Loss of appetite after chemo and radiation

thanks Melinda.  Karen

Thanks so much.  Karen

I had no issues with food during Chemo but did find myself losing appetite in 2012 post major surgery and getting myself to eat again was a nightmare...

I never though losing appetite was a real thing until it did happen to me and to this day remeber trying to eat what smelled.good and I wnated to eat it but could not physically force myself to actually swallow a moutfull. I would chew and chew but the throat refused to cooperate and allow me to swallow and would spit it out as any attempt to swallow resulted in my chokeing :(

After losong 8 kg in under a week because I could not eat I was facing being fed through a tube and had to do someting about it so I started by making chicken soup (no noodles) and would drink small amounts of clear broth. That helped get some nutrition into my body. Also juicing fresh fruit and veg helped. I had no desire for it but just like with soups I found it easier to get my body to accept it.

Next step was making whatever I knew was my favourite food prior to the surgery that I would enjoy the aroma off. I started by taking a small bite only - just a single teaspoon which I would still divide into several bites and somehow that worked for me and body would accept tiny bits of food. Faced with a small.place or smal pieces I could not swallow but faced with a single tiny teaspoon of food would get the body to cooperate... I would also just steam or boil basic veg and would also just have a single teaspoonfull. I would ten try another bit in an hour and so on... Took about 2 days of that approach for my body to start to cooperate and by day 3 I found that I could eat very small meals in a single sitting.

You just need to find what works for you - what your favourite foods are and start slowly without expecting too much.

Best of luck

Jel.

Karen,

I had FEC last year, my appetite waned immediately, I barely ate or drank was very ill through Chemo. Im now 8 months and can say my eating has gone back to normal, though it did take a long time and strangely the same! I still put on 5kg but I put that down to being so ill I couldnt even walk, and thrown into early menopause. I know the dietician definitely helps, I know ladies who have used them and got back on track.

Be gentle with yourself, maybe try new things and see if it helps?

Hugs

Melinda xo

Thanks, I was wondering  about seeing a dietitian.  I will give that a go.  Karen 

I lost all taste for veggies on chemo. I ended up seeing a dietitian for assistance and they gave me some great ideas that saw me through. You should be able to get a referral easily through your oncology team or GP. Hope things improve. Kath x