You know I wish there were other people on the fundo section because I feel like I am filling it up and its kinda embaressing :oops:

OK, get this people, my surgeon just called and said he is concerned about Es weight and wants him to have no less than 1400 cals a day.... HELLO! How am I supposed to do that? He said Eli needs to have atleast 4 to 6 8 ounce pediasures a day plus whatever else we have to give him to drink to get up to 1400. I still dilute this kids drinks too. He gets 1 ounce of juice for every 4 ounces of water so this will be difficult. I tried putting mac n cheese in blender with a lot milk this evening because he is so hungry and thought that would help, and I made it the consistency of cream of wheat which is on his liquid list and he retched on it after he ate it so we are seriously talking liquids here.......

Why is he so concerned about his weight? Was he underweight before the surgery? Has he lost a lot since? What does he weigh now? 1400 seems like a ton; any idea how many calories Eli normally consumed in a day?

Good luck....

I keep wondering why no one else returns post-fundo too, Erin. Hopefully just by posting in that forum you'll attract more people, Erin. :)

I only have Eli's face to go by, but I always thought that he looks so healthy with his plump little cheeks. Is he really under weight for his age and height? 1400 calories a day does sound like an awful lot, especially when you look at liquids only for now.

He has lost 3 pounds but he is like way above average weight. His doc is afraid it will drop off fast and he will get used to that amount and drop off even more because of the liquids. he said it is something he is concerned about and will happen if he doesnt keep those calories. So, any ideas? WE have already exhausted them all around here. He doesnt like icecream or smoothies. I guess I will just have to let him drink all the caprisuns he wants, I have the koolaid jammers right now and they are 90 cals a piece so man he is going to be drinking a lot! I guess I can forget potty training for awhile :D

Can you buy a calorie fortifier, like Caloreen? It's easy to mix in.

Okay, see I told you it might become a concern. When these little ones get used to the lower calorie intake it can go down fast, really fast. 1400 calories sounds absolutly correct. He is still growing and uses every bit of those calories to do what little boys do.

Don't panic though, here a few tricks for you.

Go to the store and by some Boost it is a juice with the same amount of calories as Pediasure. He may very well drink the Boost for you straight from the can. It's like a little soda can. You could buy some and make a big deal in front of Eli that you got it just for him and it's not for his brothers. (They wouldn't want it anyway :) ) but,make a huge deal over it. Chill them in your fridge and get him some fun straws. We had awsome sucess with it.

Also, I can email you a list of high calorie liquids for you to see if there is anything else on there he might like.

Does he like mashed potatos ? You could add lots of extra milk and butter (lots of good fatty calories in that) and make it a puree for him, that may make is tummy feel fuller too.

What about the cream of wheat ? Again add lots of butter and sugar to it he'll get good calories from that as well.

I've got a few more idesa if none of those work for you up my sleeve still let me know.

The reason the Surgeon gave you is 100% true and correct. I know it seems like such a hard thing to do, and I know he is a cute little chunky monkey :D but, they want to keep him that way. The fuller you keep his tummy the better. You are doing like 6-8 small "liquid" meals a day right ? He also needs all of those calories to finish healing, just because he has little marks on the outside, he has big ones on the inside and it's gonna take several more weeks for him to heal all of the way for you.

Good luck, let me know if I can do anything for you.

Actually, based on their sizes and what Shae gets 1400 might even be a little low. Shae isn't even 30 lbs yet and she gets over 1300 cals a day...Eli must weigh more than that, or does he?

I ditto everyone else. I've never heard of caloreen but SHS makes duocal and there is also polycose, both of which are odorless, tasteless powders that you can mix with their food. They have tons and tons of calories per teaspoon so are excellent options, why ask the doc about that? The caloreen Janette mentioned sounds like the same thing, I think it's a very good option.

OK, thanks guys, I'll look into it. And, look for the boost too since he thats all he likes...

If you go to Sav-on they have the biggest variety of flavors so does Walmart. The grocery mart will have some too but onl one or two flavors. I am keeping Eli in my prayers. He will get better soon. Just remember he had a major surgery. It can and will keep him less then 100% for weeks to come.

Roni,
Where would I find that kind of stuff? Would I need to go to a health food store or do you know anywhere else? I am going to look at it when I get a chance.

I posted above your last post where you can buy it, it is called Boost "Breeze", Boost makes the juice stuff called "Breeze" and then they make just regular falvore, strawberry, mango, ect.

Roni,
Where would I find that kind of stuff? Would I need to go to a health food store or do you know anywhere else? I am going to look at it when I get a chance.
If you mean that calorie fortifiers, we order ours through a children's hospital's specialty foods store. I'm not sure whether or not you can buy it at a health food store. Does Eli have a dietitian you could ask about it? That's how we first got started.

I don't know about the caloreen but polycose is available at our drug store...the duocal needs to be ordered from SHS...you may need an Rx for it though.

Yes, thats the stuff I was talking about, the powder stuff. Thanks Janette and Roni, I was gonna go running around looking for it! I guess I will wait on that and ask the Doc about it next week if I have trouble getting that many cals in. We are going to start writing everything down to see if we need to step it up or not.

