Feel like I am going backwards

Hi Lillian  I seem to remember you had a PEG fitted, if so don't worry about eating, use the PEG for everything. It does seem to be 1 step forward and 2 back at times, but you will get there.

Ray.

Hi Lilian. Ray is right. Use your PEG. It’s what it’s for. Give your mouth and throat a rest for a few days. 
What are you,  6 weeks out of treatment? 
It’s really early days. 

Do most people have a problem getting food down orally, with that and my very dry mouth I feel as if I should be doing better but I am also very tired and weak all the time, I seem to be going backwards.Lillian 

Yes, most people do have trouble eating, and the fact that everything tastes awful, makes it even harder to eat. Most people also have a dry mouth. You are still very early days into your recovery, so you will feel tired and weak, get as much rest as you can, allow your body to heal itself It all takes time, you will get there, don't worry.

Ray.

Hi. I couldn’t eat from week 4 until several weeks post treatment. I used my PEG for hydration, meds & linked up to a pump overnight for feeding. Do you have a PEG? Ask about a pump for overnight feeds. It takes the stress off & ensures you get all the necessary calories. 

Durhamlady said:

Do most people have a problem getting food down orally,

Yes Lilian. Just slow down and be kind to yourself. It’s not a race. 
A day will come when you really feel better. Honest. 

Hi Lilian. Remember it’s not a sprint it’s a marathon there’s no right or wrong way Use yiur peg to get calories in the start to introduce food we are all different. But a common theme is 2 steps forward one step back and some time 1 step forward and 2 steps back. Some people like me were lucky, I could do 50/50 tube and oral quite early in but I also know many who are peg reliant for much longer. Once yiure getting enough calories in yiubcan then start orally to become more reliant. 
Yiur bodies been taken to the lowest point you've probably ever been in it takes time. Be kind to yourself and use your peg. 
hugs Hazel xx

Durhamlady said:

I am weaker now than I was a month ago

Are you getting 2500/3000 Calories a day down? because that is what you should be aiming for. Remember also that the radiation has a metabolic effect to make you tired and it also impacts the base of your brain to make that tiredness even worse. This is n normal. It does improve though you'll likely get waves of tiredness that poleaxe you for a few months. Again. all that is normal 

I have had a nurse call today to take my bloods and she also did my obs   My blood pressure was quite low and GP rang me to see how I was. I am nowhere near the amount of calories you say I need and I don’t even have the strength to do my daily walk around the block I just feel so weak. 
Lillian 

Then you need to have more food. You are never going to get better. Your body is In hyper metabolism and needs those calories. Can I suggest you ask your nurse to arrange a pump so that you can feed slowly either at night or through the day carrying it all around in a rucksack. The pumps are very small and a litre of food weighs only as much as a bag of sugar.

I know it’s really daunting and depressing but you need to help yourself.