| Author | Message | ||
     Brett Citizen Username: Bmalibashksa Post Number: 1632 Registered: 7-2003 |
I never knew that. I my best day I don't think I could be in the same room as those things.  | ||
| Cynicalgirl Citizen Username: Cynicalgirl Post Number: 1316 Registered: 9-2003  |
Yep, Brett. The foodular goal right now is high protein, fat, smooth texture and tastes good to him. I saw him slap a piece of liverwurst, and a piece of brie on white bread with no crusts. Yech! He likes chick peas -- hence, the hummus. Weird stuff! He can't eat steak right now unless kinda ground up... So, all high fat, high protein ideas gratefully received! | ||
| shh Citizen Username: Shh Post Number: 2414 Registered: 5-2001 |
Guacamole: you can even do pureed black beans (or refried) with melted cheddar or jack topped with guac &sour cream Tofu smoothie (or whole milk yogurt smoothie) made with fruit (strawberries, bananas, mango, etc.). Just put silken tofu or whole milk yogurt and fruit in a blender (you might need to add a little juice or soymilk) and puree. You can add a little honey or sugar, cinammon, vanilla, etc. | ||
| greenetree Supporter Username: Greenetree Post Number: 4158 Registered: 5-2001  |
Shh- My soy smoothie is a little different. Unfortunately, the radiation near the esophagus gives mom terrible heartburn, so whole dairy products are out, which is awful because she loves oatmeal with heavy cream & butter (yuck). Use soy milk instead of dairy milk & add egg white powder and/or soy pwoder for protein. Not as fattening, but gets the nutrients and protein in. | ||
| Cynicalgirl Citizen Username: Cynicalgirl Post Number: 1318 Registered: 9-2003 |
Thanks, shh. I have been buying him avocado, but he's eaten it straight. Maybe now he could do guacolmole. The smoothy thing is tougher as he hates yogurt -- unless it's incredibly un-yogurty (I bought some of that Dannon whipped up stuff that's kind of like mousse). I've been wondering about that protein power stuff, and adding it to the milk shakes he DOES like. Do you know if that protein power is legit? As in, really protein? | ||
| greenetree Supporter Username: Greenetree Post Number: 4159 Registered: 5-2001 |
Well, ain't we got fun? Four a.m. phone calls are never good news, and neither was this one. The Rocket Scientist (mom's 25 y/o going on 13 next door neighbor - more about her another time) called to tell me that she has brought mom back to the ER. I'd talked to mom around 7 last night & she told me she had pressure in her chest. I went thru the series of questions - is it an old feeling or something new? Radiating? Arm pain/numbness? Didn't bother with fever or naseau, because that's a given right now. No, no, no, etc. Didn't want to stress her so I let it go. Called back in an hour to "test my new cell phone's speaker function". (Are you trying to annoy me & keep me from getting rest? Yes, mom. You don't want to be treated like you are sick. Remember?) BTW - how's the chest pressure? Fine - it must have been stress, I took a valium & it went away. Besides, it's actually closer to my shoulder. Valium - the wonder drug. "It was the Dolls!!!" So, assured, I go to sleep. Until the phone rings at 4am. She's been in the ER since 2:30a, and it's either a blood clot or the cancer breaking up. Either very good or very bad. Blah, blah, blah. Seeral hours later, all the docs are punting. It's cardio! It's surgical! It's oncology! Blah, blah, blah. At least her internal med/family friend is an attending at this hospital, so even tho it's out of his league, he's in charge of making sure someone actually is in charge. Mom is in the cardiac unit, being watched because you don't want to give blood thinners to someone on chemo. And, on top of everyting else, my brothers have decided that they want to have a role in her healthcare. Not Poptart Guy - he's smart enough to know his limitations. I am practicing relinquishing control - I did not tell them not to call the docs themselves. I will still be prepared to interpret for them later. I just hope they stay away from Google - everything they read freaks them out. Oh, Cyn - my outlet on Saturday was Slomin's. But they really are a#$holes. At 3p, after 4 phone calls to find out why they were not able to tell me why they couldn't show up between 8a-11a as scheduled, a manager who swore he'd call me back and didn't and a "supervisor" who refused to give his name - I definitely tore new ones. Almsot broke the phone, too. These guys are just lucky that this current situation came up. Otherwise, I'd be on the phone with the VP of customer