| | Joined: Jun 2009 Posts: 875 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) |  "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts)
Joined: Jun 2009 Posts: 875 | Is Ensure Plus better for nutrition than Boost Plus? Boost Plus has 360 calories and tastes good. I had Ensure when I had a feeding tube last year, so didn't really get to taste it. Which is better healthwise?
Julieann Nov 2007 SCC on right tonsil following tonsillectomy. Was smoker, QUIT. (Stage IV T2 N2b) 7 weeks radiation one day/wk chemo (carboplatin and 5-FU). Allergic to Taxol; PEG in, lost 30 lbs. TX completed January 2008. PEG out mid- 2008. PET/CT 1/17/2011;2/3/12 NEGATIVE for cancer  | | | | | Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 10,507 Likes: 7 Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 10,507 Likes: 7 | Dont know about Boost plus. I drank ensure only twice and it was awful. I couldnt even drink it holding my nose or when I had no taste. Alot of people here use carnation very high calorie which is about 500 calories per can. You can get this by asking at the pharmacy of any major retailer or ordering it thru the amazon link on here.
I used prescription feedig formulas. Sorry I couldnt help you more.
ChristineSCC 6/15/07 L chk & by L molar both Stag I, age44 2x cispltn-35 IMRT end 9/27/07 -65 lbs in 2 mo, no caregvr Clear PET 1/08 4/4/08 recur L chk Stag I surg 4/16/08 clr marg 215 HBO dives 3/09 teeth out, trismus 7/2/09 recur, Stg IV 8/24/09 trach, ND, mandiblctmy 3wks medicly inducd coma 2 mo xtended hospital stay, ICU & burn unit PICC line IV antibx 8 mo 10/4/10, 2/14/11 reconst surg OC 3x in 3 years very happy to be alive | | | | | Joined: May 2002 Posts: 2,152 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: May 2002 Posts: 2,152 | Surprisingly I still drink vanilla Ensure Plus for breakfast every day and like it. It must be ice cold. The other flavors that I liked while on radiation were Butter Almond and Coffee. I could not stand the regular Ensure and had to drink the Plus variety. I did not like Boost but I'm not certain they had a Plus variety back then. Strawberry and Chocolate were the worst Ensure flavors. Carnation VHC didn't exist back then amd I don't need the calories now.
Take care,
Eileen
----------------------
Aug 1997 unknown primary, Stage III
mets to 1 lymph node in neck; rt ND, 36 XRT rad
Aug 2001 tiny tumor on larynx, Stage I total laryngectomy; left ND
June 5, 2010 dx early stage breast cancer
June 9, 2011 SCC 1.5 cm hypo pharynx, 70% P-16 positive, no mets, Stage I
| | | | | Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 8,311 Senior Patient Advocate Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Senior Patient Advocate Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 8,311 | Eileen,
I just saw a commercial last night on a new Ensure drink that is supposed to boost the immune system and have an active culture in it so maybe you can look into that?
David
Age 58 at Dx, HPV16+ SCC, Stage IV BOT+2 nodes, non smoker, casual drinker, exercise nut, Cisplatin x 3 & concurrent IMRT x 35,(70 Gy), no surgery, no Peg, Tx at Moffitt over Aug 06. Jun 07, back to riding my bike 100 miles a wk. Now doing 12 Spin classes and 60 outdoor miles per wk. Nov 13 completed Hilly Century ride for Cancer, 104 miles, 1st Place in my age group. Apr 2014 & 15, Spun for 9 straight hrs to raise $$ for YMCA's Livestrong Program. Certified Spin Instructor Jun 2014.
| | | | | Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 5,260 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | OP Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 5,260 | I drink the Members Mark from Sam's Club. It;s ensure under a different name and cost about 8 or 9 dollars less. I like the taste if it is very cold.
Since posting this. UPMC, Pittsburgh, Oct 2011 until Jan. I averaged about 2 to 3 surgeries a week there. w Can't have jaw made as bone is deteroriating steaily that is left in jaw. Mersa is to blame. Feeding tube . Had trach for 4mos. Got it out April.
--- Passed away 5/14/14, will be greatly missed by everyone here
| | | | | Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 10,507 Likes: 7 Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 10,507 Likes: 7 | I saw that commercial too. It sure makes it look like something pretty tasty. I still havent been able to bring myself to drink that kind of stuff.
