Another Call from Tex

[Polly]

Hi All,

Just heard from Tex. He says he is finally feeling like he is out of the woods. How about that!? He sounds great, but says he was really tired this morning (that's probably when Barb spoke with him). They had him up in a chair for three hours this morning for the first time.

Luckily they did not reinsert the NG tube last night, so it is easier for him to eat and talk. He is, however, having some discomfort from eating, which is probably due to the fact that his GI tract is not fully functional yet. At least that would be my guess. I think the dietitians are clueless - they are finding it diffuicult to find appropriate foods for him. They mentioned jello today but nixed the idea because it had aspartame. Shirley, you are correct - I wish WE could feed him! No fever today.

He asked me to send his love to everyone and say how much he misses us. He MUST be feeling better because he says he is starting to think about getting on a computer again. LOL! That's good to hear, isn't it?

Love,

Polly

[Gabes-Apg]

Wonderful news that he is feeling better, no fever, sitting up and wanting to get near a computer
it will take a while for his digestion system to heal from the stress of the past week.

Still frustrating that the hospital is struggling to feed him...... and we cant solve that issue.
even if i fed-ex'd something from Australia it would take 24 hours!!!!

hope the snow has abated and you can all get out and about.

[Polly]

Hi Gabes,

I'm curious .....what would you send from Australia for Tex to eat? LOL! Do you have some good GF companies? Or is there some special national treat?

Snow stopped yesterday afternoon but still have not gotten out in 48 hrs. The plow just arrived to do our driveway, so tomorrow we're FREE!
Need to get more groceries - they're predicting another 5-10' of snow on Tues. Hubby had to shovel a path for the dog to use - the snow is over his head and he's a golden retriever!

Love,

Polly

[Gabes-Apg]

Ha Ha Ha foods that are classed as 'australian national' are no where near any of the allowable list of a MC sufferer!!!
Aussies are big into pastry (meat pies, sausage rolls) and hamburgers (not mcdonalds or burger king type), they are home made using a big steak and salad etc

We dont have any super special GF food companies - You guys have far far better food alternatives to us when it comes to speciality dietary needs. I am basically 'home making' all of my foods ie making corn bread as a bread replacement.

if it was feasable for me to fed ex food over for Tex - i would make soup and casserole type food that is within the dietary guideline of what he can tolerate, the aim being giving him foods that are easy to digest and get his digestion happy again so that he improves faster.

I know when i was sick i dreamed of someone making a soup or a casserole that i was within the food guidelines.
it took alot of my energy just to look after myself food wise.

Given how much Tex has given to everyone on this site i figure it is the least i could do.......

[hazel]

I wonder if Vegemite is gluten-free. You'd need GF bread or crackers, of course. I love it (but am not GF.)

Tex, it is so good to hear you're doing better. Keep it up! Thanks again, Polly, for the update.

[Carol Arnett]

Thanks Polly for the new update. I said I bet it wouldn`t be long before he would be wanting a computer. Tex is a fighter and I feel sure his recovery will be faster than most.

I got bad news tonight. Our nephew died this evening. He was 51 and was diagnosed with ALS 10 years ago. He too, was a fighter and far outlived the predictions of 2 to 3 years. He was a wonderful man and we will all miss him so much.

Still praying for Tex and sending good vibes. I, toowish there was some way to feed him. Love, Carol

[Gloria]

I'm glad Tex is feeling out of the woods. He's keenly in tune with his physical condition and I'm sure that he is feeling better. It's a shame that he isn't getting easily digestible GF foods. If a dietician in a hospital can't provide them, who can?

Carol,
I'm so sorry about your nephew. He was much too young to leave this life.

Gloria

[Stanz]

I posted before I saw this, so glad they didn't make him swallow the NG tube again.

[Carol Arnett]

Thank you Gloria and thank you Polly for directing me to Ants` poem. So appropriate for Tex and also my nephew, Wayne.

Love, Carol

[Gabes-Apg]

Sniff Sniff..... Vegemite is a yeast extract.... and has wheat in it

so it is now on my banned list........ and it only ever tasted good on 'real bread' it did not taste the same on GF types bread

[Bifcus16]

Hey Polly, saw your question to Gabes.

Sending him a BBQ sausage on bread clearly wouldn't work. Or a burger or pie, or vegemite.

But there are gluten free equivalents of the classic Aussie biscuit (cookie) - the TimTam. For those who haven't tried them, a TimTam is two chocolate biscuits, sandwiched with chocolate cream and coated in chocolate. They come in regular, dark chocolate, doublechoc, etc and variants on the cream, such as hazelnut, toffee, berry etc. At work morning tea the TimTams always go quickly... The gluten free versions are only milk (soy) chocolate, classic style. They are still a problem. Bought a pack today and already ate 3, umm make that 4.

The best TimTam advert had a girl with the genie from the lamp, wishing for a packet of TimTams that never runs out.....

Seriously. We should find a way to Fedex Tex some of the GF version.

When it comes to GF brands the major supermarkets have their own GF brands now, such as Coles' "Freedom Foods" and Woolworth's "FreeFrom" which do an assortment of "x free" cereals, snack products, cake and bread mixes (and chocolate biscuits) etc. The other mob I love is one called Orgran who make the best buckwheat pasta and lots of other handy products. Their magazine is really useful and you can get some of their products in most countries: http://www.orgran.com/

Oh, and of course, overjoyed that tex is on the mend. Just hope he takes his time recovering.


Lyn

[TXBrenda]

Hello all,

Glad to here the latest news regarding Tex. I agree - he is a strong person and should heal fast.

Carol - sorry to hear about your nephew. A cousin of mine passed from ALS about 18 months ago. She suffered for about 8 years. She was 3 months older than me. I find comfort in the fact she is not suffering any more. Like your nephew, she will be missed.

Everyone take care. We are getting more snow tonight. Probably from the same system that will hit Polly's area on Tuesday! We need the moisture badly.

[harma]

hello Pollie, thanks again for keeping us updated on Tex recovery, I am very glad to hear he is doing so soon so well. It is funny to read on this board how lots of things when it comes to doctors and health care so alike. Here too, it seems when you have to go to hospital and you are on a gluten free diet, you make sure you bring enough gluten free food with you (like crackers, cereals, bread etc), because never you have to be so careful and check things twice as there.

[starfire]

Polly, your post was like music to my ears. Sounds like he is really coming along pretty well.

Carol, I'm very sorry to hear about your nephew.

Love, Shirley

[Dee]

So nice to hear more good news!
Not happy the dietary dept. is having a hard time finding things for him to eat.
He can NOT be the only patient that they have had that has had food intolerances or allergies!!!
These hospitals better get a grip, as there are more & more people being diagnosed.
You gals know me well enough when it comes to wishing I could feed him.
I know how to ship most foods and if I get the okay and what he can have when he gets home, he is going to get food care packages!!!!

Love
Dee