eating

[littlemissshy]

anyone else find eating strenuous? i cant hold my arms up to eat at the table for long.... also i have difficulty swallowing.....thankyouuuu....

[Springsong]

Hi Littlemissshy, eating for me takes a looonnnnggg time (my husband finishes & has done most of the washing up before my plate is clear) partly because cutting up the food can be challenging sometimes with my Raynauds affecting my hands but my EDSH also not only affects my hands but sees me struggling to chew & swallow my food (I can sit chewing the same piece of meat for nearly 20mins). I still enjoy my dinner though (I just need some very patient friends/family to share it with).

[littlemissshy in reply to Springsong]

haha, yeah, i dont take long, i just cant swallow stuff like mash potato bread toast etc.....ok thanks

[dordle]

I never sit at a table unless there is a chair with arms, I can rest my elbows on. That does help a lot. I have a lot of problems with neck pain and can't sit on anything for long that doesn't have a back! No problems swallowing, but I do find I can't open my mouth as wide as I used to.

[Irene55]

Why not try these facial exercises from the Scleroderma society. I found these a help as I had the same problem, my mouth was shrinking too. I also got a leaflet with exercises when I went to the Royal Free Hospital. You can look online too. If you do these regularly you should find they help a lot. I hope so anyway.

sclerodermasociety.co.uk/us...

[littlemissshy]

Ok thankyouuuu!!

[Herb]

Yes. I take ages.

Try having a liquid near you so you can take sips to help you swallow, also have foods like rice, pasta, vegetables, sandwiches, which you can eat without having to cut it up. Talk to your doctor about the tiredness.

The occupational therapist could help you find something to sit on which could help you sit at the table more easily and also try out modified utensils.

[littlemissshy in reply to Herb]

Yeah, that's a good idea.....I'll try that tomorrow, as we just finished the last meal. Rice and pasta are ok, but bread related foods are hard, which makes it difficult for school.... yeah, I saw the rheumatologist and told her about the tiredness, annoyingly I was meant to go to a Cardiff hospital as I'm under 16 so now I have to do it all again there, but it should be more professional as they have a whole unit. I have the perfect solution for sitting at high tables though, I'll just lap my food up!! Haha only joking....yeah, I'll see what my bloods come back as and also see what the next rheumatologist says. Thankyouuu

[Herb]

For sandwiches try filled pita bread, filled with something moist , or Warburton's Sandwich Thins, they are very easy to eat. Not thick sliced bread, it is no good for us.

For packed lunch you can have a mixture of pasta with sauce and salad and put it in a plastic tub, we oldies call them tupperware. Just remember to take a fork. I like to chomp on pickles like pickled gherkins and onions, it makes it easier to swallow. Look on ebay or in waitrose for the packed lunch boxes with compartments for lots of different things. So you can take some salad, some pasta, some pickles, some cheese, all in one box.

[littlemissshy in reply to Herb]

ok, thanks, ill give it a go