Re: Liquid diet suggestions-Please!

[Guest guest]

Hello Ana,

Welcome to the group! I'm sorry to hear that your mother has achalasia.

It must be difficult seeing her in such a condition and not knowing what

to do for her. I hope your mom is ok now after her fever and I hope it

wasn't from having aspiration pneumonia.

I know you said she is sick of ensure, so I'm going to suggest protein

whey. It's an excellent source of protein and it might help her to gain

her strength back before having surgery. You can get protein whey at

GNC, and they are also selling it at the grocery store and I saw it at

Long's the other day. I had been using it as a supplement for the

glutathione benefits but I had to quit because I was gaining too much

weight. You can get creative and add peanut butter, yogurt, fruit or

whatever your mother likes.

If you and your mom would like someone to talk to, feel free to e-mail

me personally at holt-smith@... and I will be happy to give you

my phone number. There are a number of us " Achalasians " in the bay area

and we sometimes get together for lunch or coffee...and even movies.

All the best to you and your mother!

Hope to hear from you soon,

Sandi in No CA (Brentwood)

Liquid diet suggestions-Please!

This is my first group, so I don't know much about using this site.

My mother has surgery scheduled for June 2. Poor thing, she had

surgery in January that dealt with GERD. But it didn't fix her

problem. She was finally referred to UCSF and has been diagnosed

with Achalasia. She really didn't want another surgery, but it's

the only option the doctor gave her. I'm not her caretaker, but

she's staying with me until her surgery because on Friday (5/21) she

was close to having a seisure-due to a high fever and dehydration.

She's 78.5 yrs old. And she is SO FED-UP of Ensure, juice and

broth. I do believe she must be starving.

I really don't know what to feed her. She needs a high calorie

liquid diet. She's lost over 40 lbs. in less than a year.

I would really appreciate any feed back.

Thanks, Ana

[Guest guest]

Hello Chaitanya

In reference to your comment:

I'mmmm Baaaaack!!! okay, been taking an Achalasian Hiatus

Welcom back Chaitanya. We have missed your smiling face,

your great suggestions and your positive attitude to keep us

all on the right track.

Hugs,Maggie

[Guest guest]

Ana - welcome! So sorry to hear about your mom - what a blessing that she has you!

Everyone gave great food suggestions. One thing I would suggest is to tap Sandi for info about A docs in the area. Your mom's age is a red-fla to me (I'm no medical professional)....did the doctor mention dilation or botox injections? I am all for myotomies (just had one 6 weeks ago - I am 38), but many studies show that older folks often benefit from other forms of intervention. Just a thought!!!!!!

Also, is her surgeon experienced in doing a myotomy on someone who already has had the GERD surgery? I would scrutinize them on that, mainly because I love interogating doctors. hahhahaha! No, seriously, a myotomy is not a simple surgery and not nearly as common as the GERd surgery (fundiplication). Keep us posted! Cindi in PA

____________________________________________________ IncrediMail - Email has finally evolved - Click Here

[Guest guest]

I'mmmm Baaaaack!!! okay, been taking an Achalasian Hiatus

(hiatal????)

Dear caring Ana

Sounds like your mom has dietary fatigue and illness wipe-out. She

is fortunate to have such a loving daughter.

Anytime diet is restricted and you're feeling weak and sick, the

most important thing to do is to make things interesting. I practice

Ayurveda, and it teaches that food should look, smell and taste

appealing in order to increase appetite and digestion.

Also, a loving atmosphere, relaxing music, fragrant smells are

helpful. If your mother is partial to vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg or

whatever, boil some in water on the stove to give the house a homey

smell.

Whatever stimulates her senses, get her saliva flowing and makes her

feel nurtured. Memories of happy times can be triggered by favorite

scents.

I don't drink alchohol, but am partial to cocktails.

Try a non-alchohol pina colada (pineapple/coconut - coconut is good

fat in moderation) in a pretty glass on a tray with a fragrant

flower on the side or an edible flower on the cocktail.

Or an Achalasian wallbanger (more like headbanger - well we won't go

there!!!!) Take ideas from the Internet.

Make the mood festive. Tell her that now you have her with you, you

want to enjoy your time together. It is a great thing when you are

together with those you love. Celebrate the fact that you have each

other!!!!! Make eating a celebration.

Some nice smoothies with little umbrellas and calypso music in the

background will celebrate the coming of summer.

Some japanese miso broths with soft tofu in oriental dishes, play

some Japanese music you can download from the Internet.

My mother just recently went through some horrible intestinal

bacteria attack. Serious diarrhea for over a week. She got grumpy

and low on energy. Didn't want to eat, etc.