I sent Abram to the store to get Boost and he came home empty handed because he is a tight wad... :lol: I have been monitoring Es intake and it seems he has been getting around 800-1000 cals a day so they want him to try and eat real food wednesday so if he still cant then I am going to call them and ask if they can write a prescription for that powder stuff or something. I dont think he will be able to eat though. We have had a few accidents (he found food) and some he ate fine and others no. So, we will see. Send him no retching vibes for wednesday please!!!!!

:rr: Sorry, I was trying to find a "no retching vibe" smiley but we don't have one. :oops: :lol:

GOOD LUCK!

ROFL my butt off. Maybe we could just take the puke off the puking one? It can be an infantrefluxdisease.com exclusive? HaHaHaHa.

Ya, good idea...I just wish I knew how to do that....something to think about.....

I'm sending Eli "no retching vibes" today already! I figure if we keep sending them over the next few days, he's got to get the message! :lol: I hope it goes well!

Well, we had tomatoe soup for dinner and lets just say it didnt go well. So, I dont think we will be trying anything on wednesday if he cant even handle tomatoe soup. I did let him have some really mooshy crackers in it. :cry:

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And that was "no retching" wishes from Daniel. He pounded on the keyboard even more but kept highlighting and deleting the entire thing. Thank goodness my husband finally took him upstairs. Sorry to hear about the soup. I hope things are better tomorrow.

Aww, how cute, Tell him Erin said thank you!

Erin...just a thought, but is it maybe the tomatoes that were the problem? Tomato can upset reflux in some. Or even the crackers?

Ya, that's what I thinking, tomatoes are on the list I think :( . And let me guess, the doctors never gave you a list of foods that are bad for reflux did they?

no, its the fundo, he has been doing that with everything thicker than liquid which I would think would be ok for while since he just had surgery. Well, 4 weeks ago. But, his doctor is worried, we have been talking through email, he has to have an endo in the morning to check the site and make sure it isnt too tight. The doc is preplexed because he tried to do it really lose since Eli is such a heavy eater so he wants to have look at it. Does he realize how traumatizing it is for all of us just so he can have a peek?

(((HUGS))) No, Erin, I don't think they realize that stuff and I don't think that they even think about it...although it's probably not a bad idea at this point since he is still having so much trouble with eating.

((HUGS))

I don't even know what to say. We have been down that road before. I will be praying for him and the possible dialation that it goes smothly with no problems. That's what sucks about the surgery because now that he is going to be scoped it could sweel him up again. Ahhh

Thanks guys, I will talk to you guys hopefully (I think hopefully) tomorrow.

(((HUGS!))) I'm thinking of you and praying for you!

((((HUGS))))) Erin and Eli. You are in my thoughts and prayers. Wishing you Good Luck!

Shannon

Thanks Guys,
We are home. He is on liquids for the day and tomorrow the surgeon wants him to go back to food. I am so scared to feed him and dont feel to confident after the last few weeks. I will update after we get up enough nerve to try it.

They dialated his fundo, and how come I didnt know how bad an endo would be? I was told "no big deal". He was more miserable after it and ticked off than he was after the fundo. Maybe because he wasnt as out of it?

The last time Shae had a scope she didn't get back to herself for a week...of course I think that was more medication related. She never wakes from them very happy either. The "sleepy medicine" makes them feel sick and woozy, plus the scope and intubation hurts and irritates their throats.

He was actually more sore becasue of the dialation. It is very painful and will swell up especially becasue he was already irritated. I do hope he feels better soon. Has the Dr. offered you any medications to help relax his esophagus when you start offering food again ? It can make a world of difference.

No, he hasnt because he wants to see if it is paining him, he is taking Advil though for it but that is it... So.... we will see.

I hope that Eli is feeling more comfortable by now and that the eating goes well tomorrow. Since he'll have a sore throat, I don't think he'll want much more than purees, fruit and yogourt though.

Well, E ate lunch, I was sooo proud!!! That is the good news, no owies on the way down he said and no retching.. he had chicken noodle Os.... Now for the bad.... he has a fever :shock: if it gets to 101 we have to go allllllll the way back.....Please let it go away. Its low grade but has been rising..

the hospital called this morning to ask if he was feeling ok and to make sure there was no fever, I told him he was great and had to run because he was nawing on playdough. Well, as I was trying to get it out of his mouth I was thinking hmm, he was hot this morning when he got out of bed, I looked in his eyes and thought Oh Know I know that puney look. So, it is low grade (99.5) but if it gets to 101 they will want to do something. I dont want to drive back there!! We already have to drive back next thursday...

Can you give him tylenol or something to help keep it down?

Well, I could but they want to know if an infection is coming so I am not because I dont want to mask it if its there. He has eaten oatmeal for breakfast and Chicken Noodle Os for lunch so I am soo happy :D He hasnt been able to do that for 3 or is it 4 now weeks? I know its not pancakes and bacon but I am still happy. I am just going to feed him what I feel comfortable with and not what they expect him to eat. Maybe if he does good today I will try a little more tomorrow but I am not going to push it.

