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[quote=Anonymous]My "experience": my mom has Parkinson's now and has lost a good bit of weight since her diagnosis b/c it takes her Soooooooo Looooooooooooong to get each bite to her mouth. Definitely things that have to be cut with knife and fork have to be cut up for her. When I am there, I also cut things into bite sizes, that I typically would not (salad) for everyone.  I'm not sure how much she lost, probably 20 lbs. Early in her diagnosis she was doing a LOT of working out - exercises prescribed by PT and walking. So the slow eating + exercise = she lost a lot. She has declined a lot and sometimes has to be fed by one of us. So I can see how a patient could lose a lot of weight. 
My child had to have a g-tube as a toddler - child did get an infection at the site (hospitalized for that!) and it came out probably 3-4 times accidentally. Child also had a LOT Of ongoing skin irritation and issues that were hard to deal with. Yes, I was SHOCKED that they showed me a 5 min VIDEO and sent me home to care for my child! We did have a visit from a home health care nurse the next morning who did show me how to use the equipment, but it was unnerving to start with (and does involve a good bit of fiddly parts, to the point of PP whose caregiving mother has arthritis).

OP, it sounds like the Boost shakes and efforts to just get more calories into your dad are promising!!!!!!! If he gets tired of the sweet shakes, I am sure you can find some good savory or less sweet options that you can blend up as smoothies at home. I think sometimes gastro just defaults to pediasure, boost, etc., but you can make or order things that are actually healthier. I had to have jaw surgery and remember I got tired of so many sweet smoothies after a while. There are also lots of other good high calorie foods that are soft (easy to eat) - mashed potatoes, mac and cheese, scrambled eggs, etc. My mom with Parkinson's does also struggle with constipation so she does do daily Metemucil and Miralax, quantities per dr suggestions. PT really is life enhancing. I'm sorry he won't do it! The folks mom has had have been very experienced and sensitive to her condition. There are some gyms especially for Parkinson's folks, like Rock n Box![/quote]

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