After the first SCT (Stem Cell Transplant) cycle, it was nice for a short rest at home.... before the 2nd cycle resumes. The common protocols were exercised during every discharge; like a doctors' report, pharmacist's personal visit to dispense the medication, fill in hospital feedback forms, memos and appointments for medical check-ups. But this time, a dietitian visited before discharge.
Dietitian looked slim....I'm sure she has to be..... came in with a neutropenic diet plan!! What is that?!!
Well, usually when your counts (Red Blood/Haemoglobin, White Blood and Platelets) are below normal range, you are neutropenic. So when your counts are low, you are bound for infections and bacteria like air-borne, water-borne and even food-borne. So we talking about food-borne infections here.
You know how difficult it is for a former 110kg giant whom "live to eat" lifestyle and formerly in food and beverage industry to go on a DIET!!!!! Now a neutropenic diet! After the SCT, when your counts are relatively going up, it's actually not so bad...... it's all in the food preparation. You just need to make sure the food are well cooked! Also take loads of Magnesium, Calcium, high protein meals, etc..
Here's the bad...., during the hospital stay, when the counts were really low, all my cooked meals were high-steamed for another about 15mins before it is served. Let me tell you, the food really sucks!!!! Vegetables were yellow, fish meat taste like fish paste, most of the time chicken and fish tastes the same as the texture feels alike, spaghetti texture were as thick as Udon, hard boiled eggs after peeling off the shell, the egg is still shell-like color and worse of all the smell of the meal is so overwhelming that you will feel nausea even when the food just steps into your room. Imagine this, you requested for roast chicken, but what you get is steamed roast chicken! What's the point of roasting then! So what even you have good and fanstastic appetite!!!! Thank god, my mother in law would bring in home cooked, healthy and nourishing soups almost everyday! Been losing weight as we speak..... so probably the diet works hahaha!!!! Just hit below the 80kg mark... ideally 75kg according to the dietitian. So you guys and gals want to go on a high steam diet???!!! Anyway, don't complain, it's good for you!
P/S: My thought for the day: To be peaceful, you must be cheerful.........
A sneak preview of our Christmas Tree!
