Hello All,

I am looking for some advice on how to increase my mom's energy and strength levels. We do 3 to 4 cans of feeding a day through the feeding tube. She cant take many things oraly, shes only started soup a week ago. Due to the radiation to the neck, its difficult for her to swallow. She tried drinking some boost the other day but was only able to take down a couple of sips..

I want to know if anyone has some other ideas or has experience on building strength?

We have a follow up appointment on Feb 11, and the doctor wants to see her with a little more energy... he says shes to weak to do any further treatment ..

any suggestions would be great,

Thank you,

What is your mom taking for feedings? How many calories per can? My doctors and nutritionist both told me minimum is 2000 calories a day, preferably 2500. Your mom may feel better if she gets more calories in.

Try chocolate milk, a pint is 400 calories and is soothing to the throat. If thats too thick try yoo-hoo, that has alot of vitamins in it and is as thin as water.

Try carnation Instant Breakfast VHC. It has 560 cals in a 8 oz can and is nutritionally balanced.

David,

I just bought a case of it today. We're hoping that Dad will like it more than Ensure. He said that the Ensure makes his mouth feel slick.

I had to special order it from Walgreen's here and it was 31 something for the case of 24. The only flavor was vanilla.

Anything you could add about the taste or if it comes in other flavors would be appreciated.

Dad's going to try to get through this without a PEG, although he knows if it becomes necessary he won't fight it. Something tells me he's going to make it a second time without one.

Thanks!

Joy

Herson and Joy,

Before I was discharged from the hospital my doctor arrainged for delivery of my liquid nourishment to my home.

Blue Cross paid for the supplement and syringes. I was given ENT Glycol by Nestle. Although I used a PEG and could not taste it, I would have liked variety just for the smell.

I had to take two cans four times a day for 2000 calories - a lot for a person 5 feet tall!! I found it was very time consuming and tiring to do this four times a day, flush the PEG after each feeding, measure out liquid meds, crush pills, cleanout all the measuring and feeding equipment and make sure I took in the required amont of H2O. Some meds had to be taken an hour before food, some were on different schedules. I felt like I was my own infant needing constant care.
Herson, your mother and Joy, your father are fortunate to have loving children to take care of them. I have a sister who has been dealing with a very aggressive form of breast cancer for three years and we agree that the emotional toll is harder on the family than the patient.

Malka

Joy,

That is the only flavor and I wasn't concerned about the taste because I had bigger fish to fry during the throws of treatment. I just opened the can, opened my mouth, closed my eyes and drank it as fast as I could. Then I would hold my mouth shut with my hand and pray I could stop the nausea while always standing over the sink for a few moments just in case.

He just needs the calories and lots of them. His body is under attack and it needs fuel and ammo.

I agree with Malka. See if your Dr or nutritionist can order you the Carnation VHC and charge it to your insurance. My nutritionist ordered me 6 cases and billed it through my insurance. I had a PEG tube, so she also ordered me the gravity bag/feeding tubes, but she ordered me the kind with a larger tube so the Carnation VHC would flow quicker.

Based on my experience, and what David said, getting alot of calories and nutrition is SO IMPORTANT to the healing and recovery process.

Tom

Joy,

I drank the VHC for many months post Tx as my liquid with meals. Then I would add the VHC to 8 ozs of milk. It cut the thickness and the sweetness and added needed good calories to my otherwise fatty meals.

HE LIKED IT!

Well, he said he wasn't tingling over it, but he said it was better than the Ensure.

He has managed to get down 2 today since 2:00 this afternoon, which gives him as many calories as the 4 Ensure that the doctor wants him to have every day.

Mom's goal for him is 3 of these a day, 4 if he can manage it.

Our next step is to see if we can get the insurance to pay for it. Even if they don't it's still well worth it.

Thanks!!

Joy

Joy,

He really should drink 4 of those every day. More if he can, which I doubt. When I was appx 3 weeks post Tx I started drinking 6 a day and I really think that helped me and my body recover quicker. Oh, and don't forget the water...48 ozs a day.