Silly question probably but I’m desperate

Hi Lillian

I can’t help you, as I haven’t had this issue. There are knowledgeable people on here, who I am sure will respond with excellent advice. I didn’t have peg in, but still after my operation had trouble eating, it does get easier, but takes time, you will get there. 

So sorry about your cancer Debbie and I am pleased you are doing well. I know it is the radiotherapy that is to blame for my dry mouth but I shouldn’t complain as it saved my life. 
Thankyou so much for your reply and support and I hope all goes well for you. 
Take care, Lillian 

Lilian. I presume you have tried all the usual salivary stimulants like chewing gum and sour pastilles. You need some proxy saliva with your food so try a tiny sip of tea with a mouthful of food to chew and another tiny sip to swallow. 

You say you feel full up? Are you drinking lots of fluid trying to get food down? Try what I suggested above. 
Have you pursued acupuncture? It’s well worth a try. 
Make sure a dietician is at your next review. They might be able to help. 

Hi Lillian, I am out of treatment since July 7. I have the same problem with dry mouth, but find that flat diet coke & sugar free gum helps. 

I posed the same question as you with regards to eating to my dietician. She said I could half my feed to allow me to try increasing my food intake. I thought that the feed was causing me to only be able to eat a few spoonfuls of any food I tried, I was wrong. I cut the feed to half and I wasn't able to eat any better, I lost weight and my wound site round the RIG tube started to break down & weep, which it hadn't done before (lack of protein apparently). So I'm currently on a marginally reduced feed and I am trying to increase my food intake but it's slow. 

Hi Lillian Try as Dani says just a little sip of warm teas or coffee or even warm water to listen yout mouth then a little bit if food and a tiny sip to act as saliva. Don’t fill up,with fortisips  to start with as your tummy will have shrunk and needs to learn to accept food. Of course yoi need to keep your calories up so maybe use the fortisip as a custard ? Tinned peaches nice and moist and pour a fortisip over like cream in fact add some double cream. Cheese on toast  cut into tiny squares cut the crust off have a bowl of soup ready and dip the cheesy toast. I found cheap white bread easier than home made bread. You can  get a neutral flavour for tips as well to add to soup I had ensure drinks and found the vanilla one worked well over Swiss rolls or cakes. Fish in a parsley sauce sweet potato mash. Just a few ideas. But yes get the dietician involved at next appointment. 
write down the calories you’ve eaten  then at end if day supplement with fortisip later in day. I kept a record of what I was eating calorie wise and drinking for months. 
hugs Hazel xx

Hi Hazel

I just love your typos. I think adding neutral flavoured Fortisip to the soil sound very interesting. However I do the same (not adding to the soil) and find adding Fortisip to most of my food which is still mainly puree or very soft, adds extra calories. I use it on weet bix, to soften sponge cake in fact to soften anything. It works really well. I also add yoghurt or custard and that can make a very palatable puree.

I found when I had the NG tube in that my appetite was very low as my stomach did not have enough room in it for more food. My dietician recommended that I eat a small amount of puree first and then have the Fortisip after to top up. This worked quite well.

Lyn

Hi Lillian

Dry mouth is unfortunately one of the many side effects of radiotherapy. I finished my treatment a year ago and my mouth and throat are still very dry . To help I always carry a spray of water with glycerin and have coconut oil before I go to bed. Do not worry if you are not able to eat big portions, your appetite will improve. Try to have small portions more often and food that you enjoy with loads of cream and butter. Don't force yourself to eat food that you do not enjoy. Milkshakes are quite tasty as you can add so many different ingredients together with fortisip. My dietitian also gave me some nutricrem puddings (quite a few different flavours and quite tasty). I couldn't eat solids when my peg was taken out but my dietitian and my oncologist were confident that I could have enough calories by mouth even if at first it was mainly milkshakes, soups and chocolate mousses.  I know it can be frustrating and upsetting but you will get there little step by little step. It used to take me forever to eat anything and I found that eating whilst watching my favourite series really helped. Even though I still cannot eat everything I used to , I am able to enjoy eating again. I tend to include pureed vegetable to help me eat some food that might be a bit too dry ( chicken and fish for instance). You will get there and we are all here for you . Don't hesitate to ask any questions.

Take care. 

Fab1

Durhamlady said:

my mouth and my throat are so dry

Carry a small handbag size spray bottle of water and use that to spritz your mouth regularly. That's better than drinking water to moisten your mouth. I must say that I felt my mouth was as dry as the Sahara but it wasn't really. It's amazing how the little salivary glands all over the inside of your mouth do improve. The damaged nerve ending play tricks with us. Four years down the line I relax so much at night that I'm back to sleeping with my mouth open at times which really does dry me out. So I tape my mouth shut which has cured it.

Hi Lyn lol I aim to please. Yes it would soften soil up I guess but soups better.  Big  day coming up soon hope you’ve got the pineapple and cheese on a stick ready. 
hugs H 

ps I’ll amend the post xx

Can I ask what you put in your milkshakes please, I live on my own so don’t stock much fresh produce as it goes to waste, I just tend to eat soup or semolina or custard and trifles. Any ideas will be appreciated. 
Thanks Lillian xx