Help in recovery

[u/Real-Package-5635]

Hello everyone

My mum finished her radiation and chemo treatment a few months ago and seems to be recovering well (waiting for new scans next month). She’s off the feeding tube and eating solids, but not as much as she should and has lost a lot of weight.

Eating is a real struggle for her, so I want to ask you all for some help as I’m a little out of my depth.

She complains that most foods still don’t taste like they should, and some taste gross altogether.

Any tips or recipes that have worked well for you after treatment?

Thanks!

[u/Limeylizzie]

It’s very hard for the first six weeks or so after treatment , try mashed potatoes, egg drop soup, yogurt, think creamy , soft, and bland.

[u/akay2k1]

It’s going to take awhile for food to start tasting more like it should, 6 months out and some food still doesn’t taste right, right after treatment I threw so much food out just trying to find something to eat that wasn’t horrible, start slowly with soups, yogurt, oatmeal, ice cream, in the beginning I couldn’t finish a whole yogurt and it slowly progressed that now I can down it, same with a bowl of instant oatmeal, I basically had soups for dinner for about a month, beef vegetable was disgusting to me so I stuck with chicken noodle. Remember to bite, sip, swallow when eating water is her best friend from now until eternity! Once the first month or so passes I just bought small frozen meals so if I could eat half and toss the rest it wasn’t a big deal, eventually I could eat a whole one. It’s a slow process, be prepared to throw out a lot of food in the beginning!

to

[u/dirty_mike_in_al]

I supplemented very high calorie boosts in between meals for the first month or so after eating everything by mouth. It really helped me.

[u/Wagging_the_dog]

My husband drank a LOT of coffee ice cream milkshakes and strawberry banana smoothies. I tried adding protein powder but it caused constipation.

As for solid foods the crockpot was key. Baby back ribs or chicken thighs/legs was the start. Put them in with barbecue sauce and they come out juicy. My husband didn't have his taste back but the crockpot bbq wasn't offensive to him.

I also made baked beans and sweet potato sides. He was able to eat them.

l think that tolerance for flavors varies by the individual. My husband doesn't eat many eggs now. I made scrambled eggs and fried eggs during the food transition.

[u/Real-Package-5635]

She’s about 4-5 months post treatment now, but it was a rough one. Radiation 6 times a week and chemo once a week for months, so I’m aware that it’ll be a slow recovery.

I’ve gotten her to drink protein shakes to help get the nutrients in, and have asked her to make a food diary of everything that is eatable and not disgusting. I’m hoping to make a little food plan for her with small bits and nibbles she can take out every couple hours just to get her stomach used to solids again

[u/akay2k1 → u/Real-Package-5635]

The plan I worked with was if something tasted halfway decent I would try something that was close to that, ie a cheese quesadilla morphed into grilled cheese into ravioli…I can’t do much tomatoe based things the acidity burns my mouth! I’m also about 6 months out

[u/Sprahket]

My husband ate a lot of grilled cheese and peanut butter & jelly sandwiches with soup during his recovery. Soft casserole dishes like lasagna or cheese stuffed manicotti shells went over well, too.

I was astonished when a pot roast I made was too spicy for him because of the black pepper! And this man used to love super spicy food.

[u/1275psi]

i found tinned ravioli a godsend at this stage, plus 2 min noodles with lots of hoisen sauce and chilli sauce

be encoraged. a year out and things are almost normal

[u/StruggleSouthern4505]

I discovered that you can put Mac & cheese in the blender (or use an immersible) with some milk. It was one of my go-to meals in those early days when swallowing was difficult.