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My brother was diagnosed 2 weeks ago. He is having testing today to see if he can withstand surgery, which they have tentativly set for July 1.
He is no appetite and living on liquids. Does anyone have any suggestions as to what types of nutrional drinks that would be the best for him to increase his strength and immune system?
Any help is much appreciated.
Hi Patti ... Sorry to hear of your brother's condition. Hope surgery is an option. I Drink Equate nutritiona drinks and Dan Active immunity probiotic dairy drink. Comes in little 3oz 4 packs. Dan Active is not that nutritional as equate drink but has 3 active cultures to stimulate immune system according to the label. You can check it out and see what you think. Also if his white blood cells are low the doc can prescribe filgrastim injections to boost his infection fighting white cells. Please feel free to view other infor on the site and don't hesitate to ask questions.
God Bless,
Jeff G.
Thanks, Jeff Every little bit of information helps
Patti
Hi Patti,
My husband was using Ensure Plus. This helped him to regain some of the wieght he had lost. Each liquid serving is around 350 calories. I don't know if there is any immune boosting properties in the drink but it is fortified with many vitamins and minerals. Best of luck with getting the operation.
Karen
Patti, my mother makes my dad a shake of Ensure with a little protein, blueberries and strawberries. He seems to tolerate the Ensure better that way. She gives him this shake in between meals and fortunately he's been gaining weight.
Patti,
My husband drinks Boost plus each day (350 calories), which was a suggestion from the oncologist. When he needs even more calories, I mix him a blender drink - bee pollen, whey protein, yogurt, sometimes sugarless ice cream, fruit - such as berries and half a banana. If I use blueberries, I use blueberry yogurt, etc. He likes them - for the most part - and - this helps "boost" the calories up.
Joyce
Whoops - forgot to say I add those ingredients to the vanille boost plus! If you use the chocolate boost, you can add peanut butter to the mix - even more calories.
So, it didn't matter what I put in front of Scott. He couldn't eat anything until they started him on Marinol. It's a marijuana derivative in pill form used to stimulate appetite. He still couldn't taste, but at least he was hungry enough to eat.
God Bless,
brenda
Thank you all for the suggestions, my brother is tolerating the protein shakes and even eating a little regular food off and on.
He had to have another biopsy last week as a spot showed up on his PET scan in his clavical area. The biopsied a lymph node and have told him the cancer as metasized, he ended up in hospital yesterday with a collapsed lung from that procedure, but is doing good today and expected to come home later on.
They are saying surgery is not an option at this time and he is supposed to meeting with oncologist to start chemical treatments with possiblity of having surgery down the line.
His mood is down more often that up these days, but he says now he is going to fight, I sincerly hope that he stays in that mind frame and doesn't lose hope.
Have any of you or your loved ones been put on antidrepressents to help with the depression???, that comes with any cancer diagnosis. He isn't on anything and I think he should be.
Thank you all again for you help and suggestions. God Bless you and your family's.
Patti
Hi Patti..... Yes many people have started on anti -depressants. I myself was takinging zoloft for for a while when first diagnosed. I don't currently take but do use and anti-anxiety med for sleep or as needed. I personally practice meditation ,visualization,an emotional freedom techniques as I feel the mind and body should work in harmony and be balanced. Every week at my nursing evaluations that is a standard question asked of me. Especially when your doing Chemo Therapy as those drugs/chemicals can alter your attitude toward a depressionable state at times. Nothing wrong with trying them , you can always discontinue if you wish.
God Bless,
Jeff G.
Patti, my father is currently taking Zoloft and Xanax to help with the depression and anxiety. There is a significant difference in his mood on the days he doesn't take it. His dr has changed the schedule of the medication to make it a regular daily dose as opposed to as needed. It has made a difference and I would recommend it if just to take the edge off and be able to think more clearly.
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