She is 77 years and quite independent. Since she lives over 4 hours

away, I could only help by phone, as I am going through 7 weeks of

liquid diet myself and lots of doctor visits preparing for myotomy

myself.

But I called her daily and tried to make sure she laughed and saw

the titanium linings on her clouds. She is now much better and more

positive.

When you are sick and tired, mood is everything. Kick it up a notch.

I make a Virgin with veggie juice, Olive oil (good mono oil),

black pepper, ground coriander, soy sauce. You can find other

versions online at Epicurious.com, Foodtv.com, etc.

Yogurt and Looza brand nectar juices like mango, apricot, peach (all

high in vitamin A (betacarotines) makes a nice blend.

I am on liquids only (can't even take fiber) so no blended fruits.

But your mother may be able to have fruit smoothies with

strawberries, bananas, pineapple juice etc. Colorful glasses and

presentation will spark things up.

I like to take boiled spinach and instant potatoes, add butter, salt

and some spices and make a mean gravy soup. Can add some boiled

carrots to the blend and it tastes great. Use poultry seasoning for

some kick. blend it all for ease in passage.

Make it thicker and squeeze it out of a cookie press or icing tube

with tips and you can make it look beautiful. Decorate with some

parsley. She doesn't have to eat the decorations ;0)

If you use canned products, will only take the time to heat it,

blend it and squeeze it.

Make a happy face with the thicker puree to make your mother laugh.

Liquid diet does not necessarily mean bland diet. There are spices

which are not heating, but soothing and cooling if you are afraid of

too much spice.

Put lots of love in the prep and your mother will bloom. Ayurveda

states that the foremost ingredient for health is love in the

preparation of all foodstuffs. Cooking must be a meditation of

devotion.

I use a diet monitoring program called Performance diet at

http://www.health-runr.com/

It helps me to make sure I get enough nutrients and calories each

day. Helps you to make sure the diet is balanced.

You can plan daily menus or meals and practice how to mix them for

best nutrients. Any nutritionist you may see will help you to refine

things.

These instructions will help you now for your mother, but also help

you as you need to nourish yourself. Nutrition is for everyone. I

don't diet (die +) I nourish.

If you need more info. contact me at the address by my name. My

background is nutrition. My father was one of the leading nutrition

research scientists and trained me up from just a squeaker.

Love to cook, so spend a lot of time with menus, recipes and

nutrition.

Doctor says my husband (who has been eating my cooking for 21 years)

has the heart of someone in their 20s (don't tell, they might try to

take it back). He is over 55.

His father and brother both have heart problems and his father was

younger than my husband is now when he had a triple bypass

operation.

His entire family has blood pressure problems. His is 115 over 68.

Runs around like a kid. So by God's grace we must be doing something

right.

This is a hard thing for you to be going through. But your request

for help shows you care very much.

But living up to my name.....

This is also a wonderful time for you to be going through. Your

mother is alive and you have a chance to be with her and to repay

some of the love and endeavor she put into raising you. Carpe diem.

Seize the day.

Hoping this helps some

Chaitanya Rupa

> And she is SO FED-UP of Ensure, juice and

> broth. I do believe she must be starving.

>

> I really don't know what to feed her. She needs a high calorie

> liquid diet. She's lost over 40 lbs. in less than a year.

>

> I would really appreciate any feed back.

> Thanks, Ana

[Guest guest]

> Welcom back Chaitanya. We have missed your smiling face,

> your great suggestions and your positive attitude to keep us

> all on the right track.

>

> Hugs,

> Maggie

Thanks for the sweet words. They nourish my heart.

Hugs back ;0)

Chaitanya Rupa

[Guest guest]

--- Chaitanya,

I LOVE YOUR ADVICE; AWESOME, AWESOME, AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Jo

In achalasia , " Chaitanya Rupa " <pandava@a...> wrote:

> I'mmmm Baaaaack!!! okay, been taking an Achalasian Hiatus

> (hiatal????)

>

> Dear caring Ana

>

> Sounds like your mom has dietary fatigue and illness wipe-out. She

> is fortunate to have such a loving daughter.

>

> Anytime diet is restricted and you're feeling weak and sick, the

> most important thing to do is to make things interesting. I

practice

> Ayurveda, and it teaches that food should look, smell and taste

> appealing in order to increase appetite and digestion.

>

> Also, a loving atmosphere, relaxing music, fragrant smells are

> helpful. If your mother is partial to vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg or

> whatever, boil some in water on the stove to give the house a homey

> smell.

>

> Whatever stimulates her senses, get her saliva flowing and makes

her

> feel nurtured. Memories of happy times can be triggered by favorite

> scents.

