need suggestions - liquid nutrition

[Amby 490]

As most of you who read the say anything thread already know my sister is pretty sick. She has a pretty rare condition called achalasia. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Achalasia she is already tiny and has lost about 40lbs since last may because she can't eat. basically she eats and the food just sorta drips into her stomach it doesn't go in fully. most of the time she throws up whole food that is just kinda foamy (gross I know) because it doesn't even make it into her stomach. if you read the wikipedia link it will explain it way better than I can. she had to go into the hospital today because she was so dehydrated. they want to put in a permanent IV so they can give her her nutrition through it. the dr told her today that she needs to try and get down 2 boost or slim fast drinks a day to get enough nutrition. she is still a teenager and super picky and I was given the mission to find her some drinks like that that she will actually drink. any suggestions on brands or flavors that are pretty readily available at walmart/drug stores that might appeal to a teenager?

she's doing pretty bad so please keep her in your prayers!

[Jenn! 918]

I think SlimFast tastes pretty bad...how about Carnation Instant Breakfast? I always liked those as a kid.

Hope she improves soon, Amber.

[Amby 490]

thanks jenn I will try some of those. I'm just going to buy lots of different ones and see which ones she will actually drink. will put that on my list!

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

I already said this on the other thread but Naked is yummy.

[Zee Bee 61]

I tend to like the Naked juices. I think Tropicana also has something similar and there is another brand that is similar but the name escapes me right now. I know you can find it in the fruit/veggie section of most grocery stores. I've also heard from people that Ensure is good.

I hope your sister gets better soon

Edited February 19, 2008 by ZeeNusah

[Alex+R 0]

She's gotta get that protein, right? She should be downing that stuff little boys buy at GNC and use to build muscle.

[Amby 490]

oh I can see me going broke tonight buying all of these things

[GeordieWife 1]

I used to work in Oncology and Carnation Instant Breakfast was a popular choice...mix it with a scoop of ice cream to add some fat and calories, blend it up really smooth.....Ensure mixed with ice cream is tasty too. Ovaltine is a good choice for vitamins and chocolately taste and vitamins too. The trick is the ice cream to make it taste better. I hope she does okay...good luck with it. For protein grinding up nuts or adding a scoop of peanut butter makes a unique taste too (kind of like a liquid snickers).

[one...two...tree 2,762]

OMG, Amber...I just read about the disease! Poor girl. I've had spasms with my esophagus and they incredibly painful.

Since she needs calories, how about she try different liquids, like clear broth and then for protein, perhaps try milk or kefir (tastes like liquid yogurt), and if she could handle it, perhaps a Whey Protein or Soy Protein supplement?

[Amby 490]

I used to work in Oncology and Carnation Instant Breakfast was a popular choice...mix it with a scoop of ice cream to add some fat and calories, blend it up really smooth.....Ensure mixed with ice cream is tasty too. Ovaltine is a good choice for vitamins and chocolately taste and vitamins too. The trick is the ice cream to make it taste better. I hope she does okay...good luck with it. For protein grinding up nuts or adding a scoop of peanut butter makes a unique taste too (kind of like a liquid snickers).

thanks for this suggestion. I will buy some ice cream tonight as well. hopefully she can get the last test tomorrow so she can come home.

[Amby 490]

OMG, Amber...I just read about the disease! Poor girl. I've had spasms with my esophagus and they incredibly painful.

Since she needs calories, how about she try different liquids, like clear broth and then for protein, perhaps try milk or kefir (tastes like liquid yogurt), and if she could handle it, perhaps a Whey Protein or Soy Protein supplement?

it looks really painful when she is trying to eat! it's so weird it's like she has this ritual to try and get food down. she swallows and then straightens up and it's like she is stretching her body out and trying to push the food down by moving around all weird. it's so strange! I've never seen anything quite like it.

I suggested that and my mom said she was afraid to try the protein powders because she thinks they will make things too grainy or gritty

[Miranda&James 8]

Thirded on the Carnation Instant Breakfast - they have lots of flavors and they taste really nice. Since she gets dehydrated have you used things like Pedialyte? I know it is for children but it is the first thing that popped into my mind. If she gets tired of milk, sweet things then the V8 fruit juices (that have fruit and veg servings) have lots of good vitamins and nutrition and I think they taste pretty good.

[Amby 490]

oh pedialyte is a good suggestion. the only liquid she has been able to keep down besides water is koolaid! strange I know but it has lots of calories because of all of the sugar. hopefully I can find all of these things in single servings so that I can get like one of each

eta: I bought her some of those gumball vitamins over the weekend since you don't have to swallow them. you just chew for 5-10 mins and then spit it out. she thinks they're nasty but still trying to convince her to take them anyways

Edited February 19, 2008 by Amber&Neil

[Jenn! 918]

oh pedialyte is a good suggestion. the only liquid she has been able to keep down besides water is koolaid! strange I know but it has lots of calories because of all of the sugar. hopefully I can find all of these things in single servings so that I can get like one of each

eta: I bought her some of those gumball vitamins over the weekend since you don't have to swallow them. you just chew for 5-10 mins and then spit it out. she thinks they're nasty but still trying to convince her to take them anyways

They also sell spray vitamins. My brother uses it because he won't swallow pills.

[♥Sora_9_Dam3a♥ 0]

...wish i could help in some way..i hope she feels better sooon!