Fortisip help! Nobody believes us!

Hello Kim w, i have never had fortisips but i have drunk ensures which come in milkshake style and the other is a fruit juice which i found a bit acidy . I suppose if it irritates his throat and makes him cough then there could be a link between them so i would come of them and contact your dietitian or who ever prescribed them . All the best to your hubby .

                                                      Chris .x

HI Sara

I have recently completed the same treatment as your husband but also had chemo.  It seems to me that your husband is doing quite well,  I think there is an acceptable amount of weight loss (10% you need to check this) before it affects the way the mask fits so ask the radiotherapist!

Personally I lost all sense of taste and was unable to eat anything after 5 treatments, after ten treatments I couldn't even drink so he seems to be doing OK. 

I had to have an NG tube (which is a nasal feeding tube) which may be an option for your husband but if he has only lost 2lbs they probably think he doesn't need one yet.

Over the course of the treatment I lost 31/2 stone so try not to worry about his weight dropping a little as it is inevitable.

 As I recovered I like your husband was encouraged to drink fortisip but I  couldn't hack it how ever he could try the Nutricia Scandishake mix which is similar but you mix it yourself with milk and there are another couple of alternative compact drinks and powdered mixes which you can get from your dietitian.

As your husband can still swallow I would invest in a smoothie maker and you can make your own high protein. high fat drinks to your own taste.  Personally this saved my life because I was then able to maintain my weight and stop losing it.

If you want him to gain use full fat milks and creams, anything calorific but I would also buy some Whey Protein powder and this helps maintain muscle mass as well.  Of course add what you like, personally I still have limited taste so try and add some intense flavours like fresh mint and herbs.

You can get your 5/7/10 a day for breakfast and if he has this as well as the food he can already manage it may help.

I finished my treatment at the end of September  last year and was told it had worked on 23rd December.

I went from 131/2 stone to just under 10 stone which I maintain now!

It sounds like your husband is doing well so try not to worry, its a hard slog but it is do able, just keep going, you will make it!

Love Paul age 48 3/4s

Hi Sara , I has severe vomiting and diarrhoea for quite a while during and after radiotherapy . It happened each morning after my feed . I didint her stomach cramp but I was throwing up most of my food . ( I am RIG fed so it's my only source of nourishment ) sometimes it's the amount of food going into the stomach that does it and sometimes it was a reaction to all the swelling in my throat . I would keep on at the dietician as they need to support your husband to get over this or suggest other ways round it . Mine were very helpful suggesting mouth rinses before feeding and usihg lower rates of food but more frequently as your stomach shrinks so can feel very full even on small amounts of food.

Hope this helps and good luck .

M x

I had the stomach cramps and severe diarrhoea so o was switched to the fibre free ones . So much better x 

Hi nannyto5, I also found the fibre free ones better for the same reason as you. hope all is well. Take care.

                                                                      Chris x

Hi Sara

I have base of tongue right side of lateral and v slight to throat same side.  T1, NO MO.

Ive lost 2.5lbs after gastro tube  fitted this week but my mask seemed ok yesterday & today. 

I thought 5% weight loss was ok but maybe I'm wrong?? Any more experienced people know?  I'm on week 4 next week.  Radiotherapy only.

It is exhausting me tho now and after peg tube on Wed (no water 10 hours total pre/after ) and yesterday feeling shattered as no sleep on ward at all i have obviously shifted weight a bit.

They want me to use fortisip now to supplement anything I can still eat for the moment ie ready brek!! Trouble is as a type 1 diabetic it is not straight forward with insulin with fortisip drink.  I guess I'm putting off pump usage too! Worried about being sick as throat swollen.

Hope you get it sorted.  Keep us posted   I've got fortisip protein.  

T x

Hi Sara, 

i took fortislip after I had tongue surgery to remove a tumour and they were fine and I used them for many weeks during my recovery. However they may not be right for your partner and so perhaps if he is trying to sustain his weight and get the right vitamins why don’t you ask the hospital if you can try him on Horlicks?  I know that sounds bizarre but it is a fortified drink and if you make it with full fat milk instead of skimmed he will get calories as well.  Check the fortislip for what nutrients it is giving him and see if these have the same vitamins in them.   Make sure it’s not the milk making him sick He. Could be intolerant and if it is use soya or almond instead... just a thought . 

1. Fortisip and Nutricia the company also makes a stir milk shake 40 grams sugar all these and ensure are not fit for a human being they Are Poisonous from the ingredients intoxicating sugars content and others which can cause diabetes and heart attack and extremely ill ,be careful I have been through it still trying to recover,no proper side effects on  box or bottles or proper side effects on internet 

Hi

I could not tolerate Ensure 2cal through my PEG, everything came back up, lost 16 kg in 2/3 weeks and ended up in hospital for 12 days to stabilise my weight.... Jevity feed was better but still difficult to keep down...I was mightily relieved when I was able to start on solids.

Peter 

Sorry to hear that some people get a bad reaction to the supplement drinks they are prescribed. That is a downer. Finding something that works and does not make you feel ill must be hard.

Luckily I have found that supplement drinks work well for me. I have been on an NG tube in the past and found that Fortisip worked fine for me. I am currently on 3 multi fibre Fortisip a day with what food I can manage under the direction of my dietician and have been for 5 years and have no issues. I find their taste is fine for me. I clean my mouth and teeth after every meal as I am aware of the sugar in them. I have never been healthier and am at my ideal weight.

I know that everyone is different but just wanting to say Fortisip and other supplement do work well for some. 

Lyn