I see one a day vitamins and a couple other companies are now making “petites”. Check those out.
I also wouldn’t be afraid to just crush them up and put in chocolate pudding. Chocolate is a great flavor disguiser.
Or as a pharmacist we used to make a “bread ball” for little kids. Wrap the partial pill in a small dough ball (just tear a very small piece of white bread and wrap pill in it. Covers sharp edges and no taste
Vitamin D has BIG effects on the immune system so it definitely could be why she is doing better- here is a study that sheds light on it https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/04/190417111440.htm
I have found there are many very very good natural drs / foundations and web sites that are years ahead of mainstream medicine. (Use your own judgement/ research before taking their advice ) but some of the most helpful to me are Life Extension who sell supplements but also uses multiple top experts in the field and researches multiple diseases and supplements - search their health protocols or magazine for the latest recommendations on a particular health concern https://www.lifeextension.com/Protocols also a Dr Gregor who has a book titled “How Not to Die” and runs a non profit web site with all scientific studies reports (in the form of videos you can access) to give the latest in health info … EAT THOSE FRUITS AND VEGGIES over all else!!! https://nutritionfacts.org/ best of luck!!
Never meant it as a replacement for anything - nothing at all that I’ve read has ever suggested that. All tests I’ve seen have used it with the traditional/recommended treatment.
While it’s entirely possible there are other variables at play, when one is already diagnosed with something known to be terminal, one can’t wait until all tests are in to see what the results are. They have to use what info is out there to decide what to try or not. This is one of the most promising things I’ve seen out of oodles that were recommended by minions to check out. The vast majority just get debunked TBH. The fact that her doctor knew about it and didn’t pose it as something to check out to even know a decision could be made is crazy and mean IMO. Mom is “just” another patient to her - a number - a paycheck. To some of us she’s a loved member of the family. Would it have worked? Who knows? But with no real side effects there certainly would have been no harm in adding it. The decision in this case is super easy.
Neither mom nor I like chocolate flavored things. Chocolate itself is ok (not a great love, but ok). Chocolate flavored things like pudding or milkshakes are disgusting. I could eat them in my past if I had to to be polite. With my own brain issues post radiation, my brain just tells me it’s full after one taste with anything I don’t like. With the neuron connections of sickness and taste from mom’s cancer, eating things she doesn’t like now makes her physically nauseous. It’s getting harder and harder to find things she can tolerate.
@gouf78 Thanks for the heads up on the petites! Those would probably work out better than a new edible due to the taste factor mentioned in the last post. I can get shopping tomorrow. Today I’m on duty here at her house (she can’t be left alone long enough to go shopping).
There are gummy multi vitamins for adults, but can she chew them safely?
Since she isn’t eating—is it because she can’t or no appetite whatsoever? Do you know? You said the cancer was starving her.
Has anyone considered medical marijuana? Is that an option for your mom? (Please don’t anybody make judgments)
Chewing is fine. Swallowing still is too. She has very little appetite. The main reason for that is due to the negative body reactions to eating (pain and nausea mainly). She has a health directive and does not want a feeding tube. She could have medical marijuana and knows it, but hasn’t opted for it.
I don’t judge. I’m fine with whatever she chooses. It’s her life and her mind is still fine (now that Keppra is in the meds anyway).
Cancer is starving her due to no appetite and not being able to process things well that she does eat. Med school lad has explained that to us (not mom - she doesn’t need to know). It would be nice if at least she could tolerate Ensure or Boost, but the flavors turn her off which also causes nausea. We’ve tried multiple flavors.
That part may or may not get better during the two weeks she’s off chemo (normal cycle). Based upon last time I assumed this round of chemo alone would be the end, but with the rebound from Vit D3 (or whatever the cause) coupled with all the “steady” or “better” numbers from her recent tests, I seriously wonder how much of the latest downturn has been Vit D deficiency rather than her cancer progressing as has been assumed by all (doctor included). Her doctor today only had plans for her to transfer to Hospice for the end - no more dr appts, no more treatment or blood tests, etc. That may or may not happen, but in two weeks when we see what turn her body takes. It’s still Plan A to happen in two weeks, but can be changed if deemed worth it by mom.
Just to be clear… No one is expecting a miracle here. I’m just wondering if we have a couple more hours if it’s merely the body doing it’s rebound before the end that I was warned about or a couple more months+ if the cause of the latest stuff was due to something fixable. That’s the question I can’t ask the doctor, especially in front of mom.
I only mention hours because she told me good bye instead of good night tonight when I tucked her in… Omen or seizure word replacement?
I’d try marijuana. And I didn’t think you’d judge but maybe others. It can help with nausea, increases appetite, plus calming. Pretty much what she may be needing.
Another liquid supplement is Premier which is similar to Boost and Ensure but has a different flavor profile. WalMart carries it. Might be worth a try. Many patients prefer it.
Hugs to you and your mom.
@Creekland my mother is being treated for pancreatic cancer and doesn’t like the taste of Ensure, but has found a liquid supplement called Orgain Organic Nutritional Shakes that is very mild (at least the Vanilla flavor) that she has been able to tolerate for the past several months. She also has great difficulty finding anything that tastes good. She orders them from Amazon, but they are also available at Walgreen’s (though more expensive).
Many hugs to you and your mom.
Another supplement is TwoCal HN from Abbot labs
Its 8 oz and 475 calories. High calorie and high protein. Plus all vitamins and minerals
Much higher calorie count than Boost or Ensure (475 vs 250)
Home health nurse gave us some and said she had patient that lived on it (4 cans/day). rather than do a feeding tube and it worked remarkably well. It is thicker than a simple liquid but tastes good.
Not prescription—amazon carries it.
Might be worth a try.
I could not possibly agree more! I am lucky to have found several CRC online communities that are focused not only on support, but on education. It can make an enormous difference.
BTW, I was put on Keppra in Feb, after having a cerebral angiogram, because they think my weird episodes may be caused by seizures rather than by stenosis of the artery. Not only did it do nothing to slow down or halt the episodes, it almost killed me: extreme sleepiness all day, depression, you name it. I’m glad it is working for your mother.
ETA: my PCP suggests gummies for vitamin D.
Best wishes to you, @Consolation . With my mom they know it’s seizures, so far in one localized area (according to an EEG) but if my sister is correct at seeing a whole body one during her sleep, then perhaps more. Keppra made an immediate difference from being able to communicate with us and eat by herself vs weird words/phrases that didn’t even remotely apply, but she thought they did, and trying to pour water into her hand or use the handle end of her fork.
Since being home I’ve noticed things get worse near the end of a dose, so we just increased it slightly and all is back ok again.
Without the med she can’t even answer what day it is or where she is. With it she is as knowledgeable as the rest of us - even answering Jeopardy questions correctly or solving Wheel of Fortune puzzles if she’s awake.
But… she just had 6 liters of fluid drained yesterday. How in the world does one store 3 two liters of “junk” in their abdomen? It seems impossible. That only took two weeks to build up (sigh). Kidney numbers are well in the normal range. Liver numbers haven’t changed - somewhat off - but the same amount as prior to fluid. No cancer cells seen in the fluid. What gives? My google searching comes up blank and with med school lad taking his Step 1 on Monday I don’t want to interrupt his studying. He might not know anyway.
If anyone else in our family ever gets cancer I’m using the internet as much as possible searching every little thing that pops up to see how much credence to give it.