There are quite a few adults here that have g-tubes that can give you their perspective/experiences on tube feeding, so hopefully they will see this thread and post as well.
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<br />Is there a reason why your dr does not want you to have a milk-based formula or supplement? Do you have trouble tolerating milk products? Many of the higher-calorie supplements used for feeds do have milk or whey in them (carnation, ensure, etc) but can be quite effective in achieving gain. They are much less expensive than supplements like Peptamen or other predigested ones and often a first-line choice if nothing else has been tried. Even some specialty/predigested ones contain whey so if it's essential to avoid all milk, you'll have to look carefully.
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<br />We had tried several high-cal supplements for Emily before moving on to tube feeds (Carnation, Ensure, Boost, Scandishakes, etc) Given that was the case, we moved on to an elemental formula for her. She uses Peptamen Jr 1.5 (regular Peptamen is used for teenagers and adults.) The 1.5 version is their higher-calorie version and contains proteins that are broken down (elemental) to be easy to digest and a high proportion of a fat (mct) that is also easy for those with cf to digest. Peptamen is not milk-free; the protein is elemental but is whey-based. Vivonex and some of the others that are VERY broken down have proteins that in such small 'pieces' that they have extremely low odds of triggering allergic reaction. Your dr would know your nutritional needs the most and can help determine which one would be best for you, of course.
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<br />For her feeds: we have a pump to administer her feeds. She is hooked up before she goes to sleep and the pump is programmed to deliver the feed at a slow rate while she sleeps. The slow rate it's delivered and the easy to digest nature of the formula combines as an ideal supplement for her to result in weight gain, since she doesn't have to work hard at all to digest it. Insurance covers the pump, supplies (bags that we throw away every 24hrs and extensions that we re-use for a week and then throw away, replacement tubes as needed) and formula. Not everyone is successful at getting insurance to cover the formula; we are fortunate to not have to struggle for this- the dr prescribes it in a very specific way and a medical supply pharmacy delivers it. If you cannot get insurance to cover the formula try to work with your team on recommendations for one that is affordable yet will meet your nutritional requirements- cost varies dramatically between brands and types.
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<br />I hope this helped. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0"> Any other questions please ask!
