Vile Tasting Supplements! Any options?

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Hi all,

Having had a total Gastrectomy back in October 2019, my Stomach cancer has recently returned and is now in my bones and I've been given a 6-12 Month life expectancy prognosis as of June. On the bright side, had I not had the operation when I did, I wouldn't be here now! :-)

I'm having palliative Chemo Therapy and painkillers etc to control the cancer but I'm losing weight drastically and experiencing all the usual eating issues that Chemo (only very mild up to yet!) - and the cancer itself - brings to the fore!

I've tried Nutricia and Fortisip/Juice drinks etc and they are - in my humble opinion anyway - VILE! I struggle to get even one 200ml bottle down me, let alone the 2-3 that I need in a day! I wonder, is there anyone 'out there' who has found a way to disguise the awful taste/texture of these supplements? I'm also struggling to find anything that I can eat/like to eat that is calorie crammed and that may help me to at least control my weight.

Thankfully, Muller Rice pots go down a treat! The only problem is that they are low fat and one can only eat so many in a single day! ;-) I can increase the calorie intake of my rice by eating Ambrosia Creamed Rice, but again, there's a limit to how much rice pud one can eat! LOL

Any assistance regarding the above will be gratefully received.

Many thanks in advance

George.

Vespa ets over 2 years ago

Hi, I’m so sorry to hear that your cancer has returned… I can’t help with any suggestions apart from getting in touch with the dietitian at the hospital where your oncologist is. He/she would give you some advice… I mean you might already had advice from them if you have just ask again…

Take care.

Michele

Dordio over 2 years ago in reply to Vespa ets

Hi Michele,

Many thanks for taking the time to reply. Yes, a word with a dietician may help. From past experience with them though, they just pull a face and exhort you to 'grin and bear it!' LOL ;-)

Vespa ets over 2 years ago in reply to Dordio

Hi, that’s a shame you’ve not had a good experience with previous dieticians, I do hope it is better this time…

Michele

Mystic over 2 years ago

Dear George, I am so sorry about the recurrence of the cancer.
my husband also had a total gastrectomy in October last year, it is early days and eating enough is a real struggle. He hates the supplements, they are too rich and too sweet. He manages the Forticreme best. He also tolerated the savoury ones which you add to hot water and becomes a thick soup.

He found the Fortisip more bearable if kept in the fridge or added to some ice and sipped with a straw. I got this advice from a paediatrician friend, that is how they get children to take the supplements.

you could also add some double cream to the rice pudding to make it richer.

if you like savoury things, macaroni cheese and cauliflower cheese are also quite calorie rich.

life without a stomach is very challenging.

All the best

Dordio over 2 years ago in reply to Mystic

Hi! Many thanks for taking the time to reply to my post. Apologies for the delay in getting back to you, but I've been in and out of hospital this week with Covid. I first tested positive last Friday - and have just done so again today, Thursday - it never rains etc! LOL

Is your husband being fed overnight via a machine? I ask, because I found that a combination of machine feeding and 'real' food worked for me in the early days. Later on - once I'd developed my 'second Stomach' I found I could eat virtually as before. Obviously, I had to take things more slowly, but eating a full steak dinner or carvery was not a problem eventually.

Thanks for the tips regarding the fortisips etc, I will give them a try in the coming days.

Please convey my sincerest best wishes to your hubby and try to assure him that things WILL improve in the eating area, but it can take a while.

Sincerest best wishes to you both

George.

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