Riba with Liquid Food?

[epiphiny]

Hi guys.  Having a few intestinal issues at the moment and having difficulty eating solid food.  My instinct is that I should just have liquid meal replacements or protein shakes for a couple of days BUT I am not sure how that will work with the Riba absorption.  I am currently forcing myself to eat something solid for breakfast and dinner so I can take my Riba but whatever I eat just goes right through me, very unpleasant.

Any thoughts on whether I will get good riba absorption with protein shakes, Ensure etc?

Also, any one know of a good lactose and gluten free shake/powder, as those are two ingredients that exacerbate my condition.  Also, no iron...

Thank you!

Epi :)

[CMcH]

I have taken my meds w/a slimfast in the AM and I think it should be OK.

[can-do-man]

All of those are  good, My doctor had me drink fruit smoothies, which i drank with ice-cream

[can-do-man]

Since lactose seems to exacerbate your condition ice-cream might not be a good ideal.

[Kristina538]

I did banana smoothies with soya milk (and low fat acidophillus yoghurt);  you could also use rice milk.   (I did have a 'snack' with this, i.e. cashews, a crumpet with tahini, or a 'protein bar' because I liked to fill my tummy as much as possible with the riba).

[Trish77]

Can you try it with a spoonful of peanut butter or on toast?  Peanut butter is good fat for riba. It might still go through you but won't be lactose and will at least aid your riba absorption. Hope you feel better soon.

Trish

[epiphiny]

I know what you mean about wanting to fill the tummy as much as poss, Kristina.  I'm getting nausea all day now and I think that's because I don't have enough food in my tum...

Nothing I have eaten today has stayed in so I'm feeling a bit at my wits end.  Hubby is demanding I go to the Doc.  Guess it won't hurt to have them run all the tests for bacteria or virus or whatever, process of elimination I guess.

Tomorrow I will try the peanut butter, thanks for that idea, Trish.  It is the riba absorption that is worrying me more than anything and I had completely forgotten PB!

I'm feeling a bit done in by this, things have been going so well all things considered but this is the first time I've had something happen that may threaten my ability to stay the whole course...

[Rockerforlife]

I dont think you have to fill your tummy as much as possible for the riba to be absorbed proberly...the tummy just breaks down foods with acids..all the sbsorbtion od food and drugs take place tru the walls of the small intestine after the food leaves the tummy...jus a small handfull of nuts or what ever food your into is fine....ya dont wanna bloat youir self either.....just my 2 cents

[lalapple]

i think that sounds cool.  why don't you try using the blender just like some have suggested smoothies.  honestly don't think protein shakes would provide enough nutrients that you would usually get from solid foods.  people say riba absorbs better w/ fat so i guess it's cool as long as you get some fat in your diet

[Morgaina]

have your doc check for c deficil. Mine got way out of hand, one of the reasons I had to stop treatment. Might be worth it to check.

[epiphiny]

Thanks Morgaina, I'll add to the list of things I'm going to ask them to check for this morning.

Hi lala!  Fat seems to bring on the nausea so getting enough fat for absorption is a bit a tricky at the moment...

[jdwithhcv]

Have you tried avocado?

[granitekonig]

I've taken my riba with myoplex shakes but I like to add a bagel or something solid to it. Myoplex, by the way, I have one of those a day to compensate for my decreased appetite. After four weeks on treatment, I've only lost three pounds.

[epiphiny]

I LOVE avocado!  But to be honest, right now, I'm a little paranoid.  I didn't sleep a wink last night with going to the bathroom every hour and that was after only 2 scrambled eggs for my riba meal...  Until I get some test results back I'm going to stick to the BRAT diet.  Bananas, Rice (white), Applesauce, Toast.  Although I may forgo the toast as that has gluten.

Granite, we can get Myoplex here also so will get some to help me put back on the 5 kgs I've lost in 5 days!  Any other time in my life I would be overjoyed to have lost 5 kgs!!

[jdwithhcv]

BRAT is a good way to go, for now.  Don't worry about your lost 5kgs, I found them!

[IAmTheWalrus]

'Tis the Season for egg-nog! That might work.

[epiphiny]

BRAT seems to be doing the trick, I'm on the mend, fingers crossed it stays that way!  Thanks for all suggestions!

I wonder if I will ever drink egg-nog again?!

[lapis]

You've said lactose is a problem, I wonder if that includes yogurt?  I take meds 3x a day (includes study drug), so I have doses at 7am and 11pm.  I often don't feel like eating at those times but have found a good solution.  There's a company called Stonyfield Farm that makes organic yogurt for babies, they call it "Yobaby."  The servings are small, 4 oz, they're made with whole milk, lightly sweetened with organic sugar, and have 6 live active cultures.  When I eat these regularly my bowel symptoms seem to be lessened.  

Don't know if this is available to you in NZ or if it's even an option because of the milk.  Sure hope you're feeling better soon!!!