Elemental dear Watson....

[Katiepede]

Righty, so after a disastrous attempt with Modulen (i.e. I really could have confused it with Klean prep), I am going to try Elemental 028.... I am starting on Monday (a week today).... and am a little nervous due to what happened before with the modulen.... (and I tried everything to stop being ill on modulen, sipping slowly etc etc... I lost 10 pounds in 2 weeks)....

Has anybody got any hints or tips?

Also, I have 25 cans of Modulen.... I have been assured that as it is not a medicine, and a food supplement (like baby milk) that I can in fact give it away, and wanted to know if anybody wants it?

Am feeling pretty low at the moment, as am not very well, and those who read my post when I was on the modulen will know that my flare up is due to my Father dying a couple of months ago.... but am trying to keep a positive outlook...

Anyway.... next week Elemental 028.....

Many thanks to all

Katie x

 

[petite-pois]

I've been on elemental 028 extra for two weeks I wasn't allowed to eat any food, after I've been diagnosed of crohn's. Just started eating again on 7th of July. I'm still having one sachet per day coz I have to gain some weight. I suggest you get the ones in sachets not the ready to drink ones bcoz they are horrible! The scahets tastes better and they have varieties of flavour like banana, citrus and orang. banana is my favorite.

 

[Katiepede]

Hello,
so did you find it gave you any adverse side effects, when you started?

Katie

 

[soupdragon69]

Hey Katiepede,

I am currently on elemental 028 extra also! Will keep you in mind...

I have previously been on it for 6.5 months several years ago. Main things are build up slowly the quantity you have each day, make sure you compensate with plenty of water as being without any form of food and onto pure liquids can cause your blood pressure to drop and make you dizzy or faint. Drink it over a period of approx 30mins or it can contribute to diahorrea as goes through your system too fast and doesnt get a chance to absorb in the first metre of the small bowel.

Petite-pois was right in that the cartons tend to be less appetizing although I do tolerate the orange and pineapple cartons as long as they are stone cold, they are easier to use if out and about as you just take the cartons in a cool bag with ice blocks instead of a shaker, water and sachets. You can also freeze the cartons and make a sort of sorbet which if you are desperate to eat is an option.

The flavours in the sachets for me are citrus and orange - am allegic to banana ;-)

If I can help in any way just PM me or post here. I do find it takes me up to 7-10 days to get fully onto the drinks but do start to feel better along the way.

Thinking of you ((hugs))

 

[Katiepede]

Right, it's day one of the Elemental 028.... I have only got the cartons, however, as I am only getting a couple of weeks supply to see how I get on I can always ask the doc for sachets if need be, when I get my perscription.....

My concern is that the diahorrea will just be constant and horrific (like the lovely modulen was).... Have you found that the diahorrea calmed down? Are you ever able to drink the elemental normally, or must it always be sipped very very slowly?

Anyhoo, I am sitting at my desk, sipping carton 1.... (orange and pineapple)...
My dietitian said to try and drink 3 cartons on the first day....

Hmmm, am meant to be doing to a fitness dance class tonight, but I might give it a miss

Thank you very much,
Katiepede
x

 

[beth]

Good luck with it! I struggled because as it turned out I don't tolerate maltodextrin. The trick is to sip it slow enough that it doesn't hit the first bit of your intestines and get moved along. It needs to sit there and be absorbed. From my time on it, it was obvious some people could just drink a carton in 20minutes and were fine. I had to take all day...

Even when you get it right, it'll take a few days for your guts to calm down so dont expect miracles right away.

 

[Katiepede]

Thank you!
I have finished carton 1! (I managed to make it last about an hour and a half).... as I wanted to be super careful on the first day! I will keep this updated with my progress

 

[Katiepede]

Am on the summer fruits flavour... all I can say is I am glad summer fruits don't actually taste like this! urrrrgh! :-S

 

[beth]

Ah yes, synthetic cherry yoghurt with a hint of cardboard! Stuff of nightmares.

 

[Katiepede]

ooh you're not wrong there! ;-)
Does anybody know whether I am still allowed my calcium suppliments on this?

x

 

[Guest9283]

Sipping slowely of course helps, as mentioned. the other trick is to lower the osmolarity level. You do this by adding extra water. Try add around 200-300cc's and see if that helps. I myself have used peptamen 1.5 for years (The regular peptamen being the easiest to absorb not the 1.5. However I duilute it with around 400-500cc of water. The peptamen 1.5 has 375 cals per little can. At good times I am able to chug em pre and post workout and be fine. Other times not so much on the chugging.

Good luck!

 

[Katiepede]

Oh dear, I have got bad stomach cramps already.... I've diluted and sipped very slowly....

I hope that this isn't a sign of it not being tolerated already... :-(
Am not a happy bunny :-(

 

[beth]

Ah yes, diluting it. Yup I tried that too. It did help a little.

Cramps could be just your stomach trying to say 'give me some proper food you £$%^!'. Even tho I didn't tolerate it's main ingredient it did do me a lot of good. Stick with it as best you can. The early days are the worst.

 

[Katiepede]

:frown:

I almost fainted in the bathroom... and my stomach hurts so much...
I have stayed off work for today, and slept all morning...

I really don't mind drinking the stuff, I just feel awful.... :-(

Sorry to grumble...
xx

 

[Barbie]

AWWW bless your heart you poor thing Im thinking I was lucky on modulen. I tried the elemental cartons years ago but Il be honest I hated them can you try the sachets like the others suggested? I never knew they existed but sounds good? Hope your ok you poor thing Im thinking of you can you get an urgent appointment with your consultant? xx

 

[NatalieMT]

I went back on the Elemental/Modulen today but I only have the orange flavour left in my house and that was always my most hated. I actually think the grapefruit is the best out of the 3.

I do get the same 'cramps' if I drink a carton too quickly though. Today I was lying in bed and over the course of an hour or so occasionally picked up the carton for sips and that worked quite well.

In answer to the calcium question, I was taking calcichews when I did the Elemental on a previous occasion and my dietician didn't raise any issues.

 

[Poppysocks]

Sipping slowely of course helps, as mentioned. the other trick is to lower the osmolarity level. You do this by adding extra water. Try add around 200-300cc's and see if that helps. I myself have used peptamen 1.5 for years (The regular peptamen being the easiest to absorb not the 1.5. However I duilute it with around 400-500cc of water. The peptamen 1.5 has 375 cals per little can. At good times I am able to chug em pre and post workout and be fine. Other times not so much on the chugging.

Good luck!

Did you get your insurance to cover peptamen?

 

[Guest9283]

Did you get your insurance to cover peptamen?

Yep they sure do. They have been covering it for years. If I were to reccommend it to someone, I would say, go with the regular peptamen first. If it works for you then try the 1.5 (which has more calories, but sometimes is not tolerated as well due to the increased osmolarity level from the abundance of cals in the mixuture).

 

[Poppysocks]

Yep they sure do. They have been covering it for years. If I were to reccommend it to someone, I would say, go with the regular peptamen first. If it works for you then try the 1.5 (which has more calories, but sometimes is not tolerated as well due to the increased osmolarity level from the abundance of cals in the mixuture).

Thanks Ziggy,

I also have Aetna. Hopefully I won't have a problem getting them to cover it. I have an appointment with a GI tomorrow and I am going to get the GI to write me a script for whatever Enteral formula they recommend.