Support for low-fat high-fiber diet

This is what I found Theresa!

The probable rationale for the high protein diet is that high carbohydrates increase oxygen consumption. Therefore if you have less lung surface to exchange oxygen, then why stress your decreased lung function with demands for more oxygen by eating more carbohydrates?

There are better liquid supplements for persons with decreased lung capacity. Check with a local Registered Dietitian for names and sources for these supplements. There are ones lower in carbohydrate than Ensure that don't increase the oxygen demand.

As to a decreased appetite, a glass of wine or beer can stimulate appetite before a meal. There are prescriptions that also work to increase appetite. Have your relative ask her doctor.

Eating a lot of meat can suppress your appetite as anyone on a high protein, low carbohydrate diet can attest. Foods high in protein are muscle meats, poultry, fish, eggs, cheese, milk and real eggnog (buy pasteurized only). Liquid dairy products (milk, ice cream, pudding, etc) though do increase phlegm (mucus) and may cause more problems because of that. Milk products, fruit, juice, dried beans, peas, legumes and grains also contain some protein, but also contain a fair amount of carbohydrate (15 grams per serving). Non-starchy vegetables are pretty low in carbohydrate (5 grams per serving).

In eating a higher protein diet, the goal should be to include some protein at each meal. For instance, an egg or two at breakfast (forget about the cholesterol right now as her nutritional health is more important) and 3 - 4 ounces of meat at noon and evening meals would be appropriate. A 3 - 4 ounce portion of meat would be as big as the back of her hand and as thick as her little finger is wide. Use this as a rule to determine portion size. Make sure the meat is moist (add gravy) and well seasoned.

I would suggest your relative contact a Registered Dietitian to help her nutritional recovery. A dietitian could also recommend a good liquid supplement that doesn't stress your relative's oxygen consumption.




Can you just try to help me or put me in touch with some who can advise me give me a meal plan for my mother who is losing weight because of emphysema. She is 70 years old, takes prednisone and atrovert, on 24-hour oxygen. Her rib cage and knees caps are protruding now.

Please help, my computer is slow and I can't navigate the web effectively. Time is crucial. Thank you very much.

Theresa - what're the search parameters for the study they're doing? Now I'm curious to read about it.

Theresa,

I hope that you carry continued strength and good nature through your hospital stay…I think of you endlessly…

From the trial:
RSR13 (efaproxiral) is an experimental drug that increases the amount of oxygen released from blood into the tissues . It is well known that certain types of cancer tumors, including those in brain metastases, lack oxygen. Lack of oxygen in a tumor can reduce the effect of radiation therapy (RT). RSR13 may increase the oxygen level in brain tumors so that radiation therapy works better.

Okay, oxgenation the natural way….BREATH…deeply…enhance the oxygen supply to your body by mindful deep breathing.

"An extensive network of small blood vessels called capillaries feeds the brain. Because every cell is critical to the organ’s function, oxygen must diffuse from the capillaries to every nook. Current models suggest that, even if the brain needs only a small amount of extra oxygen, it takes a large increase in blood flow to deliver enough to every cell ."

“The healthy habit of deep breathing at least 10-20 times a day. This helps to increase the lung capacity, thus enhancing oxygen supply to the body.”

“The Mechanics of Deep Breathing
The top of the diaphragm, located about one and one-half inches up from the bottom of the sternum, actually supports the heart, while the bottom of the diaphragm is attached all the way around our lower ribs and connects also to our lower lumbar vertebrae. When we breathe, the surface of our diaphragm generally moves downward as we inhale and upward as we exhale. (See if you can sense these movements periodically throughout your day.) When we breathe fully and deeply, the diaphragm moves farther down into the abdomen, and our lungs are able to expand more completely into the chest cavity. This means that more oxygen is taken in and more carbon dioxide is released with each breath. Deep breathing takes advantage of the fact that the lungs are larger toward the bottom than the top.”

Talk to your doc, but maybe with deep breathing you can enhance your oxygen supply ….

This is how I do it…
If you can find a way to lay still, relax your body parts one by one and then do some deep breathing by taking deep breaths through the nose visualizing them traveling to the very bottom of your lungs and then releasing the breath through your mouth all the way to a flat empty feeling in your lungs.

It certainly is not going to hurt to practice deep breathing and relaxation is another benefit...maybe they have a tape at the hospital library that can help. I use belleruth napperstak, relive stress tape, but most relaxation tapes are all about deep breathing...

there is a real knack to it. i try and do it a couple of times an hour for general well being but maybe your doc would want you to do at certain times around rad therapy...

also, just one other thing...have your hubby pick you up an arby's when you are ready.

and if you have enough bandwith and quicktime on that hospital puter...check out this hilarious spoof about a new ipod product...the ipod flea...
a good laugh...

breath deep my friend,

laura

I like the breathing idea pretty well.

I think high-protein is OK, but I'm afraid to have you messing with your blood chemistry.

I'm all for trials but I want you getting treated pronto.
When my husband had lymphoma the first time his father had a fit because they didn't put him in a trial (they live near NIH and were very NIH-oriented). The docs at Kaiser said, we have a good treatment and we want to get it to him now. He was in remission several years longer than the best estimate with that. When it came back there was a trial that was appropriate and he went into it.

We're all anxious for you to get started.

How are your kids holding out? I think it's one thing for you to be not feeling so good and around the house, but being hospitalized has to have been hard on them. Then you really are sick.

Did you have much luck with the voice recognition?

My husband has had that, but it didn't seem to get used very much.

Do you have a port? You must be like a prickled cactus.

It's my understanding that you have to 'train' the voice recognition system. Probably you have more motivation to do that than my husband.

The whole needle thing gets on my nerves, I'm glad you've got the port. Hubby had a PICC line, which is kind of bulky. Sometimes you see people who are staying at NIH around, at the mall etc... You can spot them because they've all got this garish paper tape wrapped around their arms where the line is.

I just finished C++. The .NET class is full so I"ve got to get a book and do that on my own, afterwards I hope to get into C#. Got any favorites?

Warm asparagus salad? Did your boys eat that?

I didn't think they'd eat that, but I wasn't sure. One of my father's pipe dreams was to have an asperagus bed. He grew up on a farm, so the thing was you needed good dirt from the barnyard, and then it had to be there for years.



I saw some Goat Milk at Whole Foods yesterday. 1/2 gallon was $6.99.

I say, stick with the fruits. The paper this morning says the low-fat study was so close to being significant that they think it will bear out with more time. So nix the butter - organic or not.

Cowgirl will have to tell us about Goats' milk. She's the goat lady. I'm guessing it's like periccino cheese?

I have heard of people using prune baby food instead of fat, never could quite get the handle on it!

Theresa maybe the vitamin C is helping you! One family member says when you crave natural good foods your body needs that nutrition element!

I have heard the applesauce recipes are really moist! Nothing like a dry sweet thing.

Just got back from lloonngg weekend in vegas. yes i made a small deposit but had a fabulous time with bf and dear friends...

My diet went in the toilet...Even ordered dessert whenever i could!

I am going to get back and get more organic too!

Will try the asparagus salad for sure, thank you...

Organic oranges sound expensively delicious.

I don't see myself baking these days, can't believe how busy i am without even working.

Theresa, are you getting any exercise?
very important to pushing everything through your system, i think...

thinking of everybody here always...

laura

Were the desserts good?

If you're going to splurge then it needs to be for something great.