Food Supplement Drinks

I found Fortisips really disgusting, though a bit better with lots of ice and a straw. While your man is able to eat, he can try any soft or liquidised food. Smooth soups with cream are good. The dietitians should be able to give him other food supplements to try. Once he's tube feeding I think you have to use the prescription feed bottles, the taste doesn't matter as it's bypassing your mouth and hopefully the dietitians can find a feed product that suits his dietary needs. 

Wishing you both well - it's a tough time but you will get through it. 

Catriona

Good evening Rizzle, im afraid most people dislike food supplements whether orally or via a feeding tube, im PEG-reliant nowadays but would not be able to drink them as they are too sweet. Unfortunately, there are no real savoury alternatives. When i was recovering from my first surgery and treatment I used to liquidize food and make my own soup until i could eat solid foods again but that was short-lived due to the cancer returning. They dont like you putting other foods through the tube other than the supplements but to be honest i have put soups through the tube i think its a case of being sensible and not trying to force soup-like foods through the tube, i found the cheap no frills soups to be the best as they are a lot thinner, even the basic flavoured cup a soups are pretty thin.. But if you can make it drinkable then go for it as it will taste a lot better making your OH a lot happier. Good luck and hope you manage to sort some sort of diet out between you and a dietician. Take care.

                                                                                                    Chris x

Thank you both but I think he will still have a problem with the supplements via the tube because of diarrhoea and yesterday it was bad but we will talk to the dietician and see what ideas they have.

Rizzle said:

We thought maybe we could make our own using foods we know he can eat just liquidising it all into drink meals, we could use gravy (thinned out) to add to make it drinkable or to go into the feeding tube if necessary - has anyone else tried to do this?

Rizzle yes you can do this though the dieticians generally don't have enough experience to suggest it

You need to by an industrial spec blender such as a Vitamix so that the food can be blended finely enough. This one can blend nuts and raw veg. I know a lady who is PEG fed permanently and looks wonderful on her proper diet. 

Beesuit, thank you so much, I will pass this on to OH and we will get experimenting 

Good luck. 
let us know how you get on. It would help so many others in a similar predicament 

Morning Rizzle

You may find this handy. 

 Liquid diet 

I was told to only put medication and water down the feeding tube, as it can effect the tube and maybe block it. 

Hope you have a good day.

Cat x

Hi

Funnily enough, I liked the Fortisips (I didn't have a tube) and was fine until they produced them in a smaller bottle that was concentrated and the stomach problems began. I'm also lacto intolerant and although the dietician said they had a tiny amount of lactose in them, it shouldn't be enough to be a problem. Well I beg to differ !!

I supplemented with smoothies and thin soups instead and, have also since found FUEL protein breakfast drinks. I have the chocolate and vanilla ones, very cold and sometimes with ice. 220 calories. You can pick them up at supermarkets to try one and can check the labelfirst.

Hope you find something

Piya

Catmarel said:

I was told to only put medication and water down the feeding tube, as it can effect the tube and maybe block it. 

 Rizzle 

Cat has raised a very valid point which is why it’s so important to use a proper blender. They are expensive. A kitchen blender just won’t do. 

Looking in the bright side, though. 
Your husband may not need to use his feeding tube. Some don’t n