Mother Not Eating..

I have never quite felt so helpless in my life, as I have with my mothers diagnosis of SCLC.  She finished her 3 days inpatient receiving chemo.  Now she is on her daily injection of neupogen.  She has extreme nausea and vomiting...  I try anything and everything to get her to eat.  She cannot stand anything sweet anymore.  Seems that everything sweet is now way too sweet for her.  So she has a hard time drinking the Ensure.  She can barely get down a half os anything without turning it away.  My kitchen, pantry and refridgerator is about the fullest it has ever been!  I buy it all!  LOL  I am just scared that she is giving up.  Been monitoring her temperature.  She has ran 99.1 all yesterday and today it is up to 99.8 and staying there.  I just feel like no matter what I do to help, it doesn't work...  or something else comes up to conbat everything that I have done!  I am sure I am not alone...  just wanted to vent a bit.  Thanks for listening...

 

On 1/27/2007 Georgiasbrighteyes wrote:

I have never quite felt so helpless in my life, as I have with my mothers diagnosis of SCLC.  She finished her 3 days inpatient receiving chemo.  Now she is on her daily injection of neupogen.  She has extreme nausea and vomiting...  I try anything and everything to get her to eat.  She cannot stand anything sweet anymore.  Seems that everything sweet is now way too sweet for her.  So she has a hard time drinking the Ensure.  She can barely get down a half os anything without turning it away.  My kitchen, pantry and refridgerator is about the fullest it has ever been!  I buy it all!  LOL  I am just scared that she is giving up.  Been monitoring her temperature.  She has ran 99.1 all yesterday and today it is up to 99.8 and staying there.  I just feel like no matter what I do to help, it doesn't work...  or something else comes up to conbat everything that I have done!  I am sure I am not alone...  just wanted to vent a bit.  Thanks for listening...

 

Hi Brighteyes,

How scarey it must be for you to have your Mom so sick she won't eat.  Chemo is a nasty business and really does a number on the tastebuds, mouth, sense of smell and, of course, the stomach.  Keep trying different things to tempt her.  I found cold things or room temperature foods were easier to eat than hot and nothing too strong in taste or smell.  Sometimes all I wanted was watermelon.  Try crackers/white bread/pretzels for the nausea. (I also had acupuncture for nausea in addition to the anti-nausea drugs:Kytril, Compazine and Ativan)  And small portions on small plates!  Regular size portions can seem overwhelming.

Try to be as encouraging and loving as you can.  How fortunate that you can be with your Mom and take care of her.  Don't forget to do nice little things for yourself too---that's important for your own emotional health.

Sending you strength and prayers.

 

On 1/27/2007 Georgiasbrighteyes wrote:

I have never quite felt so helpless in my life, as I have with my mothers diagnosis of SCLC.  She finished her 3 days inpatient receiving chemo.  Now she is on her daily injection of neupogen.  She has extreme nausea and vomiting...  I try anything and everything to get her to eat.  She cannot stand anything sweet anymore.  Seems that everything sweet is now way too sweet for her.  So she has a hard time drinking the Ensure.  She can barely get down a half os anything without turning it away.  My kitchen, pantry and refridgerator is about the fullest it has ever been!  I buy it all!  LOL  I am just scared that she is giving up.  Been monitoring her temperature.  She has ran 99.1 all yesterday and today it is up to 99.8 and staying there.  I just feel like no matter what I do to help, it doesn't work...  or something else comes up to conbat everything that I have done!  I am sure I am not alone...  just wanted to vent a bit.  Thanks for listening...

I hear you.  I lost my mom on 10/19/06 and I did everything you are trying to do.  First of all...STOP THE ENSURE.  It's full of sugar and cancer loves sugar!  I would have taken my mom to the ends of the earth to help her (and at times, I did).  However, they know when the end is near and she stayed on just for me.  I'm an only child with no husband or other family left...now I'm all alone.  I miss her terribly...she was my best friend and travel companion.  I didn't want to let her go becuase I knew I would be all alone.  But if she wants to go, you have to let her.  This is what I was told and I got very angry, but she wanted to be with my dad.  They both died on 10/19...he on 10/19/01 and she on 10/19/06.  If it's her time, you have to let her go.  Before she does, take the time to tell her "thank you" and how much you love her.  I did that and I'm glad I did.  Good luck and take care.  I know EXACTLY how you feel.