Lesson Learned

It's 8:30 pm; we are finally home and settled in - more or less. What a long 5 days! Sam was relieved to finally have the IV removed and now he is in his favorite recliner, finishing his last 200 ml of formula. His temperature is 98.9 - and I will continue to monitor him.

The first day of Sam's "Passavant Hospital Holiday Retreat", started off with a battle over formula, but what started off as a negative actually resulted in a positive (as usually happens with enough time). The formula that the dietitian recommended is called Nestles Crucial Complete Elemental Nutrition for Immune Support - Crucial, for short.

As it turns out, this formula is for the dietary management of: Trauma, Burns, Hypermetabolism, Fat Malabsorption, Pre- and Post-Surgery, Wound Management, Malnutrition, and Malabsorption. Sam has radiation burns to his neck, inside and out, is hypermetabolic and is malnourished... so the dietitian recommended some good stuff.

Some highlights of the benefits of this product:
High-calorie, high-protein elemental diet for immune support and wound healing;
25% of calories from protein supports elevated nitrogen requirements for healing;
Peptide-based for improved tolerance and absorption;
1000 mL provides 15 g of arginine;
Lipid blend of marine oil, MCT and soy oil with a desirable n6:n3 ratio of 1.5:1;
50% of fat source as MCT facilitates absorption;
Elevated levels of Beta-Carotene, Vitamin A, Vitamin C and Zinc;
Moderate osmolality (490 mOsm/kg H2O) improves tolerance;
Meets or exceeds 100% of the RDI for 23 key vitamins and minerals in 1000 mL (1500 kcal);
Lactose-free, gluten-free, low-cholesterol;

I was shocked that when I asked his oncologist about the new formula, she said she new nothing about that stuff; and that the dietitian recommended it. I thought; how can this be? But apparently oncologists are "too specialized" to know about dietetics. I mean CRIPES, doesn't she care what her patients are ingesting - even out of curiosity; hasn't she ever heard of Google? Pardon my sarcasm. I asked her because I was trying to determine how many calories Sam was taking in. So the only thing to do was to Google it. When I realized Crucial's benefits, I called to make sure it was covered by insurance; brought my findings to the hospital; showed the information to her and asked her to write the order for Sam to continue with this product.

Result - she did.
Lesson Learned: Be your own advocate. Do your homework. Know what you want and ask. Most times you will succeed.

Sam and I are exhausted and we plan to get some need rest this weekend. It is so wonderful to have Sam home. That's surely one of today's blessings!