Could This Be Scurvy?

[cecil39]

I had a very bad diet for a few months due to swallowing problems, (dysphagia) and a gullet that don't move the food down properly, I developed itchy skin, especially armpits, and red sore gums, this is improving now I am on a balanced pureed diet, what sqad can tell me is did I have the start of scurvy?

[Sqad]

Difficult to say cecil......I doubt that your dysphagia was severe enough or complete enough to deplete your body of Vitamin C.
It takes at least 3months for the symptoms of scurvy to develop.

However, i cannot think of a better cause for your itching skin and bleeding gums......other than Vitamin C deficiency.........unless of course you were anaemic.

[cecil39]

I was anaemic as well sqad and my appetite had almost gone, I was dehydrated and very thin when I was taken to hospital, no one said the word 'scurvy' but vitamin deficiency was mentioned, I just remember being told at school that sailors used to drink lime juice to prevent scurvy, and wondered if that was my problem.

[Sqad]

cecil...thanks...then you are probably correct you did indeed have the start of scurvy.

Was you original problem (dysphagia)..Plummer-Vinson Syndrome?

[cecil39]

I had radiotherapy on a growth 30yrs ago, it had the long term effect of scaring my swallowing gear, it just got so bad over about six months that I gradually was able to eat less and less and a lot of what I could eat was getting into my lungs, which caused pneumonia.

[MissCommando]

Hi, hope you don't mind me commenting on here. No idea if you had/have scurvy but hope you're taking vitamins and feeling better.

I was just after advice really. My husband is on a pureed diet and it's always hard to think of things he can have so was wondering what types of things you eat? He normally doesn't have breakfast, can manage a couple of soggy rich teas and maybe a bit of soup, very soft scrambled egg or mash and ice creams, it's the bland same old, same old. He does have lots of Fortisips in the fridge but doesn't drink them! I think it'll be a matter of time until he becomes deficient of vitamins and it worries me. He has seen a dietitian a few months ago (he lost over 3 stone when his swallowing became affected) and she just said add cream to everything, use marval, drink fortisips and make yourself milkshakes with melted mars bars in.

So my question to you really is how do you have a 'balanced' pureed diet?

Many thanks if you read this.

[pixie373]

Misscommando, do you have a blender? He could have the same meals as you, just blended to the right consistency.

[MissCommando]

Pixie, we do but things go cold in there - then you have to reheat it in the microwave and then it gets too thick :(

[pixie373]

Ah, i see. And have to add boiled water to it? Sorry, it's what we do. Also, porridge, fruit juice, milkshakes, mince, weetabix, mashed fruit, yoghurts...