He is taking a nap so when he gets up I will have a good idea if the fever is going up or if its nothing to worry about.

I am just going to focus on the positive though while I can. He ate and smiled and said mmm good through both feeds!!!

Aww, I'm imagining those cute cheeks eating and smiling! I hope the fever turns out to be nothing.

Right, good point...

Glad to hear the eating is going better!!! YIPPEE!!! :wav:

That's great news about the eating! I hope that Eli's fever is just from a cold virus and that it goes away quickly! He's in my thoughts and prayers.

Well, He ate well for dinner, I am soo happy.... :flower:

You can read about in my journal on my GERDlingMoms site! I had to edit it afterwards LOL because with GERD kids you know how it goes.... Oh, and about the fever, its been the same all day just a little over 99 so I am not going to worry about it but will keep checking it just incase.

elismom.gerdlingmom.org

Roni, how can I make my site be in my sig line for people to click on. I know, I know, dumb question, I will try and figure it out :shock:

Erin,
I am glad to hear that Eli is eating better. Hope the fever goes away soon.

Shannon

Did you try food yesterday? I didn't even know that there was a fundo message board. I thought that was all the artical info. I truely have a brain it's just pre-occupide. You know when Savannah was on only liquids we were told to add 1 tbs of wheat germ to every glass. It adds 25 cal and then we were told to add melted butter to each glass too. To tell you the truth it made most drinks taste better. ( you have to watch how much butter you use though, once I got a little carried away and she got diareah) If you are looking for a nutrition drink that is a little less pricey, Wal Mart has a generic brand that tast OK and is only about 4$ for 6 of them. Well at least it's 4$ in CO. We use them still. She flip flops on the flavors. Some days it's Chocolate, some days its strawberry so we usually have all the flavors on hand for her changing mood. Savannah was only on them once or twice a day so I don't know if there is to much iron in them if you have to use them 6-8 times a day though? I don't think you said anything about a nutrisionist? But we got a bunch of ideas from ours. Might be a good thing to visit at least once since you are going through this.

Have a great night if you are still awake.
Sue

Um, your site is in your sig line. :? Is that a trick question b/c it's too early in the morning for that you know... :lol:

Actually, the link is wrong though b/c it shouldn't have the www there...did I do that? As far as how to add a link to a post, just click the button above where you are posting that says URL, type in the address and then click the URL button again.

Um, your site is in your sig line. :? Is that a trick question b/c it's too early in the morning for that you know... :lol:
Hehehe...I wondered the same thing when I read that post last night.

HUH? :shock:

You lost me, after typing how to do it last night I went and tried, I must have put it wrong, sorry for the confusion guys LOL I was just glad I got on the screen, I gave myself a pat.

Oh, and Sue, Yes he is eating, thank goodness, he is doing very well yesterday and today. His fever is gone, thankfully. And, he is so happy to be eating again. He keeps saying "hey" really loud when he is eating, and lifting his shoulders and saying "good". I think he is trying to tell me its not doing what it was that was making him miserable. Hope it stays like this.

YIPPEE!!! Glad to hear he is doing so great!!!!!

I love hearing how excited Eli is about eating again!

Oh, and Sue, Yes he is eating, thank goodness, he is doing very well yesterday and today. His fever is gone, thankfully. And, he is so happy to be eating again. He keeps saying "hey" really loud when he is eating, and lifting his shoulders and saying "good". I think he is trying to tell me its not doing what it was that was making him miserable. Hope it stays like this.
Horray!!! I'm so relieved that the fever is gone. No infection! Yippee!!! I'm glad that Eli's eating again. What a relief!

Way to go, Eli! Simple pleasures!

Thanks guys!
We had a good day today too. Now I just need to get him disciplined enough to go back to church! He is really aggressive after all he has been through! Dont blame him, but still.

Thanks guys!
We had a good day today too. Now I just need to get him disciplined enough to go back to church! He is really aggressive after all he has been through! Dont blame him, but still.
That's great about Eli having another good day, Erin! I hope that his behaviour improves now too, so that you can get him back into his S.S. class. Just a thought, but would it help if you stayed in class with him for a couple of weeks, and gradually started to leave his class a bit earlier?

its funny you mentioned that, we were just talking and have decided thats we need to do, we cant just take him in and leave him, although I wish I could. Abram and I will take turns. That way if he whacks at anyone we can deal with it so the teacher doesnt have to. Thanks!!

its funny you mentioned that, we were just talking and have decided thats we need to do, we cant just take him in and leave him, although I wish I could. Abram and I will take turns. That way if he whacks at anyone we can deal with it so the teacher doesnt have to. Thanks!!
Just another little thought, Erin. Maybe there would also be some volunteers available to take turns say once a month if it becomes longer term. On second thought, that might not work either since it's a discipline issue. We have a volunteer with Evan each Sunday, but his is more an issue of safety and of needing the one-on-one support. I'm thinking that we won't need the helper come September, as his helpers are helping all of the 2-year-olds, since he's about at their level now. :D