Hi Aussiemum, I bet mum is so happy to be out of the hospital. Is mum having trouble with keeping food down, or lack of appetite? My mucositis caused me problems in eating so I had a day of just a liquid diet using the Ensure drinks the hospital supplied. The chocolate flavour was quite palatable and they were happy with that as it had enough nutrients in it to keep my strength up. Funnily enough, I found one of the easiest things to eat with a sore mouth was Maggi 2-minute noodles. When cut up small they slid down my throat with minimal chewing and were bland enough if you are feeling nauseous. My sister made me some great smoothies and juices also. Pureed soups such as potato and leek, pumpkin etc were also a staple during this period. I'm sure she'll perk up greatly once you are there :)

The mucositis was terrible for me also. The hospital mixed strawberry ensure with vanilla ice cream for me and i could get that down, and it tasted pretty good. Also soups were good, i prefered the good old fashioned campbell chicken noodle. Sandwiches were not good for me at least. You cant really ask her what sounds good to her becuase nothing is going to sound good to her, it is what can she tolerate? Just a plain chicken breast was good for me, and i could get down rice also. Try the ensure shake thing in whatever flavor she likes. I bet she will eat that. Good luck.

Dave J.

thank you both for you input, seems like she does have some sort of drink thing that the hospital gave her ..... i am not there to confirm but sounds very similar she said the strawberry tastes pretty good ...

I will have to check on if she has the mucositis, she has had a little problem keeping things down, and also thinking about what she would like.

I will make these as a couple of suggestions :) want to get her strength back up but i know it will be a slower process then before :)

xx

There is a steroid white liquid that you take in the morning that will up your appetite -- check with your onc or other doctor on it -- temporary for a few weeks should be OK. I would not take it long term -- perhaps just one bottle. Take care -- dave

Aussi,

I had trouble eating at first as well. I found that I could tolerate (and actually enjoy) eggs and pasta with some butter. For some crazy reason, I also liked grapefruit, even though it is acidic. The problem with grapefruit, however, is that it can affect the metabolism of many drugs. It took a full 6 months until I was really eating with general enjoyment of my food. The process is gradual. Oh yes, mocha chip ice cream was good too! Meat was not.

Cliff

Thanks again everyone, it appears she has the ensure drinks .... Mum was never a big meat eater anyway so not too fussed.

I have managed to find she likes "mashy" foods....so we have had a tuna mornay for Good Friday and then a shepards pie

Strength is coming along well, we are having good walks everyday

She does have a case of the drunk walk little she is basically drunk....hours of amusement this is giving me :) .... We prefer to laugh at this things

Xxx