service, seeking blood. But - I have learned to pick my battles. We have some other issues going on that we've turned over to an attorney, I'm leaving Slomin's alone (although our contract is up and we are getting a new company because their customer/tech support is so consistently bad) and we're doing the landscaping instead of the upstairs bathroom so that the house is not torn up, with contractors in & out. Oh - and I am having mom's Maniac Devil Dog boarded rather than worry about someone to take care of him. Brother Poptart asked if there is any chance that the boarding place might "lose" him. I told him the unfortunately, for mom's emotional health, we can't let that happen. Otherwise..... Omm, Omm. Pulling out an old trick from the past. | ||
| greenetree Supporter Username: Greenetree Post Number: 4160 Registered: 5-2001 |
Congratulations, Greenemom! You have won a 4 night, 5 day, no-expenses paid vacation in Hotel Hospital. Three gourmet spa meals a day (cardiac unit uses only the highest quality non-fat products) with really bad tv and no cable. But, it's all good. Seriously. This is a precautionary move to stabilize her in case she is prone to blood clots. Oh - did I mention that while they were at it, they did a CAT scan of the lung area. They found.... lungs!. Ze cancer, she is shrinking! Ze lung, she is coming back! We were not to have this CAT scan until next week & no results discussed until the next chemo round. But, when you spend the night in the ER, as an extra-special bonus they do tests early. How great is all of this? Now if only the Maniac Devil Dog would run away..... Just kidding, kind of. I know that's wrong. I tend to celebrate good news with twisted sickness.... | ||
| las Citizen Username: Las Post Number: 110 Registered: 10-2003 |
Shrinking cancer, growing lungs - pretty cool stuff. Congrats, Greenetree | ||
| greenetree Supporter Username: Greenetree Post Number: 4162 Registered: 5-2001 |
Cyn - I think that the protein powders are basically soy with all kinds of other vitamins, minerals, etc. I think that you can't go wrong with straight soy powder, which gives it a nutty, maltish flavor or egg white powder which is virtually tasteless. You can also get unsweetened plain soy milk which pretty much tastes like skim milk (aka water) to use as a base & add his favorites. I happen to like the jello with the mystery whipped stuff, but mom hates it. If he can handle the acidity, avocado/tomato salad is good & simple. Chop the two up, toss withe lemon juice & salt to taste. Yum, yum, yum. | ||
| Debby Citizen Username: Debby Post Number: 1797 Registered: 5-2001 |
Greenie - I'm so glad you got this good news to break up the dreck. You deserve it. | ||
| mjc Citizen Username: Mjc Post Number: 447 Registered: 10-2004 |
greenie - excellent!! excellent!! But what a rollercoaster for you!! (BTW my husband, longtime father of 2, would not have a clue about BRAT either. In fact, I'm not perfectly sure he knows where the pediatrician's office is.) cynical - Protein powder, yes. If doctor is OK with it, there are lots of kinds, soy, egg, whey, various flavors. Check out Rite Aid or GNC, maybe Whole Foods, read the labels. If they don't have a combo that works for c-hubby, you can order online and get the flavors/ingredients of your choice. Let me know if you want, and I will get the site from my son. If c-hubby can handle dairy, the whey powder is recommended by my demented but knowledgeable food-nut son for ease of absorption. Some of the powders are even intended for weight gain/maintenance. | ||
| greenetree Supporter Username: Greenetree Post Number: 4165 Registered: 5-2001 |
BTW - howzabout peanut butter? if you get the natural stuff & stir in a bit of peanut oil (if it's too thick to go down), not only will it be truly disgusting-looking, but nice and slippery-mushy. For that matter, any nut butter on crustless white bread should do, no? And - I know this sounds gross, but I've loved it ever since I was a little kid - slap a piece of cheese on top of the PB (melt a little in the toaster oven). Forget the jelly, because that would be truly gross. Only those who do not like pb-cheese crackers can gag now.  | ||
| Tom Reingold Supporter Username: Noglider Post Number: 6387 Registered: 1-2003  |
A friend of mine who had strange taste made himself a peanut butter and salami and cheese sandwich. He asked why we thought it was weird. | ||
| Cynicalgirl Citizen Username: Cynicalgirl Post Number: 1319 Registered: 9-2003 |