ChristineSCC 6/15/07 L chk & by L molar both Stag I, age44 2x cispltn-35 IMRT end 9/27/07 -65 lbs in 2 mo, no caregvr Clear PET 1/08 4/4/08 recur L chk Stag I surg 4/16/08 clr marg 215 HBO dives 3/09 teeth out, trismus 7/2/09 recur, Stg IV 8/24/09 trach, ND, mandiblctmy 3wks medicly inducd coma 2 mo xtended hospital stay, ICU & burn unit PICC line IV antibx 8 mo 10/4/10, 2/14/11 reconst surg OC 3x in 3 years very happy to be alive | | | | | Joined: Dec 2008 Posts: 1,004 Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | | Patient Advocate (1000+ posts)
Joined: Dec 2008 Posts: 1,004 | I drink Ensure after my partial glossectomies and I thought they were really good. I liked chocolate and vanilla. I can't drink it now because it takes me back so surgery days. I'm very sensitive to smells and tastes. Christine, I'm surprised you found it so bad...
Suzanne
***********
T1 SCC on right side of tongue
Age 31...27 when diagnosed
4 partial glossectomies
No chemo or radiation
Biopsy on 2/2/10-Clear
Surgery needed again...no later than April 2011
Loving life and just became a mother on 11/25/10
It's not what we CAN'T do..it's what we CAN do:)
| | | | | Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 10,507 Likes: 7 Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 10,507 Likes: 7 | The ensure was horrible to me. Dont know if it was due to my wacked out sense of taste. It just reminded me too much of the canned fedding formulas I used for my PEG.
Thats funny you mentioned about being sensitive to smells. My nose is now the super sniffer!!!!! Maybe that plays a part in my sense of taste.
Ive always been overly picky when it came to food and drinks.
Eileen, you and Suzanne are brave souls to drink that stuff.
ChristineSCC 6/15/07 L chk & by L molar both Stag I, age44 2x cispltn-35 IMRT end 9/27/07 -65 lbs in 2 mo, no caregvr Clear PET 1/08 4/4/08 recur L chk Stag I surg 4/16/08 clr marg 215 HBO dives 3/09 teeth out, trismus 7/2/09 recur, Stg IV 8/24/09 trach, ND, mandiblctmy 3wks medicly inducd coma 2 mo xtended hospital stay, ICU & burn unit PICC line IV antibx 8 mo 10/4/10, 2/14/11 reconst surg OC 3x in 3 years very happy to be alive | | | | | Joined: Aug 2005 Posts: 158 Senior Member (100+ posts) | | Senior Member (100+ posts)
Joined: Aug 2005 Posts: 158 | Unless I am mistaken, all Ensure products with expiration dates beginning 1 March 2010 now have the prebiotics in them. This has caused a real problem for me as within a few days the old diarrhea retuned from nowhere. It was not until the other day when I went to their site looking for their new product that I found out about the new addition and what it is supposed to do. I found a case with a Feb 2010 expiration date and upon switching over to it the problem stopped. I am in touch with them to see what might be done to alleviate my problem. I sure would hate to have to change over to a different product now.
I guess I might be able to qualify as an expert on Ensure. Since I began using it back in 2005 I have consumed right close to 15,000 cans of it, ten a day. Most likely some 99.9 percent of that consumed has been the Creamy Milk Chocolate. They now have a brand new flavor, Dark Chocolate which I am looking forward to tasting.
No love, no friendship can cross the path of our destiny without leaving some mark on it forever. - Francois Mauriac
Thank you for leaving your mark.
| | | | | Joined: Jan 2009 Posts: 1,844 Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | | Patient Advocate (1000+ posts)
Joined: Jan 2009 Posts: 1,844 | oohhh Bill...let me know what you think of the Dark Chocolate! I've tried almost every flavor and like you am stuck and strangely addicted to the Creamy Milk Chocolate.
I think I'm going to grab a few right now...help me with my hunger and dry mouth issue...lol :P
Be Well
Eric
Young Frack, SCC T4N2M0, Cisplatin,35+ rads,ND, RT Mandiblectomy w fibular free flap, facial paralysis, "He who has a "why" to live can bear with almost any "how"." -Nietzche "WARNING" PG-13 due to Sarcasm & WAY too much attitude, interact at your own risk.
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