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No appetite - how to gain weight?

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Posted 1/15/2011 10:35 PM (GMT 0)
Hello everyone,

 

New on here.  Came across the site researching how to gain weight to get fit for surgery - can't really find much, there seems to mostly be information about losing it.

 

My mum had a colostomy four days ago due to colon cancer.  She's still uncomfortable with it and in quite a bit of pain, but hopefully that will pass soon.  She was very malnourished and frail when she went into hospital and has been on a nasal feeding tube for the last 6 weeks and eats very little.  The nurse said that when she had the stoma operation her appetite should come back and I really want her to start eating as she needs to so she can get on the road for surgery as her cancer is at an advanced stage.  The liquid supplements seem to be doing her good on the inside but she is just so thin its hard to see if she is making any progress.

 

I read another forumite's post that they barely eat and I wonder how do they manage on a daily basis?  Does it take a while for the appetite to come back and what can you do to try to eat something.  She does eat a bit, but very little.  Are there any foods anyone could suggest?

 

Thanks in advance,

 

 

Lia

Posted 1/16/2011 8:56 AM (GMT 0)
after my colectomy i lost lots of weight too and i didn't have much appetite either, so my surgoen told me to eat lots of icecream. i must say, within 2 weeks i gained 5 lbs and by 2 mons post op i was back to my normal weight.

hope this helps. best wishes to your mum!
Posted 1/16/2011 11:44 AM (GMT 0)
Lia,

After surgery, my doctor recommended that I drink a nutritional supplement, like Ensure, and eat a low residue diet, which you can read about here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Low_residue_diet

Wishing your mom a speedy recovery!
Cecilia
Posted 1/16/2011 11:52 AM (GMT 0)
Thank u  for your replies.  My mum is taking the ensure as well as the liquid feed, but maybe she's not building up because of the illness.  Hopefully this will improve a bit because of the colostomy. I am going to visit her today, so I will try the ice-cream,  she quite likes that but I think she got fed up with the hospital flavours!

Thanks again and best wishes to you both.

Posted 1/16/2011 5:22 PM (GMT 0)
it took me a few weeks after every surgery to get my appetite back. my husband would make me drink ice cream malt's with lot's of whipped cream every day. even with that it took me a very long time to regain some weight.
Posted 1/16/2011 9:20 PM (GMT 0)
Lia73
    Ya, I know its hard.  I still almost one year later with my TC ....not able to gain weight.  At first you can only eat a few bites and you feel full.  But it gets better with time.  I still can't eat a lot at one time.  For example one plain hamburger from McDonalds, the kids hamburger is all I can get at one time.

Try and fix her many small things for her to eat every 2 hrs, and that will help some.

My doc told me I would never be able to gain weight, and so far he has been right.  I eat fatening food at night like a half bag of small donuts, then I will have a ding dong.and some choc candy...still no weight gain.

So I hope that she will gain back at least 10 lbs.  I was down to 123 during my surgery and now up to 133, but I go down then back to 133.

Its going to take a bit for her to re-gain her strength.  So sending healing prayers your way..

Leslie

Posted 1/16/2011 9:46 PM (GMT 0)
I was 92 at the time of my surgery last March and have gained 30 lbs since then. However, I don't have much appetite and eat in very small portions like Leslie.

Keep in mind that your mother has felt ill for some time and now has had the shock of a major surgery. It has only been 4 days. Even someone who was fully healthy before that type of surgery may not have an appetite that close to surgery.

Give her a few days and see if she feels like eating then. Was most of the cancer in her colon, or is it in other areas of her digestive tract?
Posted 1/16/2011 9:59 PM (GMT 0)
Ya, they did not let me eat for a week when I was in the hospital....92 wow, how cool that your able to do that at such an age...my hat is off to you...80's Chick...Hopefully time will help, you cant expect much in 4 days though...day by day...peace out ...now I have to run back to my moms as I am trying to take care of her and she is 83, and her health is failing...got to run.

Leslie

Posted 1/16/2011 11:09 PM (GMT 0)
Ah thanks everyone for all your replies.  I think I was just hoping things moved faster as I want them to start working on her tumours.    As far as I know there is nothing in the digestive tract.  The cancer is in the lower part of her colon, but she has some in the liver too so they want to start chemotherapy to see if they can shrink them and take it from there - guess thats why I was in such a hurry for her to start getting built up again as you know, want her to have the best chance.  Her weight is 5 stone 9 and she's 5 feet four, but she probably never weighed more than 7 and a half stone before anyway - she has always been quite slight.

I feel really encouraged by everything I read on here and thank you for your support, knowledge and prayers.  I wish the same back to you and your families and hope you all stay strong and keep well.  So many inspiring people here! Any more questions I have on the 'ostomy'I will post and share any information I gain too.  Best wishes,

Lia

Posted 1/17/2011 2:13 AM (GMT 0)

Lia,  Yup, you got it.  This is the best place to come for information and support, and loads of compassion.  This site helped me figure out what was wrong with me and I am forever thankful.  So keep in touch, and we hope she can re-gain her strength , for what sounds like more surgery ahead..

Have a wonderful night..

Leslie

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