16 replies to this topic

[mcwriter]

I know there are many of you with high pain level issues. What I am wondering is....How did this affect your appetite and what did you do about it?

My husband seems to be going through a new phase and he is on no new meds, but his pain level has increased lately and is staying up there. Normally this comes and goes somewhat, but this time it seems pretty long. He isn't running a fever, I keep checking. I have just been noticing that his appetite is getting almost ridiculously hard to appease, it's like his tastebuds have changed and things he usually likes make him nauseous. After a while he will get hungry again but doesn't like anything. I keep making special trips to get him what he thinks he wants and either he will devour it or only have a couple of bites. Lots of times he will go almost a whole day and eat only part of a meal and that's just not enough. He does have Type 2 diabetes as well, and those meds keep him right in the good range, but this isn't good. I try to keep a selection of things on hand that I knew I could count on for choices and back-ups, but he mostly doesn't like anything, or he'll have it once, love it and then doesn't want it the next time. Gosh, I space these apart to try to ensure meals aren't boring, but I'm out of ideas.


Yours truly,

Clueless Again

[The Wife]

When Chris was recovering from his fall he was very nauseous, both because of the pain and the pain medication.

We found that if we let him have some saltines and sprite right a few minutes before his meal it would help settle his stomach. It also helped if we let his food cool to lukewarm, because for some reason warm food always made him more nauseous. If nothing else, would stay down we'd give him lukewarm chicken soup with the chicken and noodles picked out. (So basically small veggies in broth.) For whatever reason, that never came back up.

Another thing I would suggest is go light on the foods with lots of oils or preservatives, and anything with lots of protein. Chris can't stomach anything fried when he's sick and just the smell of red-meat will make him gag.

[mcwriter]

The Wife, on 20 June 2011 - 06:33 PM, said:

When Chris was recovering from his fall he was very nauseous, both because of the pain and the pain medication.

We found that if we let him have some saltines and sprite right a few minutes before his meal it would help settle his stomach. It also helped if we let his food cool to lukewarm, because for some reason warm food always made him more nauseous. If nothing else, would stay down we'd give him lukewarm chicken soup with the chicken and noodles picked out. (So basically small veggies in broth.) For whatever reason, that never came back up.

Another thing I would suggest is go light on the foods with lots of oils or preservatives, and anything with lots of protein. Chris can't stomach anything fried when he's sick and just the smell of red-meat will make him gag.

Thanks, you'd think I was new at this--haha! I will try the cracker thing first, then maybe graduate to toast as a possible alternative? He normally does eat everything cooled down. I'll give the broth a go and yes, I've tried to avoid fried foods, good point there. He won't give up the beef for anything, whereas other meats he has been notably less interested in.

The only fruit I can get him to actually eat a good amount of is watermelon, but he can't just eat watermelon, he'll get sick of that too. Anyway, he's just been to the doctor and they ran labs they were satisfied with.

Okay....crackers before a meal or in lieu of....

[Simba]

Hi McWriter;

Just wondering if it is possible that he may have developed some intolerances to particular food types? Over the years my husband has become intolerant to some foods which don't agree with him anymore and they make him feel sick and cause bowel problems. Some things are very hard to digest in a compromised body. Have you spoken to his specialist about all the right foods for him to eat and make sure he is getting enough energy with the things he is able to eat?

Glad you got some bloods done it could have also been a viral or bacterial infection causing the nausea. Is the food he is eating heavy? as this could also cause some issues for him. It's important not to remove fat completely from the diet so use natural vegetable oils instead when cooking (olive oil is best).

Is there any consistency to the types of food he seems to be unable to eat at the moment, maybe keeping notes will help you get to the bottom of what aggravates the nausea and what he still seems to be able to eat. A food allergy that he has developed may also not be inconceivable as they can develop frequently later in life so notes will help with this too, but I would think it is more a SCI related issue than anything, pain will cause nausea and lack of appetite.

