Here’s hoping that you’re better (and better off!) soon. -crosses fingers / knocks on wood / prays to Jobu-
Hang in there, dude. I’ve never heard of “thickened water” – do I even want to know?
It’s mixed with a product, usually made up primarily of cornstarch. Here’s an example.
And it turns out that thickened water (and tea, coffee, and other beverages) are commercially available!
In the past, I knew that the nurse would mix it to the prescribed thickness, sometimes nectar but sometimes honey or even pudding.
p.s. The Amazon link says that the water, at least, is thickened with xanthan gum. This is commonly used in gluten-free breads in an attempt to imitate “regular” bread texture.
That is possibly the most disgusting thing I’ve ever heard.
Poor, Mikey.
What’s disgusting is the amount of food they expect me to eat: double protein in their minds includes double everything else and breakfast yesterday, had I eaten it, equaled five meals.
My little great-niece is 2 years old and was on gastric feeding with a stoma since birth and has now graduated to thickened liquids. She’s never had real liquid, as far as I know.
StG
I think I’m gonna have nightmares about this thick water.
Anyone who must stay flat on the back would have problems drinking anything without choking. Years and years ago, I had spinal anesthesia for a procedure, and my body didn’t like it. I had to stay flat on my back, the nurses even swiped my pillow. At mealtime, I got a regular meal tray. No raising the head of the bed for eating! I tried to eat canned pears with a spoon. Bad idea, I got canned pears spilled down my neck. I finally just used my hands and scooped up what I could.
I probably would have wrecked the joint if I had been given thick water.
~VOW
I have apnea, and can’t imagine drinking anything laying flat on my back! I can barely breathe! I’m so sorry, Mike. Get well soon!
This is a fine example of how damn CLUELESS hospital staff (and dietary staff) can be. Different scenario, but when they made me stay overnight after my gallbladder surgery, they brought up a meal tray… consisting of salisbury “steak” and other nasty, high-fat delights. I made them bring me something different.
And “wreck the joint” sounds like an eminently reasonable reaction.
When I was a teenager, I volunteered at a local hospital for a year or so. One patient was pretty well flat on his back. I recall one mealtime he had split pea soup - which he consumed with a straw as I held the bowl and the straw. Now, that particular dish is one I’ve only had once or twice in my life (I just CANNOT get over the appearance) but it does suggest a way in which maybe dropzone could get some nutrition.
Oh - and when we had patients whose intake / output had to be tracked, one thing we had to log was if they ate something like Jello. I wonder if partly-set Jello might be tolerable for Dropzone???
I can’t say I actually “wrecked the joint” being beckdawrek, and all.
But I upset the applecart of dialysis center this morning.
Before it was done the director of the joint was in my cubical patting my hand and apologizing.
Jeez, @dropzone, that sounds like a purely shitty misery.
I really hope you graduate to an inclined bed soon and actual food and liquids.
You can’t drop a teaser like that and not spill!!
Dropzone: you are being far too charitable in describing what they serve you as “food”. My most recent experience with what appears on a hospital tray suggests that the word “food” is not entirely accurate.
I had very low blood pressure. I am anemic as well, and my tongue has been sore. After dialysis I was going to the hospital for a blood draw that my doctor asked for.
The dialysis center insisted I was to give them a blood draw as well. I resisted and caused a dialysis “expert”( not nurse) to say they were gonna give me Valium if I didn’t settle down.
Like I said, before it was over the director was in there patting my hand.
I imagine I’ll never see that “expert”( not nurse) again.
Poor baby!
We’ll put out the call for a posse of SDMB volunteers to storm the dialysis center and beat the crap out of your choice of bullies!
In my experience, once you formally say “I decline,” the Gestapo has to back off.
I’ll make a special effort to find the so-called dialysis expert and kick the snot out of him/her for threatening to tranq you. No wonder the director apologized and patted your hand!
Gah, pull out your phone, pull up Google, and start muttering “personal injury lawyer and malpractice.”
Because that was a sterling example of exactly that!
~VOW
Dammit @VOW I do need your mouth.
So, the Comcast service outage lasted two days for me.
They keep trying to foist on me thicker liquids like water with the consistency of, dig it, HONEY.
Hi, Mikey.
I’m happy to see you here.
I just read an article where some Docs actually think you’re not hydrated enough on thickened liquid.
I know I’d balk at the prospect and just not drink.
It also causes gut issues.
I know you have choked a few times. Can you manage crushed ice by the spoonfuls?
Seems like that could be a solution for you.