Fear of eating
 

I was that person who ate to live. I would forget to eat, then mix the weirdest combinations because I was that starved. Yes, I battled with anorexia. Then after the surgeries and Crps 2 I became less active and couldn't chew properly. So I gained weight and wasn't able to keep fit.
Now with dissolving molars, this last one was so painful, I just stopped eating. Back on Ensure.....my sister bought me a vitamix. And now everything is purée. Have you ever eaten a hamburger with a soup spoon...:( and my jaw still hurts! So I make stuf, purée take a few....bites? Slurps is a better word. Then away down the drain it goes.
Trying to keep positive.....losing weight is a plus.....
Thanks for leting me vent.:grouphug:

Have you tried some of the baby foods? I have during some difficult times, they are pretty good.

:hug:

Enna,

So sorry to hear about the eating diffculty. Does that tooth need to come out to give you relief?

I just went through wisdom tooth removal with my son and had my own taken out just about 3 years ago. I found getting creative to power pack nutrition helpful. In addition to smoothies you might try Power Pancakes. You can make them with egg white, quick oatmeal and either cottage cheese or yogurt for either sweet or savory. Sometimes I grate in zucchini. Toppings like pureed black beans go nicely on the cottage cheese variety with avocado and sour cream. I know it doesnt sound great but they are actually pretty tasty and good for you. Cheesy risotto cakes are yummy and easy to eat too...

Hamburgers run through the blender do not sound appetizing.
:hug:

Greek yogurt, homemade custard, soups, hummus, eggs/omelettes, baked potatoes, squash, soft fruit, soft cheese like brie, etc. I often have sensitivity to hot and cold when this area is flared--not sure if this is an issue for you? You have to try and carefully chew slightly more sturdy foods like pot roast or fall off the bone chicken whenever is the best time of day for you. There are times when I can only eat "real" food early in the morning. Because, if you stop using those muscles completely, it exacerbates the problem even more. Remember Goldilocks and the 3 bears? Eat small amounts slowly and carefully at the best time of the day. BTW, you can use a website like Allrecipe's to put in ingredient's you want in a recipe and exclude ingredients you don't. So, if you put in a search word like soup with Greek yogurt and asparagus, you'll get a nice, healthy soup you should be able to manage with.

Have you tried putting Epsom Salt lotion on your jaw? It does seem to help me. I've also been known to use a Lidocaine patch covering my jaw/neck area.

I know this is awful, but I have found when I'm flared the worst, it's best not to close my mouth completely, but to breath through my nose.

I completely understand how miserable this is.

SGB's still help me, when I can get them. I don't remember if you do or not, but I thought I'd throw the idea out there!

Such nice, yummy suggestions Lit Love. We are coming to your place for snacks. :)

Good thing I actually left the house and got fresh produce from the communtiy garden yesterday then! Oh, the peaches... drool.

Hi Enna,

Sounds very painful! :hug:

Lots of great suggestions above.

Vitamix? Lots can be made with a Vitamix! :)

I hope you are feeling better soon.

:hug:
DejaVu

Thanks all for the suggestions. That goodness my sister was so generous with the vitamix. I just can't believe how the mind after all this time goes back to just stop eating.
Little lov SGB? Sorry drawing a blank. :grouphug:

Oh, sorry! Stellate Ganglion Block.

Enna~Just saw your post and the suggestions. Glad you have the vitamix and hope your getting some of it down. Hope you will also allow yourself to try some of the yummy suggestions too. If you were in treatment for anorexia, maybe try to go back and think of some of the things that helped. The mind plays many tricks on us and tells us many lies. Old ways of thinking often come back when triggered and it sounds like due to your teeth, food has reemerged as a major issue. In your visitor message you said to never stop fighting. I hope that you will not.

Thank you so much for your response. I am doing my utmost to keep up the fright. A few months back I was in a very dark place. But I ve bounced back!
Yes, not eating much has triggered some very bad habits. But to that I am fighting too. Instead of waiting until I am starving, I set times I need to 'eat' by. And since I had to give up a lot of foods cold Turkey.... I've been looking into little treats like milk shakes.
So far things are peeking up good. ;)

I really have to encourage you to not only be eating food put through a blender. Even soft foods like bananas require some chewing, which you need. Imagine if you just stopped walking, your legs would atrophy.

I agree but this is w great difficulty. My jaw is stressed w soft foods. I only have one molar left on the bottom, two on the top and nothing on the other side. Using one just the one side contributed to teeth dying and fracturing.