What sort of foods is he particualrly staving off at the moment?

Hope this resolves for you two soon.

[ClaraTaylor]

I find that when the pain is high I don't want to eat at all, even the sight of the kitchen is enough to make my stomach unsettled - I've lived off crackers, water, and what I swear was bird seed (mother insists it wasn't) with dried fruit (perhaps it was rabbit food?) for days at a time.

Try plain foods - wholegrain rice (mother used to do this when I was little - she'd add fresh steamed vegetables, or dried fruit to a bowl of rice - bland but better for you than nothing), toast, and rather than a "big meal" go for little and often. She also would make normal vegetable soup and water it down so that the flavours were very mild.

Toast is awesome because if I needed sugar I could scrape the tiniest layer or jam on it or if I wanted something more savoury I could try cheese (and when my hormones weren't helping matters I'd have both).

[goose]

I see you live here in the states. Could the heat be a factor? My normal temp. is 96.5 so if it reads 98.6 then I have a fever.

A few years ago I had a bad UTI without the normal symptoms and just a picture of food made my stomach turn. I'M glad you had the blood work done so you can at least eliminate some problems or find it.

You could try rice cooked in broth or plain with a little butter.Toast with peanut butter is a favorite around here. Apple sauce is another possibility. Small amounts more often helps too. Does the smell of the food cooking bother him?

You can also freeze small dinners of things he will eat. That way you have meals ready without having to cook so often and more choices ready. Plus,you wouldn't have to smell it cooking. Just don't forget what you put in there. I like to make a list and check it off as used. This way you can keep an eye on what's being eaten and what needs replacing. I have found this system works great with single people or the elderly.

Edited by goose, 21 June 2011 - 01:45 AM.

[pinkcloud]

I dont have any idea i am hungrey except i feel real ill, sick, weak and freezing cold - no feeling tummy sensations - nothing.

Sometimes this is more - sometimes less food I need - I dont feel when I am full - just sick.

i listen to me mind - I want a food - I eat it. At the minute its ginger nut biscuits, because I'm bleeding - ginger - anti nausea, iron because of blood loss. Strange, I crave food, eat it, research why after, food cravings give me a clue whats going on health wise - a lot like chocloate or breads a common one for pmt. I eat according to calories/fat needed, not over a day - over a week, I dont gain weight - or loose it.

[mcjane]

It seems like EVERY food has some effect on my legs. They don't like hot stuff...chili or salsa...but they seem to like beef stew. Might be the carrots. I think they are happiest when I FAST ! Or get drunk on good beer. How many calories in morphine? I need to plant some poppies...

[mcwriter]

Decided I'd better keep track of all this.

Today I'm going to make myself a chart that I can put keep on the fridge to not only keep track of what he will eat, won't eat, what's on hand and what to shop for. Haven't had to do this in a very long time, but I think I can come up with a useable chart that can serve several purposes.

I really had no idea that this was such a common thing. You guys are a great help on this!

I'm going to work on small amounts with lots of variety. It is frustrating to go through the cooking process to make something and then he'll either have none or a couple of bites. I needed a project right?--haha. I'm seriously going to put some cup-sized freezer/microwave containers on my list. Then if he actually does have a spurt where he wants more than a few bites at a time, I'll have it.

I think this is going to work.

[isobar]

If hubby wont eat at least get some glucerna since he's a diabetic that way he can put something on his stomach ...... this way his body wont feed off itself and also ups the nutritional ante.

[Simba]

mcwriter, on 22 June 2011 - 02:31 PM, said:

Decided I'd better keep track of all this.

Today I'm going to make myself a chart that I can put keep on the fridge to not only keep track of what he will eat, won't eat, what's on hand and what to shop for. Haven't had to do this in a very long time, but I think I can come up with a useable chart that can serve several purposes.

I really had no idea that this was such a common thing. You guys are a great help on this!