>

> I don't drink alchohol, but am partial to cocktails.

>

> Try a non-alchohol pina colada (pineapple/coconut - coconut is good

> fat in moderation) in a pretty glass on a tray with a fragrant

> flower on the side or an edible flower on the cocktail.

>

> Or an Achalasian wallbanger (more like headbanger - well we won't

go

> there!!!!) Take ideas from the Internet.

>

> Make the mood festive. Tell her that now you have her with you, you

> want to enjoy your time together. It is a great thing when you are

> together with those you love. Celebrate the fact that you have each

> other!!!!! Make eating a celebration.

>

> Some nice smoothies with little umbrellas and calypso music in the

> background will celebrate the coming of summer.

>

> Some japanese miso broths with soft tofu in oriental dishes, play

> some Japanese music you can download from the Internet.

>

> My mother just recently went through some horrible intestinal

> bacteria attack. Serious diarrhea for over a week. She got grumpy

> and low on energy. Didn't want to eat, etc.

>

> She is 77 years and quite independent. Since she lives over 4 hours

> away, I could only help by phone, as I am going through 7 weeks of

> liquid diet myself and lots of doctor visits preparing for myotomy

> myself.

>

> But I called her daily and tried to make sure she laughed and saw

> the titanium linings on her clouds. She is now much better and more

> positive.

>

> When you are sick and tired, mood is everything. Kick it up a notch.

>

> I make a Virgin with veggie juice, Olive oil (good mono oil),

> black pepper, ground coriander, soy sauce. You can find other

> versions online at Epicurious.com, Foodtv.com, etc.

>

> Yogurt and Looza brand nectar juices like mango, apricot, peach

(all

> high in vitamin A (betacarotines) makes a nice blend.

>

> I am on liquids only (can't even take fiber) so no blended fruits.

> But your mother may be able to have fruit smoothies with

> strawberries, bananas, pineapple juice etc. Colorful glasses and

> presentation will spark things up.

>

> I like to take boiled spinach and instant potatoes, add butter,

salt

> and some spices and make a mean gravy soup. Can add some boiled

> carrots to the blend and it tastes great. Use poultry seasoning for

> some kick. blend it all for ease in passage.

>

> Make it thicker and squeeze it out of a cookie press or icing tube

> with tips and you can make it look beautiful. Decorate with some

> parsley. She doesn't have to eat the decorations ;0)

>

> If you use canned products, will only take the time to heat it,

> blend it and squeeze it.

>

> Make a happy face with the thicker puree to make your mother laugh.

>

> Liquid diet does not necessarily mean bland diet. There are spices

> which are not heating, but soothing and cooling if you are afraid

of

> too much spice.

>

> Put lots of love in the prep and your mother will bloom. Ayurveda

> states that the foremost ingredient for health is love in the

> preparation of all foodstuffs. Cooking must be a meditation of

> devotion.

>

> I use a diet monitoring program called Performance diet at

> http://www.health-runr.com/

>

> It helps me to make sure I get enough nutrients and calories each

> day. Helps you to make sure the diet is balanced.

>

> You can plan daily menus or meals and practice how to mix them for

> best nutrients. Any nutritionist you may see will help you to

refine

> things.

>

> These instructions will help you now for your mother, but also help

> you as you need to nourish yourself. Nutrition is for everyone. I

> don't diet (die +) I nourish.

>

> If you need more info. contact me at the address by my name. My

> background is nutrition. My father was one of the leading nutrition

> research scientists and trained me up from just a squeaker.

>

> Love to cook, so spend a lot of time with menus, recipes and

> nutrition.

>

> Doctor says my husband (who has been eating my cooking for 21

years)

> has the heart of someone in their 20s (don't tell, they might try

to

> take it back). He is over 55.

>

> His father and brother both have heart problems and his father was

> younger than my husband is now when he had a triple bypass

> operation.

>

> His entire family has blood pressure problems. His is 115 over 68.

> Runs around like a kid. So by God's grace we must be doing

something

> right.

>

> This is a hard thing for you to be going through. But your request

> for help shows you care very much.

>

> But living up to my name.....

>

> This is also a wonderful time for you to be going through. Your

> mother is alive and you have a chance to be with her and to repay

> some of the love and endeavor she put into raising you. Carpe diem.

> Seize the day.

>

> Hoping this helps some

> Chaitanya Rupa

>

>

>

>

>

> > And she is SO FED-UP of Ensure, juice and

> > broth. I do believe she must be starving.

> >

> > I really don't know what to feed her. She needs a high calorie

> > liquid diet. She's lost over 40 lbs. in less than a year.

