How do you eat during chemo when everything tastes bad?

Posted by steveron @steveron, Sep 21 8:01pm

my wife was able to eat during Folfirinox chemo, but now she is on gemcitabine/abraxane and everything tastes awful so she is not eating.
Lidocaine solution would numb her taste buds, but eating isn't recommended while using it.
Straws work for liquids and she can drink protein shakes.
She hasn't tried ice chips yet.
Alcohol would also work, but it is isn't approved during chemo.
Anybody found something that worked for you?
Thanks.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Pancreatic Cancer Support Group.

lynnlambert | @lynnlambert | Sep 25 10:41am

I just had trouble chewing and swallowing most things. I would chew forever but couldn’t get it over the back of my tongue. I discovered that vinegar based foods would go and digest well! I had friends set up Meal Train and bring me different foods. I would never have thought to fix many of the things that were brought over! I’m so grateful that my hubby had foods to eat and I had such a wide variety to try. I just finished my third treatment of 3 chemicals that had made me so sick I thought the treatment was killing me!!! I’m so glad to be able to say I am doing better today than ever before.

marcia | @marciak9 | Sep 25 11:20am

My Palliative dr prescribed Drobinal which is a synthetic THC for appetite. It really helps and I just have to make sure I stick with things that are ok with my tummy.

gamaryanne | @gamaryanne | Sep 25 1:44pm

Caregivers-pls don’t get discouraged. What tastes good one day is off-putting another.
Thick dairy-as with protein shakes-is really hard.

Brighter tasting ones made with fruits seem better. Applesauce. Fried rice. Soups -sometimes just the broth of a healthy soup-is good.

Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Sep 27 3:42pm

Here are a couple of related discussions that may also offer some help:
- Eating during cancer care
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/eating-during-cancer-care/
- When will food taste good again after chemo and radiation?
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/trying-to-get-food-into-husband-after-chemo-and-radiation/
- Third day post chemo and terrible taste in my mouth. Any suggestions?
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/third-day-post-chemo-and-terrible-taste-in-my-mouth-any-suggestions/
@steveron, how are you and your wife doing with finding things she can eat?

steveron | @steveron | Sep 27 4:11pm

Thanks for checking in and sending the links. Protein shakes are tolerable, but still nothing solid. She also has immediate abominable bloating sensation at the first bite/swallow, which also makes it hard to eat. CT this week ruled out bowel blockage, which was favorable news of a sort.

lanmakeup | @lanmakeup | Sep 27 7:55pm

I had the worst time with chemo. I threw up 24/6 . I started eating Lemon Heads and it was a life saver. Hope this helps. Prayers for your family.

Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Sep 30 7:53pm

In reply to @tsale "My brother Frank had a Whipple surgery on August 16 he’s in a skilled rehabilitation hospital..." + (show)

@tsale, how is your brother doing? Has he been able to gain some strength?

tsale | @tsale | Oct 1 11:45pm

My brother was taken to any appointment with the surgeon that did his Whipple and the doctor told my brother if he doesn’t start eating he will not be able to do chemo and basically he will die if he doesn’t start to eat but there was no solution given to my brother on how to eat My brother is in a hospital called kindred in Brea California for his recovery Dr said my brother needs to eat and drink at least 2000 cal to make it out of the hospital