Silly question probably but I’m desperate

Hi Lillian, 

These are some ingredients you could use  as examples: ( I used to also include vanilla fortisip to my shakes to make sure I had plenty calories). 

chocolate powder

bananas

smooth peanut butter

smooth almond butter

any frozen fruit (blueberries, strawberries, raspberries., peaches..etc)

smooth oatmeal

chia seeds

vanilla ice cream or any other ice cream that you would enjoy and could be a good combination with any other ingredients. 

almond milk

coconut milk

full fat milk

rice milk

honey

maple syrup

You could have your milkshakes with loads of whipped cream on top. 

As a drink my dietician also gave me some Fortijuice, I used to have this with sparkling water, no so many calories as Fortisip but it does make a change as it is fruity instead of milky The Nutricrem puddings that my dietician gave me came in different flavours (vanilla, chocolate mint, strawberry , chocolate) and I added whipped cream to them. Once I had chosen the flavours that I liked it was on repeat prescription. It is worth having a chat with your dietician, 

I hope this helps. You will get there . In the meantime, please let me know if there is anything I can do to help. 

Take care,

Fab1

Do these different types of milk have good life dates on them xx

You can buy long life version of all these milks. I drink oat milk quite often and the one I have got expired in July 2024. 

Best wishes, 

Fab1

I meant expires in July 2024...

Wow that’s really good, thank you so much I will definitely try them xx

Try Pineapple juice or sucking on a Pineapple segment

I feel Lillian’s frustration. My treatment ended August and I still can’t deal with food at all, I rely on my Ensure.  I got saliva tablets for night time; they stick up inside your lip and stimulate saliva easing sandpaper mouth in the morning.  I still have to cleanse my mouth with bicarbonate every day still.   I don’t actually have an appetite anymore. This whole episode has changed my relationship with food; each time I try and eat it either burns like crazy or just so dry, especially breads or starchy stuff, just scratches and sets me back days where I struggle to swallow at all.  It’s not a good thing I know but there’s a level of fear each time food is presented.  It sucks 

I was the same. Couldn’t care whether I ate at all for six months. 
Leave scratchy stuff out entirely and stick to soft juicy foods. Just eat to get better. 
Go back to your trusted Difflam and swill your mouth out and gargle  5/10 minutes before you try eating 

Bioxtra mouthwash is really good to soothe your mouth and keep it moist. 
Try a pocket sized spray filled with water to moisten your mouth through the day. 
Latterly I discovered Salivix spray which stimulates saliva 

Both Salivix and BioXtra can be got on prescription 

I finished treatment 12 months.  I still can't eat or taste and am on pump feeding, much easier than Fortisips. Half a bowl of cornflakes looks like a 10 course meal to me!!!!  I have no real interest in food after 18 months of not eating. Yogs and some fruits is all I can manage.  I had throat cancer so it might be different for you but last month I had surgery on my throat to cut a muscle following a fluoroscopy.  I now have to wait for my throat to heal and then I need another flurosope and lessons in how to,eat!!!!    They tell me its not unusual and realistically I'm looking at a 2 year recovery. I had bilateral RT and 8 rounds of chemo.  The damage, I'm told following the surgery is extensive.  Salivary glandss have probably gone for good.  I have a very dry throat and mouth, I haven't found anything that really helps. Some days it's dreadful other days not so bad.  I can totally sympathise, mornings are awful.  I've gone onto full fat milk and really only drink 100% whole milk coffee with honey.  which has maintained my weight, I lost 3.5 stone.  I was also advised to take Vitabiotic high potency,  Vit D, Selenium, Magnesium, zinc and some Immun???  I have taken them for 6 months and I think they've made a huge difference.  I have to crush some them. I had a private blood test carried out after treatment and I was totally de0lete of most essential vitamins, again that's very common but nobody tells you!  It's a very long battle, all I can say is that when I reflect of this time last year I've really improved not that it feels like that most days.  My other problem is the cold, I have never felt the cold but now, thermal long sleeves and fleeces are my daily companions.   You have to laugh sometimes or we would all just give up!!! I,wish you all the good luck in the world and a full recovery.  Keep fighting it, stay in touch, let me know how you get on.  I'm in Eastbourne, East Sussex.    X