CancerCompass message board discussion started by Susananne on 5/5/2008 http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,23740,0.htm Wed, 09 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT Wed, 09 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://backend.userland.com/rss RSS.NET: http://www.rssdotnet.com/ I have a special family member who recently had their stomach removed due to cancer. He is battling to put on weight after the operation and has really been reacting to the ensure he is supposed to take twice a day. Many things seem to give him diarroah and gas, yet he has been told to stick to a normal diet. Can anyone help with advice on meals, how often to eat and drink? Any advice on how he can be relieved of his symptoms and gain weight so he can recover would be really appreciated Susananne Mon, 05 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT Ensure is high in sugar and contains many artificial ingredients. I personally was advised never to use it. Sugar feeds cancer! Your special family member would probably do better using some all natural products such as a protein powder and a "greens" powder that can be mixed with juices and will give him good nutrition instead of calories to just fatten him up. Any good health food store will have these products. Sorry I can't give you any brand names here but if you would like to know what my medical/alternative doctor recommends for many of his cancer patients send me a private message. Also look into some digestive enzymes for the diarrhea/gas problem. Here are ingredients for Ensure: :Water, sugar (sucrose), corn syrup, maltodextrin (corn), calcium caseinate, high-oleic safflower oil, canola oil, soy protein isolate, whey protein concentrate, corn oil, calcium phosphate tribasic, potassium citrate, magnesium phosphate dibasic, natural and artificial flavor, soy lecithin, sodium citrate, magnesium chloride, salt (sodium chloride), carrageenan, choline chloride, potassium chloride, ascorbic acid, ferrous sulfate, alpha-tocopheryl acetate, zinc sulfate, niacinamide, calcium pantothenate, manganese sulfate, cupric sulfate, vitamin A palmitate, thiamine chloride hydrochloride, pyridoxine hydrochloride, riboflavin, folic acid, chromium chloride, biotin, sodium molybdate, sodium selenate, potassium iodide, phylloquinone, vitamin D3 and cyanocobalamin. On 5/5/2008 Susananne wrote:I have a special family member who recently had their stomach removed due to cancer. He is battling to put on weight after the operation and has really been reacting to the ensure he is supposed to take twice a day. Many things seem to give him diarroah and gas, yet he has been told to stick to a normal diet. Can anyone help with advice on meals, how often to eat and drink? Any advice on how he can be relieved of his symptoms and gain weight so he can recover would be really appreciated Shemay Mon, 05 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT Thank you Zaput......BACK AT YOU!!!!..... Shemay Mon, 05 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT I highly recommend and I make a smoothie for my husband with protein mix by "Smoothie King" called Gladiator (strawberry is the best).  The mix is about $50, but it will last for a long time.  You add 2 scoops and yogurt (organic is better) and a banana and it is absolutely yummy.  The best part about it is that depending on how you make it and what fruit of choice you add you can give your loved one about 1000 per drink.  My husband is also sruggling with dumping, but these smoothies seem to work for him because they are all natural.I also have recipes for other smoothies if you'd like.  Let me know. cal1519 Mon, 05 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT My dad had a total gastrectomy eight years ago.  Small meals every two or three hours seemed to work best for him.  My father was encouraged to drink such drinks as Ensure, but he was not able to tolerate the sugar either.  He also mixed the protiein powder with his drinks.  This seemed to work best for him.  woodlebugs Sun, 11 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT I only know that for a partial gastrectomy, a few things can help.1) Digestive enzymes  2) Broken down food (pureed)3) Less insoluble fiber than usual4) Simethicone 5) Probiotics Sincerely, Erik    ERIK1 Mon, 26 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT Beverages like Ensure are tough to handle for many people because of the high sugar content and the soy protein.  While soy protein is excellent for many people, some have trouble digesting it in small or large quantities. Erik ERIK1 Tue, 27 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT Simethicone controls and reduces gas in the GI tract.  Simethicone is the medicinal ingredient in products like "Gas-X".  You can buy cheaper generic versions that are the same (that use simethicone), such as "Equate" brand in Wal Mart or Target brand.Erik    ERIK1 Tue, 27 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT