No appetite

It is a difficult task trying to get us to eat when we have no real interest in the food laid in front of us, small meals were forced down for some time, no taste to them, supplemented with ensures, but gradually the taste did return and with it my appetite, I love a good curry and can now enjoy it , king prawn or chicken with plenty of sauce,, tomatoes and rice.

Thanks Lyn, it’s so frustrating especially when I used to enjoy my food. You have done extremely well in your case and if you can do it I’m sure I can in time. I thought by now I’ll be back to normal. So many of you have gone through eating problems and have adapted to the new normal. Sue x

Hi Sue

iI can identify with so much of that.  I’m 18 months downstream and, while things are getting a lot better, anything I would regard as normal is a way off yet.  I still eat because I know I have to.  I can’t remember the last time I felt hungry….and yes, I still top up with Huel.

 I wouldn’t let it stop you from going out for a meal.  I find most restaurants are very happy to accommodate changed needs…and that has included serving smaller portions.   I think it’s a pity British restaurants don’t do as some German ones do and offer ‘senior’ portions ( the elderly equivalent of a child’s portion) for all items on their menu.  
I quite often have two starters instead of a starter and main.  I found that this gets me over the problem of everything going cold before I can eat it and also means that the portions are manageable.  I’ve never been one for dessert so don’t miss it.  Our favourite restaurant in Whitby is more than happy to serve a small portion of fish with mushy peas and no chips….which also gets over the problem of sending back mountains of uneaten food.  I find potatoes a problem. 
As the others have said, it’s a question of trying things and seeing what works - but I found this sometimes a fairly disheartening process…you kiss an awful lot of food frogs before finding the prince!  
I found that it didn’t help that I am the only cook in our household. Never being hungry and then spending time cooking food I didn’t want was, and still is to some degree, a problem.  Left to myself I’d probably be vegetarian and live on soups and pasta…..oh, and the odd fillet steak which,for some reason, of cooked really rare, I have no problem with.

Good luck.   It does get better, but boy does it take its time about it. 

Liz

Hi Gill, your fella is doing so well after only 3 and a half months! I was Rig fed until 8 months with next to nothing orally except water or tea. I found many good ideas with food from the lovely community champions. For starters I only cook a proper meal from scratch on Sundays as my husband likes a roast. Of that I eat about half a potato and half of a small Yorkshire pudding a spoonful of peas carrots or cauliflower cheese and possibly 3 mouthfuls of meat (except chicken). Most days unfortunately are ready meals and a meal for one usually feeds both of us as I get bored after a few mouthfuls then return to my fresubin drinks and a desert which I have no problem eating. It really must be harder for you trying to coax someone to eat. I’m surprised that your fella can eat a sandwich as I struggle with bread. My go to is 5 Tuc biscuits with deli cheese and onion from any supermarket. In the deli section is also tuna or egg mayo that is easy to eat. Good luck and don’t take it personally if your food is wasted, my green bin is always full of my left overs!! Sue x

Wow Liz you’re 8 months ahead of me so you really know how frustrating eating is. Like you I’m the only cook but like I said earlier I don’t cook much from scratch these days. Luckily my husband is pretty easy and as he can’t cook he puts up with my random meals! Liver is easy to eat also pie, mash and liquor which I’ve never eaten before, although I’m originally from London! Since having 3 back teeth out I find chewing takes so long the food goes cold and I end up spitting it out! Still, since reading all these helpful replies I am going to stop beating myself up over eating. 
Good luck.

Sue x

No Sue, I don't take it personally really but 99% of his leftovers end up in me!  Not good as I've usually already polished off my own mountain of chow.

Hey, he's supposed to glug at least three Fresubin a day but now started getting picky with them, so cappuccino flavour goes in his coffees instead of milk.  Quite nice really.  He only used his RIG for one month, then redundant for the last five before being taken out.  He was doing so well with food and ate everything right up till the last day of treatment before it all slid downhill.  Suppose I'll have to be patient and keep plugging away.

Good luck with your eating and enjoy the fish and peas next time you go xxx

Ha ha my husband would agree with you regards polishing off my food too. He has put on loads since I finished treatment! It seems your fella is doing much better than I did so I’m sure it won’t be ng before he is back to normal and will allow you to lose weight  ps I don’t know why the winky face pops up twice!! 
thanks, Sue x

Hi Sue.  Just jumping in with regards to bread, have you tried Warburtons thins?  I can’t manage bread, but I make a lunchtime sandwich of soft filling of some sort with the brown thins and eat with a knife and fork - that works for me.

June x

Thanks June I’ve only managed to buy medium so I’ll look out for that brand as i miss a sarni! How far past RT are you? Sue x

Hiya,  no RT, fibula free flap surgery jaw, over three years ago but needless to say a fair few teeth missing! along with lots of scar tissue.  Oh the joys of new norm’.

June x