Hi Jean,

Picked up on your post as my husband had pleural mesothelioma of the lung linings and can really relate to how you are feeling regarding trying to ensure they eat even when they are not interested.  Little and often worked for my hubby and his consultant said concentrate on high calorie fats (all the things we are told we should avoid!!!) so introduced full fat milk shakes, butter in sloppy mashed potato and double cream into thick soups as well as leaving a 'picking basket' of snacks by his chair which he used to dip into from time to time (often encouraged by our grandson whom he found harder to say no too!). Chatting on the forum gave me some good ideas at the time too. Take care of youself too.Regards Jules

Hi Netty

So sorry to hear that, I do hope that the results you are waiting for are positive for you both.     Foodwise here has slightly improved today.   Have made potato hash with carrots, swede onions and mince, all chopped very small.which he actually not only ate but enjoyed.   Would be happy for him to have every day if necessary.   Am expecting results of a blood test he had Friday to see if there is a problem there which is causing his weakness.   The clinic are ringing me tomorrow so everything crossed at the moment.   They have also mentioned increasing his steroids so was interested to see that this had improved your busband's appetite.   We must just keep battling through Netty, all my best wishes go with you 

Hi Jules

Your comment about leaving snacks to hand rings true, I left a small bar of chocolate within reach of him  today not expecting him to eat it but he did,  almost without thinking.   Maybe this will work more than my 'nagging'   Thanks too for your other suggestions, will give it a try

Jean

Hi Jean

Hope the blood test results  give you both some answers which can help with any treatment he might need.

The 'nagging' about food was a great worry for me and frustrating for us both. My husband said that  It was not that he did not want to eat but just had no appetite, taste buds shot by the chemo and no interest in food so a day to day effort to find something to 'tickle his fancy' wore us both down. The dietician explained that the extreme fatigue also played its part (he sometimes slept more than he was awake so difficult to keep calorie intake up). She recommended offering foods that were previously disliked and it was a surprise how many 'tasted ok'. My hubby even had days that were 'cake filled' - mini doughnuts, jam tarts and choc mini rolls to name but a few. We operated a his and hers fridge for many months. Wishing you the strength to cope day to day.Jules

Hi Jean

Really sorry to read that  you have been let down by the system again, somewhere along the line. It must be totally frustrating. I can only think that perhaps the wrong 'coded' tubes were used when taking blood samples (our local hospital has a colour coded system depending on what kind of 'test results' are called for). It seems good news that the chemo nurse and your GP has picked up on the fall in cholesterol and taken necessary action to help with this. Will be hoping you both get more positive new when they follow up on Friday. Jules

My husband had to.put weight on when he started chemo so I made him 3 egg omlettes with cheese and veggie bacon with mushrooms for breakfast then he would have sausage rolls as snacks along with banana and walnut cake the lots of mash with butter and berries with extra thick double cream. He put 1 stone on in no time and then we tried the rainbow diet which is getting as many colours in your foods and this also helped. Best to just keep him snacking on whatever he likes as chemo can alter tastes, don't give up.