[Ellen Harris]

Re: Difficulty eating - have others had this problem?

by Ellen Harris on Thu May 12, 2016 5:18 pm

I had a very hard time regaining my appetite after my stem cell transplant. Even during induction therapy, eating was a challenge. I had one myeloma doctor look at me during induction and say "doesn't the dex give you an appetite?" Once in awhile it did, but not usually.

Here is my advice: Let your wife choose the foods that are most appealing to her, even if you feel that they are not nutritionally complete. I drank A LOT of chocolate milk during the first few months after the stem cell transplant. Also, tomato juice. Other things I ate were hot dogs, (which I rarely eat under normal circumstances), and Chinese food, (particularly shrimp or chicken chow mein). Canned soup was a big one for me (Manhattan clam chowder). Since I have low/normal blood pressure, salt was not an issue for me, and I did crave it. Pasta, which I normally love, did not appeal to me. Potatoes did.

The most important thing right now is that she gets calories. After the stem cell transplant, things just did not taste the same to me for months. Check with her doctor and ask if she can take a multivitamin.

In all, I lost about 20 pounds. I have since regained 10, only recently. I am trying to hold the line and keep the rest of it off, but I don't know if I can. I hope that it's my biggest problem!

Best wishes for you and your wife. She is very lucky to have you watching over her so closely. Hang in there. It will definitely get better! Also, Ativan may help her with nausea. It is com­monly given in the hospital while undergoing transplant, and many people continue to use it afterwards. It does help with the queasiness.

Please let us know how things go. This will be OK!

[Joannem]

Re: Difficulty eating - have others had this problem?

by Joannem on Fri May 13, 2016 12:49 am

My husband is just finishing cycle 3 of Velcade and dex and he is hungry all the time! He craves salty stuff and chinese food.

[Tom74]

Re: Difficulty eating - have others had this problem?

by Tom74 on Sun May 15, 2016 9:26 am

I am eating a regular diet, but still losing weight. I started at 270 pounds, now after 7 months my weight is 195. Some pain in ribs is coming back, I see oncologist Monday.

Tom74