I have been warned...in all my readings on the side effects of chemo, and in my conversations with other chemo veterans...foods might taste different during treatments. MD Anderson's literature suggests not eat your favorite foods a couple of days before or after your treatment, unless you want have an aversion to that food after your treatment is done. I don't think a couple of days will do it.... After 3 treatments, I can say that the warnings are correct. Most things you eat will have a new flavor profile...some good some not so good...but for the most part different than you remember....with and idle mind, and time on my hands I decided to snoop around (yeah, nose/smell functions are slightly altered, too).
My lofty (read: wiki) research (and your Pickle lesson of the day) says that we have 5 taste bud types --- bitter (back of your tongue), Sour (side), Salty and Sweet (front) and Umani (a savory pleasant taste--probably made up by the Japanese to sell more soy sauce). Children have strong taste buds that make them a little more finicky about food, as we age the desensitize, so foods that we didn't eat as children, we enjoy as adults. Further, as we age, the last to go are the sugar taste buds. I remember clearly at Ed's dad's reception after his funeral, that the 75+ year old attendees were all over the desserts...and there were lots of them. The Preacher from their church shared with me the "sugar bud" is the last go...that has stuck with me. Back to my research---your taste buds can change with smoking (red marker issue), medications, injury to your head, chemical exposure, and radiation. As I see it, I have 3 out of the 5 game changers in my column. Early on in this journey, I purchased a Cancer Cookbook, to make sure I was coloring in the lines for my new lifestyle. The opening sections were about suggestions on how to negate the "too" much of one flavor...there were how to tone down bitter, salty, sweet, sour and metallic...nothing on the umani front. After my now 6 weeks experience into the food related issues, I want to know how to correct my taste buds---of "funky", "off putting", and "gross".
For example, as any Kingwood resident-past or present---will tell you, if it is Chicken Salad---it has to be Chelsea's--even the best cooks around buy there chicken salad there (Great shower idea--thanks Rebecca, unfrosted donut holes stuffed with C's chicken salad--fried bread with chicken salad in a bite sized morsel---what's not to love) The other day, after one of our three times a week outing to PT for Ed's knee, to the front of Kingwood, we stopped at Chelsea's and picked up lunch to go. Ed always has the Super Po' boy with a pint of mustard potato salad (also, better than I make), sandwich cut into four parts (use to be 5 but the bread shrunk---or his appetite increased)---it last him 4 days...been that way since swimming team years (pre-1990). Me, I am an all chicken salad all the time kinda gal---while I vary the vehicle--po' boy, croissant,whole wheat, or main with side salad combo plate---except the one time when a pretty young Lauren remembered that I liked some kinda of salad at Chelseas, and liked mustard---I got a shrimp salad, with mustard on croissant---guess that would be the umani taste bud thing, but she got an "A" for effort. My main salad with side fruit salad was not the same as I remembered. Plain fruit salad was fine (guess that would be the sugar buds being happy) but the chicken salad was just not the same. Even had Ed taste it, he thought I was slipping a couple of gears. Ate the chicken salad anyway...not the yummy, but it was lunch. ;(.
On to other food observations---can not do on anything with tomato sauces or salsas, but still like fresh cut tomatoes--go figure. Bread and pasta---not so much so--big bonus there---but like flour tortillas---thin is in. Meats--a little goes a long way, fish is good, shellfish I can taste the iodine in it--there is the funky factor. Beverages - icy cold water with lemon, or without, hot or cold fruit flavored green tea, coffee with half and half---Starbucks of Nepresso if you please--nothing carbonated (off putting) Vegetables - rice and potatoes, particularly potatoes --must need potassium---I eat the dark colored one just because I am suppose to---Salads --my pre-treatment go to--vinegar based dressings=gross, love cold and creamy dressings. Eggs, grits, cheese, guacamole/avocado, yogurt--plain, non fat or flavored---are at the top of my food chain list. Fruits (bananas are #1), nuts, twigs - also top of the list. See the potassium curve there--i certain do. Based on my research and personal observations, I have stayed away from the dessert, ice cream, froyo---will cop to an not too infrequent piece of chocolate, but that is it. Sister Kathy in trying to put a positive spin on chemo remarked that I would probably lose lots of weight while undergoing chemo. Not so fast, with this regiment, literature and conversation---it all talks about weight gain during treatment. Hello, I do not want to upgrade my fluffy status to Michelin woMan. My Onco Doctor said 5-40 lbs (in 24 weeks, please) has been his experience. However, I think my fluffy status has prevented me from looking like the walking zombies that I see at chemo---I had a little larger reserve tank to work off of---finally a upside to fluffy. It takes a lot to poison an elephant. The bottom line, like the Baptist Preacher told me, the sweet buds are the last to go. If you are looking for something that satisfy and makes you feel good (and I am sooo an emotional eater), sweets and carbs are the way to go...particularly when you add a side order of steroids to the poison party called chemotherapy. From my lips to my hips...hanging firm, learning to eat to live, not live to eat...just wished I had the same will power and could add a little more exercise---maybe this 21 days I will get there.
Flamingo/Round 3 update---I am now half way finished with chemo! The third flamingo took up her spot in the yard yesterday, almost had to put a special bow around her neck---it was a long day---10 hours door to door...and not of my doing (we planned on 6). We left at 7:00 AM, for 8:15 appointments--with chemo to start after Onco Dr. saw me, blessed my blood work and sent the orders to the infusion clinic---guess who forget to send the orders---and I lost my infusion slot until well after noon time. Hello, control stick, blood pressure, Ed's knees' issues, steam was coming out of my ears---and I am so not the sit and take it kinda of person. Ed kept reminding me to not shoot the messengers---so, I didn't go postal, but requested, somewhat politely, a meeting with Patient Care Advocate and Nursing Care Chief to suggest that they review their communication and procedures, inasmuch as this is the 2nd time I have had issues, and was obviously not alone, since there were others grumbling about the same thing in the waiting room. Being popular/brand name/#1 status in the 'burbs has some disadvantages. It is not nice to stress out chemo patients---on treatment days. Hope the squeaky wheel gets the grease next time---I am sure there are notes or pictures on my chart---they have color coded charts for what type of treatment you are there for---if I see a black chart next time, I'll know my message was heard---black for witch's hat. Betcha I won't have to wait for my Nasty Neulasta shot today...
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