Calorie questions...

I've talked b4 about wanting to switch to a homemade blender diet, but I can't afford it right now. I cannot afford any food whatsoever, so am unsure what to do about my constant hunger.

Perhaps the hunger is just a normal part of being tube-fed, and I will eventually just get used to it?

If not though, I'm confused about what my calorie level should be. Right now I am on 1875-1900 cals per day. At one point, because I was losing weight, my calories were bumped up to 2100. My weight has stabilized now and I am neither losing nor gaining, which should mean I'm at a correct calorie level?

Perhaps my hunger has nothing to do with calorie level, is it just because I'm on a liquid diet and the formula empties out of my stomach so fast?

According to my weight/height/age/activity level, I only need between 1800 and 2000 calories per day anyway, but do any of you find that you need more calories than usual when on a liquid diet?

Just unsure if my constant hunger is a clorie issue or a solid food issue.

By MarieTwinTubes
Posted October 28, 2009 at 8:09 pm
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Hi, Jack. I have been concerned for you about the continual hunger. I don't know about the others, but I don't think it is a natural part of tube feeding. I am a medium sized woman and get 1500 calories with my FiberSource HN and am always satisfied. I get really thirsty, but that serves to remind me to have lots of water.

I wish you the best finding solutions to your hunger.

Marie

By Juhint
Posted October 29, 2009 at 8:44 am
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I think that the disadvantage about being at a specific calorie level with tube feeding formula is exactly that point of always having the same amount of formula every day. Our bodies don't work like that - (healthy) people who are able to eat orally don't eat the same amount of calories every single day, it will always vary - sometimes more, sometimes less, but probably the weekly average will be about the same every week.

I guess I would urge you to try and listen to your body more, if you are hungry than clearly your body is telling you that this is not enough.

I know you write that you have no money to buy food to supplement your formula, but you have written that you live at home and cook for your family. I simply can't imagine that you cannot use some of their food.
Can't your Mum support you in that way?
I am not talking about a blenderized diet and having to buy a good blender, I am talking of maybe putting a glass of chocolate milk or yoghurt down your tube once a day if you are still hungry after your formula. A rule of thumb is that anything that you can draw up through a 10 or 20 ml syringe (without needle) is liquid enough to be put down a g-tube. You don't need a blender for that.

I am sorry if I seem oblivious to your money/family situation, it's just that I come from a family where we all support each other and I just can't imagine that you, even though you are of age, are not able to have a bit of your family's food if you need something on top of your formula.

Julia

By jackrabbit
Posted October 29, 2009 at 1:56 pm
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Hmm, I hadn't thought about varying the calorie level, like non-tube-feeders do, but you're right, it isn't natural to eat an exactly fixed level every day.

My mom does buy me V8 or other veggie/fruit drinks once in a while, and they provide a little bit of relief for a few minutes.

But she's a single parent with a part time job. Any food that I take from the fridge is food that is not available for my siblings. And since they are going to school, working, and playing sports, I can't justify taking food they need. Unless I can find food sitting around that I know they hate, like lentils or something.

Any extra calories I get will mostly have to be from extra cans of formula... it's just that it seems no matter how many cans I take, they don't assauge my hunger in the least bit. Literally two seconds after I've finished pumping the can through I'm absolutely starving and my stomach feels totally empty. I'm starting to think it's not a calorie issue but a liquid foods issue and maybe I will always feel starving on liquid food, period.

By Juhint
Posted October 29, 2009 at 2:29 pm
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Maybe this is something you should talk over with your dietician. I don't think you should have to feel that hungry on tube feeding. You shouldn't have to feel like you are starving all the time!

I can imagine finding it hard to take food from your family. Have you applied for some kind of financial support?

Regarding the canned food - my dietician always prescribes more food than I actually need per month, that way I always have extra for bad days when I need to tube-feed more (because I can tolerate less orally).

I thought that the real-food formula would feel more satisfying and be more filling than the regular formula. Was it better on the other formula?

I am so sorry you are going through all of this. I hope you will find a solution that works for you!

Keep fighting for your needs!

Julia

By GlennS
Posted October 29, 2009 at 3:43 pm
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I'm three years into HEN forever and my experience is just the opposite. I used just cans of Walmart's brand of nutritional shake (the Plus is 350 calories per can and I added 3 tbl spoons of fiber powder per day) for the first 6 months, during which time I stopped feeling hunger at all. Then, in an attempt to "balance" my diet with real food, I started blending foods to supplement the shacks. No change in hunger or feeling full or empty. It just took a whole lot more time.

Now I use the Walmart shakes, fiber, yogurt, a store bought cappuccino protein smoothy, coffee and water. It takes about 5 minutes to prepare. Since I'm still never hungry I make sure to feed by the clock. I've passed my diet past the pros and they all think it's just fine. Calories are calories. Once you get into a regular habit, assuming that you're getting all the vitamins and minerals you need, your body will settle down.

Is it boring? You bet. But it beats the heck out of heartburn (or worse) for a guy who can't throw up! Bland and boring is just fine. I just watch TV when I feed.

By jackrabbit
Posted November 4, 2009 at 5:53 pm
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Sorry it's taken me a while to reply...

I'm applying right now for financial support, and am busy getting all the necessary documents from different surgeon's offices, etc. Hopefully I'll know if my application's been accepted within a few weeks - if I could save up for a blender and start buying some real food to supplement with that would be SO awesome and I hope it would help with my hunger.

In the meantime I talked with my dietician and she really has no idea what would be causing such extreme constant hunger, but she wonders if I'm spiking my blood sugar too high by feeding so fast and then causing a crash. So we've decided to slow down my feeding for the next week and also get some bloodwork done to check my sugar levels. Supposedly I'm supposed to take ten minutes per can, so I'll have to time my feeds now.

I'm not really thinking this is going to help but I'll give it a shot anyway.

Anything to get rid of this constant, agonizing hunger that makes me feel like I'm in the middle of starvation...

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