I am not familiar with Carnation VHC. Is that a liquid supplement ot a powder mix you buy at the grocery. I have some cans of stuff called Nutrnn 1.5 with fiber made by Nestle

The Carnation VHC is a high calorie drink like the Nutren, boost,etc. It has 560 calories instead of the 373 that your Nutren has therefore you would need to drink less to get the calorie intake that you need.

Jim,

I too have been "stuck" on the tube for 3years 6 months. I had recurrent tongue cancer and a near total glossectomy. My cancer surgeon was reluctant to get me on speech and swallow therapy until my neck dissection area "healed" to his satisfaction as I developed cellutis infection after radiation in May 2004. So I got a late start and finally passed a swallow test in December 2005 after two esophagus stretches. I kept using a syringe but continue to take about 10 ounces daily by mouth to keep swallowing muscles active. I'm fortunate in being retired but I have taken a bus trip and took tube food with me. Recently I read posts by several younger people who had total glossectomies are are eating by mouth. So I I decided to bite the bullet and start intaking fluids directly from a cup. I found I could do it. Thanks to these courageous and inspiring stories I have finally decided to make a concerted effort to get off the tube some time - I hope sooner than later.

If you are on the tube for an extended period, let me relate some experiences that were not pleasant. I did not know or did not ask how often to replace the tube. After nearly 3 years on mine, I developed several infections where the rube goes into the belly. Antibiotics cleared it up but I was advised by a GI doc to get it replaced. They tried to remove it by pulling on it (OUCH) but it wouldn't come out. So I had to have an endoscopy under sedation for the replacement Feb 2007. I was told at the hospital to have it replaced every 6-8 months. I plan to do this in September.

My point is don't wait too long beyound 6-8 months to have the tube replaced. I learned the hard way. Good luck!!

Jim H.
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SCC Rt lateral tongue Dx 9/03, Surg 11/03 (T2/N0M0);recur SCC BOT and anterior tongue Dx 1/04; surg 2/04 (T4/N0M0) subtotal glossectomy, forearm free flap, floor of mouth reconstruction,pharyngoplasty;trach until 3/04;PEG still have; 36 rad (3/04-5/04)therapy 12/04-12/05; 2 esophagus endoscopies

Billy thanks for claification on the Carnation dring wher do you get it from???


Jim H I appreciate you store a lot and all your good advice. The best of health and good luck for you and everyone on this site.

Does anyone know if there is a problem taking Carnation VHC to replace the Nutren 1.5. Are they for certin blood types or anything wierd like that. I am surprised they did not put me on this from the get go if it has almost 200 more calories.

The Carnation VHC has been discussed here on several occasions Jim. I will tell you though that it is very concentrated and if you are going to run it through your tube make sure you run a lot of water behind it. I was talking with davidcpa about the Carnation VHC and didnt realize at the time that he had been drinking it and I was running it through my tube. I ended up dehydrated and in the hospital and my dietician told me that since this stuff was so concentrated it was stripping my body of the water that was in it in order to make urine. All Im saying is be careful and make sure you hydrate your body well using the Carnation VHC.

Billy

The Nutren stuff you have is better for the tube. VHC is really meant for oral consumption. Also I'm not sure it has the fiber your Nutren has and you need that if you are tube-feeding.

Nelie

Nelie, If I drink it do you feel it is alright. I am able to tolerate thin liquids. Is VHC real thick? I guess I could dilute it with H2o also. What purpose does the fiber play in the tube feedings? I am having regular bowel movements always.

Billy, how much water are you talking about? With the Nutren I do 4 oz with each can. Is that enough for VHC or should I increase it to 6 or 8oz?

Can someone look on the can of VHC and tell me th fiber content Nutren is 3.5. Thanks in advance.

I looked, it says 0% for fiber. My husband takes them orally and he has to dilute them with water because they are so thick and he's in a fair amount of discomfort. I hadn't heard about the concern regarding dehydration. Thanks for sharing that, Billy.