Food issues

I have been trying to get an appointment to see a dietician, because my my lack of appetite and lack of interest in food. But I have not had much luck.

I asked at my chemo clinic and the chemo nurse I was talking to told me that the dieticians at the hospital (where I have my chemo) are so swamped that they can only see inpatients, and as I am not an inpatient (not even when having chemo, do they class you as an inpatient) I can't see them. They suggested I talk to the community nurses (who look after me at home - if I need injections or anything after chemo), and I called them and asked and they called me back a couple of days later to tell me, that yes there is a community dietician but there is a 3 month waiting list to see them, not much help seeing as I only have 4 more chemo cycles and will be finished chemo in 3 more months (my last one should be around 16th July). So I was thinking great, so no help with this then (I am on a Disability pensin due to my pre-existing medical conditions, and can't afford to see a private dietician). So yesterday I thought I would try the other hospital (where I see my oncologist) and spoke to them and they said they also only see inpaitents, but they class chemotherapy patients as inpatients while they are having chemotherapy (i.e. during the infusion in the chemo clinic), but as I don't normally have my chemo there, the only way I can see them is to,swtich and have one (or more) of my chemo cycles at the other hospital, but while talking to the dietician, she said about the community one and I told her that they ahev a 3 month waiting list, and she said that is only for those with the lowest need (it is a triage type system, in that those that need it most are seen first), she said because I am on chemoand have no appetite and no interest in food and have lost 1-2kg's (not much and I could do with some weight loss :-), but was told this is NOT a good thing during chemo becasue you tend to lose mucle and such and not fat) that I am classed as mid to high ne ed andshould be able to get in sooner. The dietician was going to email the community dietician about seeing me,and I should hear from them soon. If I can't get in then they are going to think of other options, like me having one of my chemos at the other hospital so that I can see the dietician while I am there etc.

In the mean time I have been told to try to eat, and that anythign is better than nothing and to add things to my diet like High protein milk (this is normal full cream milk to which you add milk powder - 600ml milk & 3/4 cup milk powder (this and other recipes are in the Cancer Councils "Food and Cancer" booklet)), which I have made up and have added to my coffee etc, you can use this where ever you use normal milk, drinking it, on cereal, and i cooking etc (I don't think I will be drinking it straight but I will use it in other things etc).

So here is hoping I can see a Dietician soon,a nd get some help.