> >

> > I would really appreciate any feed back.

> > Thanks, Ana

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

I can relate to your mother's problems since it is only a short while since I was also only able to tolerate a liquid diet. I could only get clear fluids down. I made myself broth by boiling minced [ground] chicken or beef with stock cubes for several hours until it was very soft and then pouring the soup through a sieve. This liquid formed a sort of jelly which was both nutritious and tasty. I was also able to drink herb tea and Sprite with out the bubbles.

If she can tolerate thicker stuff, try straining oats porridge. You cook twice the amount you would normally cook and then rub it through a sieve. I found other porridges too grainy, but she may not. They are all high in calories. If you add lots of brown sugar or her favourite jam or peanut butter - that makes it a bit different. You could also add powdered almonds or other nuts ground very fine.

I cannot eat anything which is even slightly acid so you could just be aware that acidic stuff such a fruit juice could irritate her. Incidentally asparagus is really tasty blended very fine with cream, but it is acidic.

If she likes milky things there are many flavours she can have, but by adding an egg to it and blending it well you add extra food value. Smoothies have endless possibilities and adding ground almonds helps to increase its food value.

I have bought myself a Braun "stick" blender [Multiplenier] and it is quite amazing how it can produce a really smooth liquid food provided you add enough liquid. Now I am able to use just the food I cook for my husband and liquidize that into a soup and do not have to cook especially for myself.

The kiddies multivitamins with minerals syrup made a big difference to my appetite and feeling of well being. I no longer felt so terribly tired.

I am 65 - nearly 66 so closer to her age and I can relate to her in more ways than one. Do not make a fuss of her food in front of her. She is probably feeling guilty at being a nuisance and trouble to you, even if you tell her that is not so. Perhaps if you make something for her make some for yourself, and show her you are enjoying the treat.

Increasing calories to maintain her weight is all very well but to me protein is just as important to maintain her muscle strength and other functions.

Good luck and keep us posted we are thinking of you both.

Hugs,

Joan

Johannesburg South Africajpearse@...

Liquid diet suggestions-Please!

This is my first group, so I don't know much about using this site.My mother has surgery scheduled for June 2. Poor thing, she had surgery in January that dealt with GERD. But it didn't fix her problem. She was finally referred to UCSF and has been diagnosed with Achalasia. She really didn't want another surgery, but it's the only option the doctor gave her. I'm not her caretaker, but she's staying with me until her surgery because on Friday (5/21) she was close to having a seisure-due to a high fever and dehydration. She's 78.5 yrs old. And she is SO FED-UP of Ensure, juice and broth. I do believe she must be starving.I really don't know what to feed her. She needs a high calorie liquid diet. She's lost over 40 lbs. in less than a year.I would really appreciate any feed back.Thanks, Ana

[Guest guest]

Hi Ana - Welcome to the group. You are a good daughter looking after your

Mom and I am sure it is difficult. My heart goes out to you both. I

was diagnosed with Achalasia at the age of 69 and had the Heller Myotomy and

Dor Funduplication plus a hiatus hernia repair 9 months later after also

losing 35 lbs. ( living on Ensure too ). It has a lot of calories, but the

weight still comes off it seems. However after the surgery which went very

well despite my age, I recovered very well, and now almost 5 years later I

am still doing well. I realize your mother is almost 10 years older than I

was, however like Debbie says, I am sure the Doctor would not suggest

surgery if he did not think it was wise, and necessary. I too opted at

first not to have the surgery - also thinking I was too old- however when

the Dr. made me realize what the alternative was I soon decided to go ahead

and after that day I have never looked back.

I will be thinking of you both and please tell your Mother there are a lot

of people that are wishing her well, and praying for her.

All the best............, Vancouver BC, Canada

Liquid diet suggestions-Please!

> This is my first group, so I don't know much about using this site.

>

> My mother has surgery scheduled for June 2. Poor thing, she had

> surgery in January that dealt with GERD. But it didn't fix her

> problem. She was finally referred to UCSF and has been diagnosed

> with Achalasia. She really didn't want another surgery, but it's

> the only option the doctor gave her. I'm not her caretaker, but

> she's staying with me until her surgery because on Friday (5/21) she

> was close to having a seisure-due to a high fever and dehydration.

> She's 78.5 yrs old. And she is SO FED-UP of Ensure, juice and

> broth. I do believe she must be starving.

>

> I really don't know what to feed her. She needs a high calorie

> liquid diet. She's lost over 40 lbs. in less than a year.

>

> I would really appreciate any feed back.

> Thanks, Ana

>

>

>

>

>