G-Tube?

[Foody]

The above topic is really good...I would imagine anyone facing this would do exactly what you are doing. I would explore causes of inflammation and creating good gut ecology. Food allergy/sensativities may also be something to explore through traditional testing or a systme called NAET.

There are many natural methods you can try to reduce overall inflammation (probiotics, DHA, GSH, NAC, tumeric, cultured milk products), promote gut health and add calories with whole foods and healthy oils (coconut for example is great for the gut and has high medium chain fatty acids which are very easy to absorb and use in the body).

Perhap you can explore these and get a little more time to allow them to restore his gut health before considering GTube. If these things still don't help enough, you will do what is best for him. I'm sure many of the parents here will share positive results. We all will do our best for our kids no matter what their unique challenges are...

Happy researching,

 

[CFHockeyMom]

Erin,

At our clinic visit in January Sean had fallen to just below the 5th percentile for weight so our Dr. gave him three months to make some progress otherwise Sean would have to get a G-tube. Sean wanted nothing to do with a G-tube and truth be told neither did his dad or I. I think we kind of see it as another "non-normalcy" and aren't crazy about adding it to Sean already overwhelming reginmen. However, we knew that if it was best, we'd have to do it. So, we dedicated ourselves to doing the best we could over the next three months and if it came down to a G-tube then we at least new we tried.

Here are some of the things we did...

- Drop any thoughts you may have about what's appropriate for breakfast, lunch, dinner, or snacks. i.e. if Sean wanted ice cream for breakfast that's what he had.

- Encourage snacking! At least 3 a day.

- Ask your nutrionist how many calories he'd like to see your son eat a day and keep a diet diary (portions, calorie estimates <a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://www.calorieking.com">calorie counter</a>)

- "Just three more bites". We always ask Sean to take another three bites even after he says he's full.

- Whole milk. Don't waste your time with juice.

- Cereal is diet food!

- High calorie shakes at least once a day. If your son doesn't like Scandishakes there are quite a few recipes on here for some homemade versions. Here's ours... In a blender combine 1C frozen strawberries (or other favorite fruit), 10T sweetened condensed milk, 8oz whole milk, 1 packet Carnation instant breakfast (strawberry or vanilla). That shake is over 800 calories.

- Buy foods your CFer likes.

Sean gained just over three pounds for his clinic visit last week. His Dr. and Dietician were VERY happy as were we.

Good luck!

 

[CFHockeyMom]

Erin,

At our clinic visit in January Sean had fallen to just below the 5th percentile for weight so our Dr. gave him three months to make some progress otherwise Sean would have to get a G-tube. Sean wanted nothing to do with a G-tube and truth be told neither did his dad or I. I think we kind of see it as another "non-normalcy" and aren't crazy about adding it to Sean already overwhelming reginmen. However, we knew that if it was best, we'd have to do it. So, we dedicated ourselves to doing the best we could over the next three months and if it came down to a G-tube then we at least new we tried.

Here are some of the things we did...

- Drop any thoughts you may have about what's appropriate for breakfast, lunch, dinner, or snacks. i.e. if Sean wanted ice cream for breakfast that's what he had.

- Encourage snacking! At least 3 a day.

- Ask your nutrionist how many calories he'd like to see your son eat a day and keep a diet diary (portions, calorie estimates <a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://www.calorieking.com">calorie counter</a>)

- "Just three more bites". We always ask Sean to take another three bites even after he says he's full.

- Whole milk. Don't waste your time with juice.

- Cereal is diet food!

- High calorie shakes at least once a day. If your son doesn't like Scandishakes there are quite a few recipes on here for some homemade versions. Here's ours... In a blender combine 1C frozen strawberries (or other favorite fruit), 10T sweetened condensed milk, 8oz whole milk, 1 packet Carnation instant breakfast (strawberry or vanilla). That shake is over 800 calories.

- Buy foods your CFer likes.

Sean gained just over three pounds for his clinic visit last week. His Dr. and Dietician were VERY happy as were we.

Good luck!

 

[CFHockeyMom]

Erin,

At our clinic visit in January Sean had fallen to just below the 5th percentile for weight so our Dr. gave him three months to make some progress otherwise Sean would have to get a G-tube. Sean wanted nothing to do with a G-tube and truth be told neither did his dad or I. I think we kind of see it as another "non-normalcy" and aren't crazy about adding it to Sean already overwhelming reginmen. However, we knew that if it was best, we'd have to do it. So, we dedicated ourselves to doing the best we could over the next three months and if it came down to a G-tube then we at least new we tried.

Here are some of the things we did...

- Drop any thoughts you may have about what's appropriate for breakfast, lunch, dinner, or snacks. i.e. if Sean wanted ice cream for breakfast that's what he had.

- Encourage snacking! At least 3 a day.

- Ask your nutrionist how many calories he'd like to see your son eat a day and keep a diet diary (portions, calorie estimates <a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://www.calorieking.com">calorie counter</a>)

- "Just three more bites". We always ask Sean to take another three bites even after he says he's full.

- Whole milk. Don't waste your time with juice.

- Cereal is diet food!

