End of the Line...: I have now been... - British Liver Trust

British Liver Trust

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End of the Line...

Starprincess profile image
β€’32 Replies

I have now been informed that my wife, Starprincess, is approaching her End of Life. A difficult time for us both. Spends most of her time sleeping with her Hepatic Encephalopathy.

To keep her strength up, what can I feed her? Star Princess is now experiencing difficulties in swallowing as most solid foods are hard to chew. Doctor says it could be a few weeks but not months! Hard times.

Keep telling her to hold on, it's our anniversary soon, in March, would be 49yrs and April would be her 73rd Birthday!

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Starprincess profile image
Starprincess
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32 Replies
β€’

Sorry to hear about your wife.

Zeus12 profile image
Zeus12

I pray God heals her amen πŸ™πŸ»

Have faith

isi123 profile image
isi123

Our thoughts are with you

fizzy42 profile image
fizzy42

Thinking of you both πŸ™

redpoint72 profile image
redpoint72

Hello there.I'm sorry to hear that,really am. Try and make the best of what time is left .

Is your wife on any protein shakes at all....just drink those,but packed with protein and minerals,vitamins etc..such as what I have ,ensure plus,or fortsip

Any thing soft ,cottage pie etc. Lasagne cut up very small,anything to easily slide down.....custard,ice cream,mashed up banana.

What an upsetting position your both in,I feel for you both..

Thoughts are with you,try and stay a positive as you can.

My best.Chris

Starprincess profile image
Starprincessβ€’ in reply toredpoint72

Thank you. She is on Fortisips, 1 or 2 a day. Off to the shops soon for some more Bananas to go with the Kefir, making a smoothie, later.

redpoint72 profile image
redpoint72β€’ in reply toStarprincess

Just an idea,have you got a blender?.I helped look after a close friend who sadly had throat cancer....so could only have pureed foods. I would cook a meal as normal,then put it in the blender,so he had all the taste of the meal, but it slipped down easily without him gagging....it seemed to work,plus getting all of the nutrients needed.

Take care. Chris

Morkmindy profile image
Morkmindy

So sorry this is awful situation god bless you both ❣️

AyrshireK profile image
AyrshireK

So sorry to hear this, 1 or 2 fortisips a day doesn't seem much. My hubby was on 4 Ensure a day along with food to keep up his protein and calorie intake but I guess anything you can get down her now is important. Look after yourselves, I hope you get to celebrate your next anniversary in some way.

I don't know whether you've see the BLT publication on Planning for the Future - I know it's not something any of us want to think about but it does cover some of the options for help as end of life becomes an unfortunate inevitabilty. britishlivertrust.org.uk/in...

Thoughts with you both, Katie xx

Tia2021 profile image
Tia2021

So sorry to hear this, sending virtual hugs and strength, you are in my prayers πŸ™ xx

mtk0925 profile image
mtk0925

pedalyte and electrolyte drinks can be very nourishing for her. I am sorry for what you are going through God bless you both

Rshc profile image
Rshc

thoughts with you and your wife x

Chick_atee profile image
Chick_atee

Truly devastating for you both. Wishing you both courage and strength to face whatever happens. Hope you both can find some peace within it all.

55spenc profile image
55spenc

so sorry to hear your sad news! Take care of yourself!

OMBRAMAIFU profile image
OMBRAMAIFU

I can only imagine the anguish you are feeling.

Any food that can be liquidised along with the protein drinks is a bonus. I do remember being very ill one time - and those overly-sweet protein drinks becoming unpalatable - maybe vary with something savoury like soup (apologies if you're already doing this - it's just a thought).

I thinkredpoint72 has a good idea - you may not feel much like cooking, perhaps the odd ready-meal microwaved and blended would be palatable for your wife?

Also consider ready-prepared baby-food - those little sachets that you just warm in hot water for about ten minutes.

Remember to look after yourself too, you will need all your physical and emotional strength to get through these next few weeks.

