Quality of Life

The ability to eat and the enjoyment of eating are important aspects of good quality of life. In other words, “being able to eat what I want, when I want” makes us feel good. Factors interfering with eating or the enjoyment of eating typically include physical complaints, such as pain or severe or uncontrolled diarrhea; physician orders not to eat (having to stay NPO); restricted diets; a perception of wasting money when food is not digested or absorbed; and general ill feelings associated with poor health. If you’ve made dietary changes and continue to experience these symptoms or complaints, ask your clinician to help you resolve them. If dietary changes do not improve GI symptoms, balance the benefits and risks of continuing the food restriction.

Relearn to eat for pleasure or comfort when HPN or tube feeding is providing the majority of your nutritional needs. A small bite, taste, or the chew-and-subtly-spit technique may be important for your quality of life. Being able to join a spouse, family, or friends “normally” during a meal is strongly tied to improved quality of life. Try to achieve pleasure from tasting small amounts of food, enjoy dining in restaurants, or obtain satisfaction from participating in social occasions. Community and a sense of belonging and taking part in social gatherings are important, whether you are 
eating food or not.