Dad has always loved his food and when he started feeling poorly (end of January this year) he started to eat less as he wasn't hungry and when he did eat felt uncomfortable. He was also very constipated (which made him not want to eat much).
He was then taken in to hospital in early Feb, which was when the round of investigations leading to his PC diagnosis started. Initially they were looking into his bowel as his main sympton was constipation and distended abdomen.
Over the 6 weeks he was in hospital, he started to find that he couldn't eat any food which he needed to chew - it started with chicken, and then meat and then to the stage where he even struggled to eat soft white fish. He is wondering what caused this.
He's no appetite, but would still like to try and eat a few nice things. Currently we are giving him Fortisip drinks, plus little bits of whatever else he fancies (soup, mash and gravy, custard etc). Has this happened to anybody else? Is there a physical reason why PC patients cannot or do not like to chew? Or is it the body's way of trying to naturally decrease food intake?
Somebody did suggest that his difficulty chewing and swallowing (he struggles to take his tablets) was psychological/emotional. Dad doesn't agree with this.
Another post from PCUK:
Dad's doctor came out yesterday and also told him that whilst he's been on Fortisip for a while now, his system may not be tolerating it too well because the bowels need fibre to keep them working properly and aren't really made to cope with a liquid diet. She's suggested he try just one Fortisip drink each day, and spread out in 2 or 3 "portions". He's making a big effort to eat more proper food, but the portion sizes are so small as he can't cope with much more.
Dad was a bit quieter today (he was quite good at the start of the week, funny and mischievous almost) but has not been as bright this last day or two... not miserable or depressed (like last week), just quieter and looking more tired and ill.
I would recommend the Final Gifts book. It's very much focused on a few key areas relating to end of life, but the case studies in there are very reassuring. It has helped remove some of my fears about what is ahead.
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