I'm going to work on small amounts with lots of variety. It is frustrating to go through the cooking process to make something and then he'll either have none or a couple of bites. I needed a project right?--haha. I'm seriously going to put some cup-sized freezer/microwave containers on my list. Then if he actually does have a spurt where he wants more than a few bites at a time, I'll have it.

I think this is going to work.

Sounds like a great plan of action you got all bases covered there maybe you need some fridge magnet labels that way you could move food types from one area to another quite conveniently.

The microwave containers are also a good idea I do this for husband and stock them up all the time, just pull them out when he reckons he wants to try and heat up piece of cake. You can do a batch cook and freeze different styles of prepared meals. Have a selection available to make it easier for what he is in the mood for.

[goose]

mcwriter

I use the plastic containers called 'lock n locks'. They are the best and easiest ones to use. I'm a quad and can use them with no problem. In fact, I'm addicted to them, they are sooooo good. Go to QVC and look for 'lock n locks'. Watch their video. They don't leak or spill if they are dropped. They have a great selection and colors. Walmart may carry them.

This brand will out live all the rest.[speaking from my experience] They'll even replace them if damage occurs.

I could go on and on but I think you can tell....they're great.

[Edinburgh Colin]

I've not been hungry since my accidnt so I can't really comment, so I won't!
EC

[mcwriter]

Really, everyone?

I really did not ever think about how sci affects hunger, appetite, stomach, etc, since Roy's calamaties are lower and I immediately begin to relate things to his other health issues or meds or age or ? Even after this long, he and I both are discovering new things like this.

The crackers have helped and so have smaller amounts, however, I don't think it is so wise of him to think he's going to forego offerings and wait for dinner when it may sometimes be two or three hours away, but I'm going with the flow for the time being. He hasn't mentioned the nausea like before.

Thanks for keeping this thread going while I work this out.

[wheeliebear75]

I have that same problem with food. If I'm hurting the smell of food HAS made me !

Ice chips, you can also make some lemon/lime soda like 7-up into ice-cube trays to almost frozen solid to prevent the blood glucose levels from dropping too low.

A fan just on the face seems to help me a lot.

Aside from crackers I tend to stay away from salty. Bland is sometimes "boring" but my taste-buds are often too overwhelmed by things that are spicy.

Oh by the way: found out the HARD WAY...stay AWAY FROM; dishes with tomato, dairy, and egg. The stomach does some disgusting changes to them.

Also sweet seems to be easier to chock down than other tastes. I can choke down a pancake with syrup on it easier than I can some eggs. Also (sorry this is gross) sweeter foods are not AS BAD the 2nd time around as OTHER foods are.

And as I've said before.....POT! Does WONDERS like no other meds for taking away the nausea & making food tolerable. And if I'm only hurting but not HURTING, I can even ENJOY food.

[mcwriter]

I'm beginning to feel like a restaurant here. I've tried the cooking a little extra and freezing small portions to have a variety on hand. It just seems that no matter what I make or how I shop he keeps coming up with some new thing he wants that I don't have and it's another trip. Then he is onto something and that is all he wants for awhile until he gets sick of it.

Fine. he's not starving, not losing weight, so I shall be happy with the few bites he takes sometimes and the cleaning his plate every now and then. He won't do the small meals thing and if he takes a nap without eating, wakes and I offer him a late lunch, he says he's not that hungry and will wait for dinner. I give up!

Evidently there is no way to be prepared or plan ahead. There are no answers, no possible way to have anything remotely resembling a schedule. Arghhhh.

[Rolilancou]

I know it's been almost a year but boy... oh boy! Thank goodness I bumped into this thread. Reading MCwriter's post is as if we are talking about my fiance's eating habits. I just got off the phone and told him "we need single portion size lock n' locks" lol he loves those but since I started cooking several meals for the weekend since a couple of weeks ago to see which one he would feel in the mood for I'm running out of the small lock n' locks.

Thank you guys for all the helpful tips I feel much better now knowing it's a normal thing he's going through.