What soothes a sore, swollen throat from Chemotherapy?

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One of the guys hubby eats with is in the nursing home for the duration of his chemotherapy for cancer. He can only eat soups, puddings and such because his throat is too sore to swallow bites of food. I know nothing else about his health status but that, and I've been trying to come up with something -- anything -- to help him swallow painlessly. He was also a chef, so he'd have high standards on how good it tastes too. (Something that makes me nervous since I'm not really even up to good in the kitchen -- other than desserts. Just adequate. lol)

I've been thinking aloe juice, but I doubt he wouldn't notice the odd taste in whatever else this drink would be. I do have your average herbs growing in the garden, if you happen to know an average herb that might help. (Average -- sage, chives, very little oregano, basil, lavender.) And he's a bit on the grumpy side, so I don't want to annoy him with too much new-fangled. Ha! Considering how old-fangled I am, that's saying something.

Anyone have any practical ideas? It's not like I can usurp military regulations if I bring in something to drink, so it can't be anything that his doctors or the staff would object to. I feel bad for a chef who can't even eat.
 
I had a sore throat when I went through radiation treatment - thankfully, I did not have to do chemo. My heart goes out to him.

Swallowing was painful. Thicker things were less so than water, but I knew I had to keep hydrated. I was constantly crushing ice. I made a lot of smoothies with those awful "instant breakfast" powders from Carnation and for several weeks I lived off of those and crushed ice. If I had to do it again, I would probably opt for healthier smoothies with a lot of green produce.

I'm aware that they make thickeners for water for those who have trouble swallowing, but that was just too weird.

A thick stew may be easier for him to eat than a thin soup.

But then again, like me when I went through it, he may not even be that hungry at all.
 
CatHerder said:
I had a sore throat when I went through radiation treatment - thankfully, I did not have to do chemo. My heart goes out to him.

Swallowing was painful. Thicker things were less so than water, but I knew I had to keep hydrated. I was constantly crushing ice. I made a lot of smoothies with those awful "instant breakfast" powders from Carnation and for several weeks I lived off of those and crushed ice. If I had to do it again, I would probably opt for healthier smoothies with a lot of green produce.

I'm aware that they make thickeners for water for those who have trouble swallowing, but that was just too weird.

A thick stew may be easier for him to eat than a thin soup.

But then again, like me when I went through it, he may not even be that hungry at all.
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The soups are cream of's. He seems fine with real liquids. (My hubby is stuck with "nectar-thickened" liquids, that don't even have nectar in them. If you think the water was weird, you should have tried coffee. I keep looking for socks in it. lol) For some reason, he doesn't do Ensure. I'm guessing hospital chicken soup is still better than Ensure, but I don't ask questions. I figure it they want to talk about it, they can start the conversation.

Next time I see him (sometimes he doesn't come for lunch, and other times hubby doesn't, so never a guarantee I'll see him, I'll see if he's up for some ice cream an/or honey.

Thanks for the idea. I was thinking it was going to be complicated, like three leaves of Sage, aloe, brussel sprouts and chili pappers. (There's a reason I'm just adequate cooking. I can't imagine real food combinations like I can imagine combinations of sweet.
 
Lynn,

I would go with healing, herbal-teas, with some added aloe like you thought of,...the
Organic Aloe Gel would be a good, soothing, pain-reliever to add to the tea or the organic juices,
but it can have a natural laxative effect so adding moderately is a must -
Aloe is such a powerful healer in so many ways, especially home-grown - many times I have peeled
and eaten the inside of the leaves for internal distress and always have had good results
on my skin as well, whether for sunburn, bites, or sores...

we hope and pray that the man realizes how blessed he is by your caring and concern for him?
 
I wonder would he care for gelatine, gel and yoghurt drinks?! Well there are some healthy, even those juices with small bits of nata de coco here.
 
oldethennew said:
Lynn,

I would go with healing, herbal-teas, with some added aloe like you thought of,...the
Organic Aloe Gel would be a good, soothing, pain-reliever to add to the tea or the organic juices,
but it can have a natural laxative effect so adding moderately is a must -
Aloe is such a powerful healer in so many ways, especially home-grown - many times I have peeled
and eaten the inside of the leaves for internal distress and always have had good results
on my skin as well, whether for sunburn, bites, or sores...

we hope and pray that the man realizes how blessed he is by your caring and concern for him?
Click to expand...
We have aloes specifically to treat burns. Never tried it for taste. (Always worried we seriously burn ourselves and I used up all the leaves for drinking. lol) Does it taste? And, assuming it does, like what?

I know chemo causes digestive distress too, so I am worried about giving him something that would weaken him more.

(And sorry for delay. Stuff keeps happening that revolves around lunchtime, so we haven't even been in the caf when other vets were in the last three days. Very unpredictable scheduling there, and I really like predictable.)
 
we've missed you, Lynn,

no, there's really no taste to the meat inside of aloe plants, or the store bought gel in jars...
it's such a great reliever/healer of all kinds of ailments...

also, the 'KRILL' that I told you about is not a fish, nor fishy tasting like the common fish oils,,
hubby and I are amazed at the benefits we have experienced since we started taking it...

blessings and hugs for you and John...
:):)
 
Depleted said:
We have aloes specifically to treat burns. Never tried it for taste. (Always worried we seriously burn ourselves and I used up all the leaves for drinking. lol) Does it taste? And, assuming it does, like what?

I know chemo causes digestive distress too, so I am worried about giving him something that would weaken him more.

(And sorry for delay. Stuff keeps happening that revolves around lunchtime, so we haven't even been in the caf when other vets were in the last three days. Very unpredictable scheduling there, and I really like predictable.)
Click to expand...


I drink aloe vera water, with the pulp, rather often. I love it. :)
 
Hmmm....

Potato soup? (without any large lumps of ... stuff)

For taste: Honey with a bit of cinnamon in it (yum).
(Not with the potato soup :p I don't think that would taste yum :p )
 
Just thought you all might like the end of this story. I only saw him twice while passing in the hallways since, but I won't be seeing him anymore.

He went home today!

Yay! Another dragon slayed!
 
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