But a friend who is six months on from treatment still has trouble with mouth ulcers. But I'll keep slogging on.

Rachael S said:

I'm 3 weeks post radiotherapy, and went onto an NG tube 2 weeks ago. It is a game changer because the anxiety surrounding food has finished and I have some actual energy so I can do stuff. I have a back pack so I can leave the house. The tube means I can experiment with what I can and can't eat. At the moment it is mostly can't eat, but it is less worrying as I am not relying on it for nutrition. 

And that is exactly what I bang on about. About letting go and going with the flow. I have to be careful not to nag folk though because I understand that for some people they need the fight to survive mentally. 

That's encouraging about the tube, although I think my partner will take a lot of convincing to have one. I'm getting some wide smoothie straws to see if that will help bypass his sore tongue. Good luck on your journey to recovery.

Julie 

Honestly, the tube was a huge relief for everyone, not just me!  Other people in my family were getting really anxious, and it just made the whole thing better. My view is that the patient has some responsibility to look after the people that are looking after them, and that means not causing needless anxiety about something easily remedied. Once the tube is in it's not so bad. And now I can walk the dog, which is a big plus