- High calorie shakes at least once a day. If your son doesn't like Scandishakes there are quite a few recipes on here for some homemade versions. Here's ours... In a blender combine 1C frozen strawberries (or other favorite fruit), 10T sweetened condensed milk, 8oz whole milk, 1 packet Carnation instant breakfast (strawberry or vanilla). That shake is over 800 calories.

- Buy foods your CFer likes.

Sean gained just over three pounds for his clinic visit last week. His Dr. and Dietician were VERY happy as were we.

Good luck!

 

[ElizabethlovesChris]

I'm sorry I can't comment on the majority of your questions, but I did want to add that yes, it can be removed and therefore, no, it is not a lifetime commitment at all. I know my husband had 2 separate g-tubes in & out as a child. The first was around age 7, the second was around age 11, I think. By the time I met him (he was 16, in high school) he did not have them anymore, just 2 smallish scars on his belly area. They kind of blend in with all his other lung surgery/port scars to be honest! <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">

As an child & adolescent he had a VERY hard time gaining & retaining weight and tended to be on the smaller side of boys his age. (guess it worked out that I'm short myself!) As an adult, he faithfully takes his Creon enzymes with meals and has been able to retain a steady weight.

Best of luck to you on this journey & on your decision making.

 

[ElizabethlovesChris]

I'm sorry I can't comment on the majority of your questions, but I did want to add that yes, it can be removed and therefore, no, it is not a lifetime commitment at all. I know my husband had 2 separate g-tubes in & out as a child. The first was around age 7, the second was around age 11, I think. By the time I met him (he was 16, in high school) he did not have them anymore, just 2 smallish scars on his belly area. They kind of blend in with all his other lung surgery/port scars to be honest! <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">

As an child & adolescent he had a VERY hard time gaining & retaining weight and tended to be on the smaller side of boys his age. (guess it worked out that I'm short myself!) As an adult, he faithfully takes his Creon enzymes with meals and has been able to retain a steady weight.

Best of luck to you on this journey & on your decision making.

 

[ElizabethlovesChris]

I'm sorry I can't comment on the majority of your questions, but I did want to add that yes, it can be removed and therefore, no, it is not a lifetime commitment at all. I know my husband had 2 separate g-tubes in & out as a child. The first was around age 7, the second was around age 11, I think. By the time I met him (he was 16, in high school) he did not have them anymore, just 2 smallish scars on his belly area. They kind of blend in with all his other lung surgery/port scars to be honest! <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">

As an child & adolescent he had a VERY hard time gaining & retaining weight and tended to be on the smaller side of boys his age. (guess it worked out that I'm short myself!) As an adult, he faithfully takes his Creon enzymes with meals and has been able to retain a steady weight.

Best of luck to you on this journey & on your decision making.

 

[kandi]

Hey there. My son had a feeding tube put in Jan of 2006. He was twelve at the time and only weighed 65lbs. No matter what we tried we couldn't get him to gain weight. The feeding tube has been a blessing. He is up to 90lbs. I have found a new snack he really enjoys. Chocolate pudding. Instead of making it with regular milk I use 2 cans of Boost plus. It makes about 1160 calories snack. He usually eats half one day and half the next day. It gives him almost an extra 600 calories and its painless. What kid don't like chocolate pudding and made this way we get the extra calories he needs. He got tired of drinking the boost and never really cared for the thick texture of the boost, but really likes the pudding. You can also do this with other flavors like. I usually fix about 3 bowls a week. These calories really add up. Hopes this helps. Also my son loves peanut butter and jelly and I let him eat all he wants.

 

[kandi]

Hey there. My son had a feeding tube put in Jan of 2006. He was twelve at the time and only weighed 65lbs. No matter what we tried we couldn't get him to gain weight. The feeding tube has been a blessing. He is up to 90lbs. I have found a new snack he really enjoys. Chocolate pudding. Instead of making it with regular milk I use 2 cans of Boost plus. It makes about 1160 calories snack. He usually eats half one day and half the next day. It gives him almost an extra 600 calories and its painless. What kid don't like chocolate pudding and made this way we get the extra calories he needs. He got tired of drinking the boost and never really cared for the thick texture of the boost, but really likes the pudding. You can also do this with other flavors like. I usually fix about 3 bowls a week. These calories really add up. Hopes this helps. Also my son loves peanut butter and jelly and I let him eat all he wants.

 

[kandi]

Hey there. My son had a feeding tube put in Jan of 2006. He was twelve at the time and only weighed 65lbs. No matter what we tried we couldn't get him to gain weight. The feeding tube has been a blessing. He is up to 90lbs. I have found a new snack he really enjoys. Chocolate pudding. Instead of making it with regular milk I use 2 cans of Boost plus. It makes about 1160 calories snack. He usually eats half one day and half the next day. It gives him almost an extra 600 calories and its painless. What kid don't like chocolate pudding and made this way we get the extra calories he needs. He got tired of drinking the boost and never really cared for the thick texture of the boost, but really likes the pudding. You can also do this with other flavors like. I usually fix about 3 bowls a week. These calories really add up. Hopes this helps. Also my son loves peanut butter and jelly and I let him eat all he wants.