Nutrition

It is likely that you were fed through a tube in your nose to your stomach or via a vein while you were critically unwell. This is because you require nutrition to help you get better. You may have been too unwell to eat or drink for yourself or you may have been sedated. You will start to take food and drink normally by mouth as soon as you are well enough to.

After being unwell and having this feeding tube it is common for you to lose your appetite or for your taste buds to have changed. Many people find food tastes sweeter or saltier than normal. It should return to normal within a few weeks, during this time focus on eating foods that you enjoy. If you have a smaller appetite, eating little but more often may be a useful way to ensure you meet your daily dietary needs. Try having smaller meals with nourishing snacks in between. As your appetite returns, try to slowly build up your meal size and reduce your snacks throughout the day. Eating will be more enjoyable if you take your time, avoid heavy food, and relax after a meal to help with digestion.

If your smaller appetite has been highlighted on the ward and you or the medical team are concerned you are not meeting your full nutritional needs, you will be referred to a Dietician.

Taking strong antibiotics and steroids can sometimes lead to infections, such as oral thrush. Oral thrush can give you a thick white substance on the roof of your mouth and tongue, making it painful to swallow. If you think you might have thrush, your GP will be able to treat it easily.

If you are having problems with eating, drinking, oral thrush, returning to your normal weight, severe indigestion or persistent abnormal bowel movements please discuss this with your GP for further advice or onwards referrals.