I forgot! Peanut butter by the spoon is one of the things I've been pushing his way. He also likes Fluff with it, or bananas. Both are disgusting to me with PB. His thing right now is like 8 small meal-ettes a day, smoothy texture, tasty. No fibrous stuff, nothing crunchy. Fat seems to be OK. He loves Kentucky Fried, but between the crunch and that kinda grease that doesn't work well. I'm just looking for maximum bang for the protein buck. He also likes fish, so we had flounder last night. Too spicy-ish doesn't work well. We have some whey from a friend but haven't yet tried that as a mix-in. Watching the liverwurst 'n brie on white was like some kinda Elvis goes continental experience. Pretty weird... Thanks to all for the great ideas! | ||
| Debby Citizen Username: Debby Post Number: 1798 Registered: 5-2001 |
My college roommate was from Kentucky, and her Dad's favorite was peanut butter and mayonnaise on Wonder Bread.  | ||
| SoOrLady Citizen Username: Soorlady Post Number: 2028 Registered: 9-2003 |
I have a friend who insists that peanut butter and jelly combined with bologna, ketchup & mustard on white wonder bread is a gormet taste treat. I'll pass.. but thought I'd share. Cynical - how would husband like Elvis's Fried Peanut Butter, Banana & Bacon Sandwich? (Personally, I'm a fan of peanut butter & banana on whole wheat toast for breakfast) | ||
| greenetree Supporter Username: Greenetree Post Number: 4166 Registered: 5-2001 |
Tom - that is a great sandwich if you have it on rye. But, I stopped eating processed lunchmeat 20 years ago, so I don't k now if I'd still like it. You have to add just the slightest, sheer coating of mustard. | ||
| Cynicalgirl Citizen Username: Cynicalgirl Post Number: 1320 Registered: 9-2003 |
My old, old boss in Delaware would bring peanut butter and dill pickle on whole wheat. No one wanted to sit next to him at lunch meetings. I like peanut butter and apple slices, which some might think odd.. | ||
| greenetree Supporter Username: Greenetree Post Number: 4167 Registered: 5-2001 |
No- PB & apples are great. Dip in a little honey ala Rosh Hashanah! BTW - small victory. My baby brother has not been handling mom being ill very well. I've gotten over being angry at him & mom even said today that she doesn't think it would be a good idea to ask him to come help if she needs it during a chemo week. She'd end up taking care of him. His reaction is to ignore the situation. When I called this morning to tell him that she was in the hospital, before we got the good news, he sounded very distracted and disinterested. When I called him later to tell him that things were under control and that we had good news on the cancer, he suddenly sounded interested. But, he still hadn't called my mom by 3:00p. So, at 4:00p I called and told him that we were going to spend Mother's Day weekend in Ohio. I said I know you don't want to leave the wife & kids, but in case you are interested, you are welcome to come with us. I got an e-mail a few minutes later from him, asking about what we would be doing in Ohio on Saturday. And then a follow-up asking for her hospital phone number. No guarantee that he'll come with us, but at least he's pulling his head out of his rear a little bit. Somehow, tho, I think that if he were an only child or the other 3 of us couldn't do what we are doing that he would rise to the occassion. Must be nice being the baby in the family. | ||
| greenetree Supporter Username: Greenetree Post Number: 4189 Registered: 5-2001 |
Baby Bro called mom. She told me he wanted to talk to her about switching to Internet phone and a cheaper cell plan. He's like the worst-case scenario telemarkter. Imagine, lying in your hospital bed and the phone rings. This is AT&T. Do you know how much you can save on your monthly phone bill? Mom is in good spirits. Now that she is in the hospital, on blood thinners, at active risk for infection, she has decided to have a port put in for future chemo. She is so afraid of needles that she would rather have a risky procedure (given her current condition) than to get another injection. Thanks for the worry, mom. See how good I am? I didn't say anything or try to talk her out of it - it's her decision..... The Maniac Devil Dog is living on a farm. A real live farm, dontchaknow. Mom has agreed to a "few weeks" until she feels well enough to handle him. We'll see. I actually have gotten attached to that mangy thing. I called TS this morning and said "I can't stop thinking about Maniac Devil Dog". Long pause. We'll talk about it later. How wrong would it be to keep a dog sedated 24/7? They put hyperactive kids on mediation, right? Kind of, maybe, sort of, kidding. |