When i dont feel well i dont eat either. It has nothing to do body image or dieting. I tend to feel listless and inclined to do a whole lot of nothing. Since you're dealing w dental issues, dont let that slide you back into not eating. Find stuff you like that can go into a smoothie. Put one of those ensures in the blender add some fruit, some boxed healthy cereals for fiber, some almond milk, ice, and whatever else u like. You can really throw alot of calories into a smoothie if u want to. There is also tuna fish, fried or broiled fish, sweet potatoes, creamed soups, egg salad, bread pudding, chili. You get the idea. I would get to a dentist though because this soft foods diet can get boring :winky:

[QUOTE=happygirlpa
Thank you....I have dental issues due to my jaw injury. I fear soft food/purée will be my diet from here on out.
I agree so much that it isn't body image at all. I never ate a lot any way however when I had no choice and became less active, that amount apparently was to much.
I am craving comfort food....but dropped everything cold turkey. Right now I have sm cup coffee no sugar but creamer. A few hours later an ensure. A couple hours after that an egg. Then for dinner a fruit smoothie (strawberry, orange, banana). In between water and one glass of pink lemonade. So far this has caused less pain to my teeth and less stress to my jaw.
Thanks for advice and letting me vent.:grouphug:

Enna,

Since I read that RSD damages tendons, cartilage, etc I started adding gelatin to my drinks and smoothies, because it supplies the building blocks for repair. I use Knox in my yogurt, it gives a cheese cake texture. I use a cold dissolvable gelatin in smoothies, etc.

I tried making a variation of a Korean dish, called egg fried rice, that is easy and delicious. You put leftover rice in a skillet with a bit of oil, add scallions, then push the rice and scallions over to the side so you have room so you can fry an egg until the white is set. Then you mix the egg into the scallion rice. When I serve it I sprinkle on a little bit of sesame oil, sesame seeds and a bit of soy sauce.

Thank you. I will try this, another variety for my egg.:hug:

BB how do you know or how much do you put in your smoothies etc. I have a box but never used it.....:hug:

I use a tablespoon of dissolvable gelatin in smoothies, not the Knox. This gelatin is pricey, but is worth it.

The knox gelatin works great to make coffee and fruit juice based gelatins. I haven't found a way to use it in smoothies, I only use it in yogurt, a tablespoon in a serving.

Update
 

It is very hard not snacking....but I see the benefits. My blood pressure has gone down. 104/64. So basically my upper number now falls between 99 and 110. And my lower number is mostly in the 60.
Not wanting to put pressure on that molar, I continue to have a very small chewing soft meal w my front teeth. This fatigues my jaw very much. But like lit love mentioned I cant stop chewing altogether.
The rest of the day is just one ensure and one large smoothie.
No additional sugars besides creamer (ie no baked dounuts , apple muffins etc) I miss bread. A lot.
Thanks again for all the love and advice.:grouphug:

Thanks for the update Enna. I've been wondering how that was going for you. Sounds like very slowly. I'm glad you a trying to chew at least one meal a day. I agree that lit love had a good point. Please try to stay as creative as you can with the one meal so that you can get some nutrient variety. Hang in! ~mac

Just chit chat about my progress. I told a friend about the benefits of white tea. Anyway, she drinks hers straight. Since with black tea I always had it with milk....I decided to try white tea. Well, I couldn't find it plain so I got it with plum.
Not bad with out even honey. I am going to use it in my pm smoothie. I sub apple for orange juice, but still a lot of sugar. Especially since I add yogurt. And like I mentioned my only sugar is in am coffee creamer and ensure.
Any who the cravings are going down. I drink my smoothie about 430 pm so by 6 I start dreaming about pizzas......
Thanks for letting me chat....it helps.:grouphug:

The fruity white and green teas really are yum. Glad you found something you like.

I will dream of pizzas with you. Since all this I have become really sensitive to anything with tomatoes (I vasodilate and my foot turns red). Oh the sacrifices we have to make!

Aww thanks....for dream pizza......thin crust......:p
I wanted to say last summer I was a green tea drinker.....but I notice more petechiae dots on my skin....little research and green tea could be, emphasis on could be, the cause. Now white tea is of the same family so I might be in the same boat.

Enna,

Since this started I noticed I have petechia all over. I do not drink much green tea.

Yeah, mine seemed to have gotten worse.....green tea or spreading CRPS? Dunno. But now with lack of food choices I thought I would try white tea because not as bitter as black tea.

Enna, Can a dentist help you get the physical part of your jaw straightened out for you Or an Orthodontist? The reason I ask is, forever is a long time to have to eat foods that can't be chewed. Or am I missing something here? I know of some of my friends have had to get their jaws broken and reset so the teeth in their mouths lined up properly. I know it is not your goal to have your teeth lined up like theirs were, but, My point was that such things as breaking the jaw and reseting it to function properly can and does happen for people, from what I've heard from friends.

