Vivonex Plus - 1st day

[barelyalive]

After spending 80% of last weekend in the bathroom....I have had it.

Ordered Vivonex Plus on the net, got it yesterday and started this morning.

Coupled with the fact I just quit smoking six weeks ago - I feel like cr@p - but my thinking was perhaps the nicotine and food withdrawals could counteract each other....

Anyway...anyone else try this...if so, please allow me to ask:

How long did you do it for?

Are you supposed to supplement - how do you survive on 900 calories a day (guess I shouldnt go to the gym).

What do you eat upon completion of the diet?

(I assume I should never eat sushi again)

Thanks

 

[hugh]

congrats on giving up smoking:dance:

" feel like cr@p - but my thinking was perhaps the nicotine and food withdrawals could counteract each other...."
ha, got to love an optimist - no, you get to feel double crap

"What do you eat upon completion of the diet?"
i'd start looking at SCD/Paleo/GAPS diets,
They works for many, you may need some tweaking, but you will have good results. Google but here's a start:-
Paleo - http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=-PpuIKTg6QE
SCD - http://pecanbread.com/
GAPS - http://gapsdiet.com/

Definitely quit totally gluten and processed seed/vegetable oils and minimise sugars!

"(I assume I should never eat sushi again)"
No grains are allowed on Paleo/SCD but i eat rice once a week (approx) and am fine with it
White rice is the ONLY grain i eat, and the safest grain there is.
If you made your own sushi (use lemon and honey to flavour) and use organic wheat-free tamari instead of soy sauce you should be fine.

 

[happy]

Hello barelyalive,
I used VivonexPlus exclusively for about four months and I supplemented with liquid vitamins and minerals that are used in TPN. I was supervised by a pharmacist for the formula and a dietician for the extra vitamins and minerals--I had to seek out this help.

I was on 1200 calories initially (well slowly I built up to 900 and then 1200). I diluted the formula 50% --it took longer to get it all in, but much easier on my GI system.

Why are you only on 900 calories--cost? The amount should be calculated by a dietician, pharmacist or physician. Please don't skimp on the amount--it could be very dangerous to your health.

Go slow, changing over to elemental/enteral nutrition takes time. Depending how long you are on it, you might develop constipation--you might need something like Miralax to help with this.

Are you on it as a treatment choice, while you wait for tests or other treatment, or to maintain nutrition while you sort out your options? Your reasons for using EN will affect how you start eating again. If you are using it for treatment to induce remission, then I would suggest you resume eating with a full elimination diet. You can read more about this in my thread in the Success sub-forum and in the Books section, looking for John Hunter and Margaret Oppenheimer.

As well check out the Parents Forum as lots of children are on it and also there is info about EN in the Treatment Forum.

Please ask me any questions that you have.
:goodluck:

 

[barelyalive]

I did only 3 packs on my first day (total 900 calories) as I assumed that was the recommended dossage.

I am exhausted and feel lousy this morning. I have sleep apnea and use a CPAP machine, my AHI last night was 28 when it is always under 10 . I dont understand how this diet would effect my sleep apnea.

I am doing Vivonex Plus in an attempt to induce remission. I have had it with being sick and miserable.

Just downing breakfast serving and holly cow my stomach just bloated up like a Macys Thanksgiving Day balloon.

 

[happy]

Sip it very slowly throughout the day and dilute it more to make it easier to digest. The nutrients are in a different form than your body is used to. You need to make sure that you are getting enough calories and nutrients-- the package does not contain enough of all vitamins and minerals if you stay on it very long. Please consult a health professional to make sure that you are getting enough calories. This chart http://www.exrx.net/Calculators/CalRequire.html will calculate how many calories in general you need to maintain your current weight based on your activity level, height and weight. But sometimes you need more on the EN because at first your absorption isn't very good.

Nasty things can happen to your body when you are malnourished--I developed blind spots in my eyes and two severe disc protrusions. I don't want that to happen to you.

The book by Oppenheimer is a good resource for all types of EN and info about different diets when resuming eating. Dr. Hunter's website has good info about EN and exclusion diets to induce remission: http://www.crohns.org.uk/crohns_disease/nutritional_therapy

Hope today goes better for you.

 

[barelyalive]

OMG, that chart says I need like 4000 calories. Im gona die!!!!

Seriously, there's no way I am going to consume 13 of those packets a day - not for the price nor the taste.

What can I supplement with and still achieve my goal of remission?

What about V-8?

Thanks

 

[happy]

If your goal really is remission then I think that you need to do some research to find out if there is a cheaper formula that you can consume. No V-8 juice won't work--it does not contain any fat or protein, only carbohydrates (sugars). Please read the info on the website that I suggested to understand that when you consume a liquid diet long-term (more than a few days) you need a formula that is broken down into more easily digestible particles and that is nutritionally balanced of protein, fat and carbohydrate with the appropriate minerals and vitamins added to it.

Some people consume things like Boost or Ensure for a short time--they are definately cheaper, but not as broken down as a formula like VivonexPlus. The book by Oppenheimer discusses different types of formulas and the benefits and problems with each as well as a discussion about creating your own.

It really is important to have a plan for this type of treatment. How long do you expect to do this for? How will you know that it is working, or that it isn't? What tests will you have done to monitor your progress? What type of health professional will you seek help from?

I just remembered this resource: https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q...5afV_UKg&pli=1
It is an excellent overview of IBD and the use of EN and returning to eating.

You might want to try posting in the Enteral Nutrition section of the Treatment Forum as well to see if anyone has cheaper formula suggestions.

 

[happy]

How's it going? Hope that you have managed to stay on enough of the liquid diet and that you are feeling better.

 

[barelyalive]

I started to feel very ill yesterday and it was effecting my work performance. I developed an extreme headache and fever.

I continue to have bm's comprised of just blood and mucus.

I didnt do the vivonex today, I ate 2 bananas, 2 cups applesauce, 1 can of tuna and an apple (pealed) with peanut butter. I am back to being very bloated.

Unfortunately I believe I have realized the fever and headache were caused by acid reflux....as I stopped prilosec upon starting the vivonex.

After a day of eating I feel stronger and stomach pain is less than usual, but fever and sinus pain remain though I am pounding down a lot of gaviscon.

I'll toss a canasa up the wazoo before going to sleep to see if that helps with the bleeding.

Tomorrow will be a new and most likely crappy day.

 

[happy]

You sure are having a tough time. Prior to this flare were you doing Ok? Could you see a doctor and perhaps try a course of prednisone with the EN and then stay on the EN for a bit after reducing the prednisone? This works for some people.

I should mention that EN is thought to not work as well to treat IBD in the colon, if that is where your disease is. The EN would still help you to get all your nutrition, but perhaps not help the inflammation itself.

It is not uncommon to have headaches and feel ill the first few days to a week when starting EN.

I hope that tomorrow is a better day.