? re the Yakima Fruit Paste

[CathyE]

Has anyone made it without adding the senna tea? And if so, did it help enough?

I am worried about using the senna as I am not eating very much lately. I am trying to eat more, but I have lost my appetite so it's a chore. I try to drink a meal replacement once a day to help, and it has fibre added.

I don't have pain all the time, so I mostly take mild pain meds in the AM 2-3 times. Plus I only weigh 95 lbs. down from 108, 6 months ago. Just from not eating enough, I am pretty sure.

[Pharmacist.steve]

Loss of weigh/appetite can be a sign of depression. At ~ 100 it will take 4-5 cans of liquid supplement (Ensure type) to maintain your body weigh. Minimum fiber - even for healthy individual - should be at least 35 Gm/day.. not knowing what liquid supplement you are taking .. a can probably only contains 5-7 gm of fiber

[CathyE]

Thanks for the info.
I'm sorry if I implied I am only having the meal replacement drink. I am eating small quantities a few times a day & trying to increase it gradually.
I did well yesterday - at least well for me!
I'm trying the 5-7 healthy snacks routine then hopefully I will start to eat larger meals. I made a chicken stew (my husband helped!) and had a bowl 2 days in a row, so that's a step in the right direction!

Thanks for your concern,
Cathy

[BrokenBladder]

Cathy I have a low weight problem, buts it's from stomach ulcers and GERD. Are you sick at all or did you just lose your appetite?
I was down to 84 lbs in March and I typically weigh between 102-110. Losing alot of weight too quickly is really tough on our bodies. I know you're not doing it on purpose and I know how frustrating it is.
I started eating about every 2 hours. Small meals, lots of fruits and veggies, and I have added about 6 pounds back on. My motto is, eat even if I don't feel hungry and even if it's just a few bites.
Good luck to you sweetie, I completely understand where you're coming from!!

[CathyE]

Thanks Lisa,

It's a combination of 2 things. When I eat heavy food I often get a painful spasm when the food hits my stomach. The pain goes from there either through to my back like a knife or all the way to my forehead & ears and quite intense pain. This caused me to lose my appetite, just eat little bits.

I see an Osetopath every 2-3 weeks for help with this. It seems to be caused by my scar tissue that is right over my diapghragm pulling and causeing tension. He did a good treatment last Tues. & so far so good. But it's hard to get back to eating enough. That's why I supplement with Boost.

Now on top of that, I just had the setting on my shunt raised due to some problems & I have real bad "brain fog" and am sleeping a LOT!

I expect I'll have another week to 3 to go through with the brain fog & sleeping a lot, until I reach the maximum pressure and then start to adjust to it.
I haven't had the best of luck with my shunt :(

Anyway, I am trying hard to fix my eating problem. And of course the constipation caused by my pain meds (small amt.) isn't helping. I see my family Dr. this Thurs. and will discuss all this with him.

I've gone to 2 different Nutritionists (a few years ago) and both of them were a huge disappointment! All they did was "educate me" and give a few (like 3) recipes. No meal plans! It doesn't help that I am very salt sensitive so I can't eat prepared foods.

So, thanks for your advice & support,
Cathy

[Joey54]

The tea is not required and the fruit paste has to be good for you in many ways due to the vitamin content.

I have made it with only a few (GNC) Smooth Move Tea bags, I doubt that there was enough to noticeably effect me and I certainly did not have the cramping most sena products give me.

I would not buy much quantity if you buy Ensure or other supplement until you know if you can take it without any problem.

Ensure strawberry is good to my taste but over time, it causes my stomach to be tender.

I used to drink one a day when visiting granny but she is gone and I do not need any supplements.

Joey

[CathyE]

Thanks Joey.
I'll see if I can find the tea you mentioned. And yes, the reason I didn't want to add the Senna is because of the painful cramping it causes me.

To everyone:
I can’t believe it! I found an excellent book in "my library”. I bought it back in 1984 when I was pregnant with my first child and couldn’t use laxatives. It’s probably out of print now, and maybe not accurate by today’s info, but it’s called the F-Plan Diet by Audrey Eyton. The F stands for fibre & it has lots of recipes and a week’s worth of meal plans. I found it listed online, but sold out plus a suggestion to try Ebay. I’m sure a good nutrition book would cover fibre! Sorry if you want to & can’t get it.
I think I have a plan!
Cathy