Anyone else prescribed Ensure drinks?

[CrazyCatLady]

Not sure if this goes here or in the nutrition forums.

I've been prescribed and taking Ensure drinks since 2008. I rarely eat solid foods anymore. I guess I was just wondering if I was alone or if anyone else is in the same boat?

I'd also like to start to wean off them soon (the corn syrup in them really bugs me). But I'm really not sure how to, or what the best way to do it is?

[Llyra]

I guess it would really depend on why you were prescribed them in the first place, and why you are not eating solid foods. I would think that the way to wean would be to slowly start replacing them with nourishing solid foods.

I was drinking them for awhile during one of my worst ulcerative colitis flares, until I did some research and realized that the sugars in them were just making my condition worse. I needed the nutrients, badly, because I was losing weight so rapidly, but the drinks were preventing me from getting healthy again. So we switched to a homemade smoothie and I did much better. It had a variety of things in it-- homemade yogurt, egg, fruit, coconut oil, olive oil, cod liver oil, and pureed carrots were some of the things we used.

[samy23]

wow no solid foods? that must be tough.

[CrazyCatLady]

Well I'm on them for a mix of things. Severe IBS that makes eating painful and difficult, anorexia, really bad painful teeth, and for some reason I've been choking on food randomly since my first dd was born.

I think I've also just become lazy. I never even attempt to cook or make myself try and eat anymore. I get the ensures for free thanks to my insurance, so it lso saves me a lot of $ on groceries.

But I think it may be time to start weaning off of them some what and I guess I'm just not sure how to, or if it's even good time to try. I just wanted to see if I was alone (and it seems like I am lol) or if anyone had any btdt advice. It's just getting kind of old (and embarrassing now) and I am worried about all the additives. But better than being 85 pounds I guess.

[Llyra]

What about starting with some homemade shakes, where you can control the ingredients? One of my favorites is with plain unsweetened full-fat yogurt, strawberries, a banana, some boiled and mashed carrots, and a few tablespoons of virgin coconut oil. Just throw it all in a blender and blend. It'll keep in the fridge for a few days, too, so you can make a bunch of it all at once. You can mix up the ingredients, too, depending on what you have on hand.

The IBS-- have you ever seen the Specific Carbohydrate Diet? A lot of people with chronic intestinal disorders have gotten a lot of relief from it. I was on it for two years and did very well on it; I find I don't need to be strictly on it anymore. I would also look into a good probiotic supplement, and some omega-3 supplements.

The teeth-- I also suffer from bad teeth and bad gums. It's taken me awhile to get around to admitting I need to do something about it. Do you have the insurance to get some dental work done? Also-- poor nutrition can really worsen dental issues.

The anorexia-- that's a tough one. I don't know a lot about that, but I'm sure there are others here who would know about resources you can draw on for getting help with that one.

Good luck, whatever you decide to do. Living with chronic health and emotional problems can be so challenging; I know this from my own experience.

[balancedmama]

I have been on Ensure diets a couple of times because of a threatened small bowel obstruction. I had a complete bowel obstruction 10 years ago after a car accident, and since then I've had a couple of partial obstructions. When that happens I can't eat much solid food, and NO dietary fiber. NONE. The last time it happened, I was 16 weeks pregnant with my son. So yeah, he didn't get great prenatal nutrition from me. I think I was on mostly Ensure for about 6 weeks.

Incidentally, I was anorexic in late high school and in college, although that is unrelated to my bowel issues.

So my best suggestion would be to make sure you have a good therapist, because you will probably go through a lot of food issues as you begin to reintroduce food to your diet. I think summer is a great time to do it as there are more fresh foods available. Perhaps a dietician can help you as well.

Since your system is not used to solid food, you will definitely want to introduce them slowly. Try some broths first. After that you might progress to some pureed soups. Do you cook? Moosewood has some great soup recipes. You can make some extra batches and freeze them so they are readily available. I think finding some smooth semi-liquid foods that you really like (and are safe foods for you emotionally) will open your tastebuds up to wanting to eat again, and also help your body adjust.

Also, I think your mood will be helped a lot by eating real foods. I know that I just feel really flat when I have had to do the ensure thing.

[bannanachild]

Never having met you, examined you, or asked you any questions, I'm going to hazard a guess and say your main problem is anorexia. You did't get enough nutritian, specifically fiber, and that caused IBS. You aren't getting enough nutritian and aren't using your teeth, thus the mouth problems. Also, YOU WEIGH 85 LBS??? I am amazed that you have had three babies! Oh my goodness!

Eating disorders are awful and I'm so sorry you are going through all this! But you deserve to get healthy! You are good enough for solid foods! You need to get counseling and start treating yourself better because you are a wonderful, deserving person!

So, in answer to your question; good, healthy, SOLID food is better than Essure. You can cook for yourself! You deserve a yummy, healthy meal!

Sending love your way!

[CrazyCatLady]

I'm not 85 pounds right now! That's just what I have been in the past when things got bad. I've only gained weight during one of my pregnancies though, I'm thankful everyday over how healthy by babies turned out anyways. I'm a bit over 100 pounds right now, I accidentally gained a bit too much weight with the ensures (easy to do). So for right now I'm "healthy".

I've been in counseling before and it's done nothing for my eating/health. But I actually get to start seeing a super good counselor soon thanks to the last adoption and the parents paying for it. So who knows. My tummy seems to be a lot better since my husband left too.

I'm just feeling ready/mature enough now to want to move on from this. But it feels scary and overwhelming too. Choking on food or spending hours in bed nauseous, with a trash can are not fun for me. Trying to feed my picky/sick self and my even more picky daughter on an impossible budget is also scary.

I really appreciate all the tips and the love though. I do actually take this stuff to heart and try and implement all the great ideas when I can.

[CrazyCatLady]

But you deserve to get healthy! You are good enough for solid foods! You need to get counseling and start treating yourself better because you are a wonderful, deserving person!

So, in answer to your question; good, healthy, SOLID food is better than Essure. You can cook for yourself! You deserve a yummy, healthy meal!

Oh and that made me tear up a bit. Thank you.

[samy23]

I assume you cook meals for your 5 yr old, so couldn't you just start eating a little bit of what she's eating at meal times? Starting off with small amounts, then you won't have to cook seperate meals, you can both eat the same thing.

[BellinghamCrunchie]

I think I would start with smoothies that are made from Ensure and 1 T of something like potato or banana. Then slowly (every 3 days) increase the amount of "regular" food you puree with the Ensure, watching for increased digestive distress and going back to straight Ensure when that happens.

After about 3 weeks, try blending a little less thoroughly, so you get some chunks of solid foods, and start taking some bites of solid food (as a PP mentioned, share your DD's plate perhaps).