Malnutrition

I'm sorry to hear that, Annie, and hope she recovers soon.

Without knowing what her underlying medical condition is/was, I would be wary of asking for unqualified advice. Could you ask her GP to refer her to a dietician. AFAIK some GPs have a regular dietician for diabetic patients, so it shouldn't be difficult to arrange an appointment.

You can get liquid food on prescription. I remember arranging some for my father after he was discharged (too early in my opinion) after a serious heart op.

So sorry to hear that Anniebach.

Not sure what to post. Has she been refusing food? Had a major operation? I dont want to pry.
Can she manage solids?
Are there other things going on?

Dont post anything you do not want to, or dont feel comfortable doing.

Yes dietician definitely. And a touch of common sense!!! This time next year all things being equal you will look back and say thank goodness that's over with and be surprised how quickly she recovered. Best of luck annie

Annie Is the liquid food to encourage your DDs appetite maybe you could tempt her with warming broth's which are easy to drink and bowls of mashed potato/grated cheese we gave these to my neice when she was poorly and had no interest in food,I do hope your girl feels better soon.

Has she been given that Ensure stuff? (Ugh) She/you can get it on prescription , we have bottles of the stuff which DH didn't need but you can't give it back.
Without knowing the reasons for her malnutrition it is hard to comment about diet and food intake. For all we know she may not be digesting/metabolising what is going in but she clearly needs more help.
Good luck

My daughter is an alcoholic and has severe depression, she lives alone , is vunerable. I am fed up of explaining the depression led to her drinking, they are putting the depression down to the alcoholism, I know my own daughter, a loving, happy caring woman, they know an alcoholic

I saw her last night, first time in over a year, she is forty seven and looks ninety . I am desperate to find help for her but am told she has to do it herself. I know this but she needs help to get on the road to recovery.

Having only moved house Thursday I have no landline to contact numbers I have read online

Encourage your DD to take the liquid food it is excellent, it contains everything required for nourishment. I was given these drinks in hospital and to take home, they have nice flavours and are not large in volume.

Oh annie my heartfelt Best Wishes.

When you say discharged from hospital, was it for her mental health issues?
Again, dont answer if you dont want to.

If the root of things is her mental health, I am wondering if she is getting treated for that at all?

If she can eat normal food, then give her what she 'fancies'' in small'portions. Our bodies have the ability to sense what we need often. If she doesn't feel able to eat then there are a variety of liquid food substitutes available, when she finishes the liquid sent from hospital. Have a word with your pharmacist in the first instance.

In the meantime keep her warm and, if possible, relaxed.

Is your daughter still drinking Annie? You have my very deepest sympathy from one who watched her sister drink herself into a place where no one could reach her (((hugs)))

She is caught in a vicious, dangerous circle and needs help to break a chain in the circle

She was a loving mother, wife, dsughter, sister, a town councillor, a school governer and had eleven elderly people she was supporting volentary . I told her to slow down, she sent to the doctor and he advised she did mess and learn to relax - have a glass of wine in the evenings , this was how it started ten years ago . She became dependant on the wine - on the quiet - to blot out the anxiety and this only caused the depression to deepen .

When she could no longer hide it her husband went with her to a charity for help with drink dependency , too late though . Her husband blames himself for not noticing as do I blame myself, but this illness turns an honest person into a person who will lie to hid the secret.

No one chooses to be an alcholic , my darling child didn't.

I'm so sorry to hear about your daughter Annie .

I think in food terms , its definitively a tiny amount of what she fancies ( which could vary day by day) Being faced with a large amount when you are not feeling like eating is daunting.

Maybe also the effort of making choices about food is exhausting too. Could you make a list of what she likes /fancies and just have several options in the freezer to just reheat?

Thinking back to my grandfather- when he was in hospital what he wanted more than anything were jellied eels and trifle. NOT together . He maybe had a few mouthfuls and that was sufficient.

Small steps - a little chicken soup or a little ice-cream ?

I hope you can help her .

It's a horrible illness and no one chooses it, it just creeps up on the vulnerable and susceptible. Families don't notice until it's gone too far. They mustn't blame themselves.

Some do overcome it, so hold onto that hope Annie

Would she consider Al-Anon?
With your religious background, she might more likely consider it[not sure how religious Al-Anon is].
Could you go along with her to the meeting?

Her district nursing team should may be able to help with nutritional supplements and will liaise with the GP. There should be a phone number where you can get in touch with them for advice.

Are you near enough to visit often Anniebach?
Showing how much you love your daughter, and helping her to feel that she will be all right, could go a long way to assist recovery.

As others said, her GP can prescribe liquid food if she needs it. It can be bought at pharmacies too.

Al-Anon is just for the alcoholic's family and friends, Ankers.

Thank you all. She eats ice lollies,! will get more liquid food substitutes tomorrow and if she can tell me what she may like to eat I will get it

Anya, I still cannot believe I was so stupid, I even paid for taxi to take my grandchildren to school because my daughter had hurt her back! She was never able to tell lies so I believed her . I need to calm down, I am even angry with her father for dying when she was so small.

Another thought, although your daughter is very weak do encourage her to move as much as she can. Even just standing up and sitting down again or taking a couple of steps, with help if needed, will help her muscles not to deteriorate.

So sorry to hear this Annie. I have no advice, except when my late husband didn't want to eat I found he would eat a smoothie made with fruit and ice cream.

Fortisip do a range of shakes, juices, yoghurts which are designed for those who for various reasons are not eating. I do hope things improve for your daughter and your family.

Annie,
A lot of the build up type drinks can be used in recipes, etc
My daughter uses a vanilla flavoured one to make a morning coffee.
Wishing you and your daughter every good wish.

Annie I noticed that your daughter eats ice lollies. How about making some with evaporated milk. At least that way she will be getting some full fat.

My heart goes out to you Annie. I really hope you can get the support you need in order to help your daughter.
When my brother was very ill and needed building up, we got prescriptions for the high calorie drinks (this was about 5 years ago). I'm not sure if doctors still do that now. I also looked up recipes on cancer support websites and also did some general Internet research.
I adapted some recipes to include high calorie ingredients too, such as butter and cream.
Wishing you and your daughter all the best. ?