The Importance of Food and Drink!

So, i am finally able to eat a sufficient range of solid food in 3 meal sessions per day to make my wifes life easier post discharge from hospital.

What i find interesting is how desperate the body needs both of these just to undertake basic activities such as eating, drinking, talking, surfing this forum, checking e-mails - just mentally concentrating on anything - even watching TV.

I have recieved the advice on what is best to help me - but mostof it is off limits due to my taste buds and ability to swallow - but it is nice to see 'some' progress in the eating area.

[080311]

So glad you are starting to feel a little better. Food and drink when we are unwell is so vital, hope you continue to make good progress. I know how difficult it is my husband had a stroke 5 weeks after my surgery and it’s been a long journey. But every step forward is huge. Very best wishes Pauline

[Janma123]

That’s is really good news. My hubby went off lots of things before we found out that his heart was causing the problems - all he wanted was rich tea biscuits and the occasional slice of toast!He also developed a fear of foods and was ‘not sure if he would like it’. He was recovering well but the stroke set him back hugely ( hospital food that you had to order the day before didn’t help either).

I resorted to taking food into hospital - a fish supper, pizza, a hot chicken bread and salad - anything to tempt him. Got a few comments about healthy eating from some of the staff but my attitude was that eating something was better than not eating!

Good luck with your recovery - it sounds as though you are making steady progress.

Jane

[Hidden in reply to Janma123]

If only i had been closer to home... We live an hours drive from the hospital and any chance of getting food brought in was 0. It didnt help that my NG Feed was set to 1500 calories per day. Even an NHS based diet advised i should aim for 1800 calories per day - that said, i did lose 5 stone in 4 months, so i can't complain about the effectiveness of the diet.

Hope your husband is also making better progress with his recovery and eating.

[Janma123 in reply to Hidden]

We were ‘fortunate’ that Bob was in hospital in the summer of 2018. Our hospital at that time had all day visiting and I would leave home at 9 in the morning, get to the hospital about 10.30 and home by about 10 at night. Towards the end of his time in the stroke rehab unit we were allowed out for the afternoon as long as we got back for 8.30ish. I became a dab hand at wheelchair folding! He is still not good with eating and has a sweet tooth which is not the best - like a child who has no room for all of his dinner but still has room for dessert!You are doing really well and I hope you continue to improve.

[Thanksnhs]

Hi I am still struggling badly with food, things I used to love I can't eat anymore, horrible taste that makes me feel sick, I can't have tomatos or any tomato based sauce, no bolognase for me, chicken is another one used to practically live on it, random things like grapes, strawberries, cheese singles and soup but cereal, porridge, melon, bread and a fry up! are fine, I pour salt on everything, not the fruit 🤣, I verge on the underweight, I so wish I could find something that I enjoy, I have spoken to a dietitian, but they just say it should get better but not when, I live on my own so half the time I think it's just not worth the effort cooking anything at all, it's lovely to hear that you can now manage three meals take care char

[Hidden in reply to Thanksnhs]

I can so empathise with you - to see my wife eatign things that once we both had as a meal, and now make me sick just at the thought of eating it, does make me jealous some days.

I don't mind the elimination of fast food, cakes, chocolate from my diet - oddly enough - i don't even miss chips, but i do miss chicken and an occasional bit of lamb shank and the vegetables, along with toast to make dippy soldiers with or bread to dip in to the soup.

Oh that brings me to the home made soups, can't even cope with the smell let alone the taste.

Sorry, i think we could exchange losses and frustrations over what ever we can still drink or have at 11 - it is so hard to realise just how difficult it is to lose taste and ability to eat

😢 I wish you well in your search for taste and ability to eat

[Thanksnhs in reply to Hidden]

I am the same with home made soup, so frustrating, I wonder why?? I bought pork today to try that, the search goes on, I hope Christmas dins will be at least ok, take care char