Greetings to all,

I am 58, married to a 72 year old who had recent cancer surgery, removing 3/4 of his jaw. He has a (possibly) permanent feeding tube inserted directly into his stomach. The only liquid diet he feels comfortable with is Ensure Plus. He didn't like Jevity or Nutri-something 1.5. The hospital dieticians said Ensure Plus was OK. He's to have 6 cans a day. There is no fiber in Ensure Plus, so I've been adding about 2 tablespoons of Benefiber each day (mixed in with the flushing syringes of water before and after feedings).

My question is, is there something else I can add that will help alleviate the runs? He doesn't have cramps or anything, just very loose, runny stool. Any suggestions?

Thanks in advance,
Barb

Hi Barb,

I also had loose stools when inputting 8 cans of jevity per day for 7 months. I added one lactaide
pill crushed and mixed in the jevity. It cured the problem for me. He may have a lactaide intolarence. I also input two or three syringes of Gatorade per feeding. One for added liquids and two for added stamina.

Good Luck, Danny Boy

Barb

I'm confused. Why are you giving him Benefiber? My husband was taking Ensure plus then switched to Mighty Shake Plus (more calories and tastes better). He was drinking them (not in a PEG) and still does. He is able to eat now but he still needs the extra calories so he drinks two Mighty Shakes Plus for breakfast (480 calories each). After chemo and radiation the intestines were not working properly so he had the opposite effect - not able to go. He used Benefiber to make him go. The Benefiber is probably causing the runs.

Good luck,
Teresa

Hi,

Dan, I'm wondering about the lactaid. Isn't that for milk intolerance? He never had that. He used to drink milk like crazy.

Teresa, the Benefiber is because the Ensure Plus has NO fiber at all. The dieticians at Mayo Clinic recommended it. I thought the Ensure Plus caused the runs, and the Benefiber would alleviate it.

Sheesh, what a mess! I hope to get him more comfortable.

God's blessings,
Barb

Hi,
I had horredous constipation when on a diet of nothing but Ensure Plus. Maybe you need to knock back on the fiber and whatever else might be causing the runs. Try it for a couple of days and see what happens. Also is he taking a directic? This runs through my system at high speed.

Take care,
Eileen

Would be interested to hear more about control of consitpation w/o having to turn to "the runs" after taking Benefiber or other such fiber. Husband does 6 cans of BOOST PLUS in PEG every day and eats little by mouth. Narcotic pain meds cause big problems w/ constipation so we need your advice too.