I hope you get to spend some quality-time with your wife. Sincere sympathy to you.

Adelou profile image
Adelou

πŸ’œ

teletonetapper profile image
teletonetapper

So sad to read your post. May time give you the opportunity to be with your dear wife on your Wedding Anniversary so that you can comfort her with the loving memories of your devoted time together. Deepest warmth and thoughts to you both. God bless. x

Tulip1973 profile image
Tulip1973

So sorry to hear this, praying for you both x

Louby1954 profile image
Louby1954

Oh my goodness My thoughts & prayers are with you both πŸ™

When I was seriously ill I ate yogurt, rice puddings ensure drinks. Anything easy to get down really. Even if only a few spoonfuls Anything is better than nothing. Ensure she is sipping water or juice to keep her hydrated

I will pray for you both, & God willing you will celebrate your anniversary together ❀️

MrsWorried profile image
MrsWorried

Thinking about you both x

Starprincess profile image
Starprincess

Thank you all for those encouraging comments. Starprincess has had a comfortable night, slept like a new born baby! She is very frail and her arms are very easily bruised (a by-product of her Liver issues). I'll be trying some porridge and honey soon! She so easily chokes as swallowing is becoming an issue especially now she is in this 'deep sleep' stage.Thank you again for your prayers, they do help.

Eppy profile image
Eppy

sending prayers and thinking of you both

Maisy2020 profile image
Maisy2020

So sorry to hear this your in my prayers.

Kayseylou profile image
Kayseylou

My thoughts and prayers are with you and your dear wife, God’s Blessings to you both.

Tess xxxπŸ™πŸ™πŸ™

Tommy62 profile image
Tommy62

Godbless ❀

Readlots profile image
Readlots

I’m so sorry to hear your news. It’s such a heartbreaking situation. It’s difficult to know what to advise when she has problems swallowing. Fortisip would be my suggestion (as Chris and Katie have suggested) and ice lollies like mini-milk can be soothing and slip down easily. Be led by her and what she can tolerate. She may not ant to eat, and hard as it is for you, that’s what her body is telling her.

Have you got the community nurses visiting? They were an enormous help to me. They can give you advice and support. My local hospice got them involved but GPS and hospitals can also refer.

Sending you strength to help you get through this terribly hard time.

Jesue profile image
Jesue

My thoughts are with you at this very difficult time. My husband enjoyed sucking on an ice lolly when he couldn't eat and the hospice gave him lots of ice cream. Anything that can be tolerated is a bonus.I pray she improves and you are both able to celebrate your anniversary.

Don't forget to look after yourself too. Xx

Livaa profile image
Livaa

bone broth can be purchased as well as regular broth, pudding and nutritional drinks are always to help her get some nutrition as well as much needed liquid. We boil whole or part chickens and beef bones for hours with vegetables for a tastier broth if you have the wherewithal. Ice cream is high in sugar but at this point anything that may bring you both some joy to share is always important. Prayers for your peace.

Nip1 profile image
Nip1

Sorry to hear this,

thinking of you both xπŸ™

Thinking of you at this very difficult time. My thoughts and prayers are with you both πŸ™β€οΈ

RugbyMama profile image
RugbyMama

Very very new here but couldnt read and run. Great ideas on the smoothies! I made a fantastic dessert recently using frozen strawberries and coconut milk in a food processor or blender, sweetened to taste. Its not quite ice cream and not quite sorbet, and really nice. Might help with the swallowing as its not as thick as smoothies or blended foods. Are there any foods or flavours that she really loves? Perhaps you could incorporate those?

Bone broth is a great shout (above). Always better if you can make your own but I did find ready made in Waitrose last week.

Sending much love and strength to you at what must be an incredibly difficult time.

Starprincess profile image
Starprincessβ€’ in reply toRugbyMama

Cheers, Bananas go down well. Have fresh strawberries in the fridge for a blend later. She enjoys porridge with honey too.

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