Sadly Spike no......see, I already had my jaw reconstructed. They can't add teeth to that part of my mandible. Now, CRPS is dissolving my molars. There is nothing on the opposite side to latch a partial to. If I have a post put in....because of using one side to chew, the risk is very high to having them fake teeth break.
So goodbye pizza.....seriously, at least I didn't deprive myself in t he past....and hello smoothies......soft food...crying over ribs....hey wait I haven't had those since the first surgery. Thus, I am good and yes this is for the rest of my life.....wonders how good that burger must have been.:D

This food journey is rough.....due to a discount on special k shakes I purchased hastely 4 boxes......something is missing in the taste.....so I thought what else besides fruit can I add...cinnamon, almond extract.....hopefully this will boost up the flavour.
My noon meal continues to be a challenge but I think if I continue to put more thought into it, this too shall be a helathy routine.
I haven't check my weight so I can't say how much I lost since it really wasn't about the weight in the beginning.
Trying to stay healthy .....trying to keep up the fight......

Update
 

I did something strange this weekend. I got very overwhelmed and started walking in circles. And didn't realize I was. I just wanted some cheese, good cheese, and a couple of people were playing catch up.....so I waited but I guess I started to circle around and I ended up with no cheese. My poor hubby came a running and was like are you okay? I am like sure, fine why? And he looks into the cart and no cheese. I wonder if this is the ldn.?.
Also I finally weighed myself.... I lost 10-12 pounds already. I was disappointed cuz I thought I had to have lost more. Then to the rescue come my husband who was like that is a heck of a lot of weight to lose in such a short time frame.
So as my journey continues, I have a goal of 8 more pounds and that should be enough.(dunno if my lack of eating will stop at 8 but I don't want to lose anymore than 8)
Even though I don't have any snacks, salty or sweet, I think I am consuming too much sugar still. My fruits for the smoothies..creamer and ensure.....any help to reduce these sugars appreciated.:grouphug:

Enna,

I am gaining weight from Neurotin. I notice I crave brownies and other sweets, along with chips and onion dips, since I started taking it. However, LDN hasn't helped me with the battle of the bulge.

I think you have to evaluate all your medications, which is why I am a bit grateful I am only on two, because by taking so few it is easier to see and attribute pattern changes.

Bio....I am only on ldn.....well pain med......ldn is more of a tic problem from me. It helps with hot crps only.

Enna,
My CRPS is cold and LDN helped me.

Maybe I would be fatter if I wasn't taking LDN.

I am going to look up LDN and weight loss.

Enna,

How have things been going with your teeth issues? Is it painful for you to eat still?

Yes. Thanks for asking. I haven't had that tooth pulled yet. I barely eat. Little Lov reminded me I still need to exercise my jaw.....so I have tried one soft food around noon. Today was red bell pepper. 4 strips and my jaw is still killing me.
I did buy over the weekend a gum thingy....I didn't realize it was a numbing agent. Pain came back with a vengeance.
Hope you get your pain down soon.

Was that raw red pepper? That might still be too much. Try foods that are soft but still require chewing. Cooked bell pepper might be ok. Something like a baked sweet potato or baked squash maybe? Or even homemade veggie soup.

Yes, it was raw and yes it was rough. I plan on cooking it with an egg. I have tried potatoes cooked....my main concern love is my sugar intake...between the am shakes, the creamer and fruit smoothies, I want to cut at lease the creamer out....but I can't have my am coffee black. I stopped adding sugar with the cream..... I read maybe coconut milk....dunno...

That was why I suggested the sweet potato. It's surprising how low in carbs they are compared to white potatoes. An omelet or quiche would work too. I worry you're not getting enough non processed high quality protein and veggies, both are important. I love Cento brand tuna. You can order it off Amazon and even get it in single serving sizes. It's packed in quality olive oil and is 1000% better than normal grocery store tuna. Eat with half an avocado or even make a sandwich.

I have been eating chick peas....mashed....going to try humas....in my smoothies I have coconut oil, kale or spinach.
I did have tuna over the weekend....I always had the one in oil but will look into your brand.
But the amount I have is no more than a small palm of my hand amount. So I too worry I am not geting the healthy amounts....thus wanting to even lessen my sugar intake to balance...:hug:

hi enna. i have bad teeth too due to rsd and the meds i'm on for it. i try to eat all the soft foods i can and take vitiamins and drink alot of milk. i can only chew on my left side now because i lost too many teeth from rsd infections on my right side. it's not easy but there are soft foods out there that have the proteins you need to stay healthy like creamy peanut butter. i know it's not easy to find them but don't give up hope that you will. sending soft hugs your way.