Hi I found most foods taste like cardboard, keep clear of yougart (live bacteria reacts with kemo) & some cheese. Curry was okay with me but be very careful try small piece first, good luck you don't say what his drinking is like ifound ginger ale tasted OK.

Billy 

Hi there,

Weve struggled so much with getting dad to eat but lately we've found a few things he will eat.... and it's mostly marks and Spencer's ready meals Along with their tasty nibbles. Also ice cream, cakes, double cream (especially in his coffee), pure fruit juice (which we make ourselves-it's great because you can put all sorts in it and make it super healthy!) He's been eating soft cheese like Roule, olives, but it's little bits at a time. I try to make it look really apetising for him too and I think that helps because he will say "That looks so nice!" It's so hard though and he says mostly things taste awful these days but he's definitely been enjoying the things I just mentioned so I really really hope that helps a little bit. Sending lots of love to you. Xxxxxxx

Well done it sounds like he is enjoying his meals, I had to make all my own it usto put me off wile I was making them, I have a disabled wife who I have to look after as well. All our family are married and working with children of their own we manage just when I go for treatment a neighbour comes to check on my wife. We checked out having a carer but we have to pay so we are saving up for when we have to have one when I get a lot worse anyway all the best.

Billy 

Hi, 

I can really appreciate what you're saying. My dad was mums carer as she has severe mental health problems. We haven't been able to access the support that's supposed to be available yet, but I think it's partly because we are managing really well now. Dad has a nurse come out about every other week just to see how were coping and I think because we are doing sort of ok he's leaving us to it. I could be wrong but I don't know. 

Our financial situation isn't good, I've just had to give up work to look after my parents as like I mentioned the support has been difficult to access and we haven't had any yet. The marks and Spencer's ready meals work out reasonably priced when you consider he doesn't eat much anymore anyway and the juicing, we bought a fab juicer on eBay, it's the sage nutri juicer plus. It's about £200 in the shops but I found this one for £70 and the person had literally used it once and put it back in the box. I do everything now and the hardest thing for us is bathing dad, mum does that but not enough because she can't get him in and out of the bath. I've suggested him bathing wearing boxer shorts so that I can do it but dads not having any of that! 

I think it's worth you maybe Macmillan and Marie curie and your local hospice to see if there's any help available. I don't know how you are managing I really don't. You are truly amazing but it's not fair for you guys to be in this situation. It's too much on you and I want to help find you some help I just don't know how? Let's see if anyone else has any ideas today and we will go from there ok. Big hugs to you. Xxxxxxxx

Hi I been married over 45 years I've been looking after my wife for over 10 we have the house just so. My cancer does not help but we manage, I have arranged a carer when we have to have one ifound it takes over 12 weeks to get carers arranged. I tried macmillan after 5 different fonecalls I was told I can pay for carer. I am my wife's official carer but I can not get any money because I have a pension alot of friends have told me what to try but no good, look after yourself as well, when I wash my wife I put a load of towels around my wife sits in a chair and I put a chair in front of her she sits down iwash what I can I stand her up she supports her self on other chair wash rest and dry she sits dry rest (she can't stand without support).

Billy 

Hi Turtles,

These are pretty common side effects - the good news is that they start to fade away as soon as chemo ends. Getting my taste buds back to normal took longest - about 8 weeks.

All you can do is experiment and see what's palatable - everyone is different so you just need to do it by trial and error. Bland things were OK with me - porridge, non-spicy soups, fruit smoothies, homemade peanut butter and milk power shakes etc. My worst changes were coffee, whisky and red wine ... all normally favourites which made me retch just by smelling them! 

Good luck

Dave

Hi - I can relate to this - as the relative you don't want any meal missed so your loved one has as much energy as possible for the fight.

Things that worked for us in no particular order.

Luxury vanilla yoghurt.

Smoked Salmon or poached salmon  with fresh bread and butter, and fresh salad.

Avocado pears

Crispy plain croissants and jam. ( Specifically from Paul's bakery which isnt everywhere but other croissants didn't work - I'm laughing and crying as I type this)

Microwave noodle meals were soft to eat.

Small tub of mango 

vale of belvoir cucumber and mint drink seemed to refresh the palate without setting off the Chemo reactions.

Strawberry and cream tart.

It was always better when I ate at the same time with her. And from the Chemoytherapy she had a very sore mouth- which seemed to change the level of soreness from day to day- it was good to have a selection of toothbrushes of varying softness bristles. Very very soft, soft and medium.

Wishing you the very best of luck - try everything. x