Now that we seem to have figured out all of Alex’s health issues, the docs all want her to gain weight as quickly as possible. She is eating quite a bit (despite virtually no appetite) but it’s an uphill battle since she still has some malabsorption and we’re still gaining control over her blood sugar. We saw her endocrinologist yesterday and he’s quite concerned that she stopped having periods about 6 months ago, which I guess is due to being underweight. He said that this could cause bone problems like osteoporosis and basically said gain weight ASAP and suggested Ensure.

We went to the drug store to look for some gluten, lactose, and soy free Ensure-type drink. We’re trying to avoid soy because it seems to make here feel sicker. We looked at the drinks there and felt pretty discouraged and ended up leaving without anything. Has anyone ever heard of a gluten, lactose, and soy free protein drink or is that just impossible? Or any other suggestions for accelerated weight gain. We need to stay away from anything high in sugar. It seems like something that might just be a slow process since she’s still recovering. Her iron IVs have been changed to every other week (!!!!) so she’s definitely making progress but gaining weight has proved to be quite difficult for her. Aaarrrgg!

Ryan
(Alex's always worried fiance)

Avocados and nuts! The latter are particularly easy to carry around all the time. Keep the calorie density up!

Ryan, it's perfectly normal for a woman to have amenhorria due to low body weight. I had another normal type of amenhorria due to breastfeeding. I had five kids in ten years and breastfed each for over a year. In that ten year time-period I only menstruated a few times, maybe ten.

I would be concerned for Alex's health, but I wouldn't worry about trying to gain weight fast enough to please the doctors. She'll be fine. Have her eat healthy and gain the weight back the right way. No need, IMHO, for a sugar-laden, nutrition lacking, drink.

Just focus on higher calorie foods. Like Tiffany said, dense calories. You don't want her filling up on stuff that has no calories -- like lettuce, etc.

Doctors are not well-versed on nutrition and want everyone to fit their mold.

hi there, peanut butter, and avacodos, peanuts are very high in fat, not so much protein as everyone likes to believe but lots of fat. other than that she will probably put on weight when she is getting healthy again so patience. good luck

As long as she is gaining, I would not worry about how fast. There will come a time when you need her to stop gaining and that will be eaiser if she is gaining slowly rather rapiddly.

When I needed to gain weight I used to make smoothies which included any fruits (bananas, blueberries, etc.) mixed with juice or milk (or rice milk/soymilk) and 4 tbsp. of flax oil. It is very high calorie and an extremely efficient way to gain weight without feeling over-full.

Hi,

I just wanted to say, I am also very underweight and have had a lot of complications with my celiac disease. I am taking Ensure and find it is helping me on the days when I really can't face food. It might be worth looking into as there are lots of flavours available and it is really easily digestible. I think you sound really supportive and I hope Alex feels better soon.

Take Care

Hello! I agree w/ the other posters...the only thing that made me gain weight was avacados and peanut butter. My husband made me fresh guacamole and tortilla chips every day for two months....and I enjoyed every bit of it! It was several months before I could eat a larger variety of foods....I just didn't have an appetite. It took about a year for me to gain the weigh back (and then some!) and start menstrating again. Now I feel the best I've ever felt! Not to worry, it will happen for her, just in her own time.

I'm not expert, and I do agree with the previous posters that the wieght will return to her body with time and the right diet. However to answer your question, since you asked, instead of buying a premixed protien shake like Ensure (that would have all those things you listed you didn't want in it) try a powder.
I know that they sell a high protein powder (that has added vitamins and such) in Lactose/soy free varities, I think it is a Rice protein they use. Then you can mix it up your self using Rice or Almond Milk or water ever liquid she drinks. I have seen it on the internet, but I haven't actually looked in the stores for it, but it would be worth a try.
I'm also very underweight (and I am not diagnosed yet so I keep eating gluten and keep losing weight) and I don't have much of an appetite but I eat a lot of snack bars, for example like Lara Bars. They are made with nuts and fruit so they help with my energy levels and have high levels of good fats. Just a thought, maybe find some bars that fit her needs, and then they are easy to carry yet don't fill you up.
I know if I were Alex, I would appreciate your concern and care. Keep it up and good luck!!

I've had lactose intolerance for 32 years, and also have just been diagnosed with celiac...have a lot to learn. Slim Fast has a new easy to digest product available that is lactose and gluten free. It doesn't seem to have soy in it, for those who might find soy a problem. Pacific Foods has a lactose/gluten free beverage that also does not have soy in it. www.pacificfoods.com. This product can be found in stores like Whole Foods, Wild Oats, etc.

this may or may not help, I know that Wal Mart has a pediatric type drink similar to pediasure in their baby section next to the baby formula. It is the walmart brand I know it is gluten and lactose free but not sure if soy free, worth a look. Hope it helps.

Hi Alex's always worried fiance! I just wanted to say you rock for trying so hard to help your girl, my boyfriend is the same way. We would never make it without you guys!

As to weight gain, I've always had issues with that myself. Please god stay away from Ensure! That is NOT the way to add calories. If her only problem with dairy is lactose, and not casein, then I suggest finding a local source, depending on what state you live in (it's illegal in some states) for a raw milk supplier. It's a very good idea to drink raw milk, and quite frankly, pasteurized milk isn't worth the calories you spend to digest it. Doesn't matter if it's organic or not. Try realmilk.com, it has a state listing of providers. Also, I got glutened recently, and I'm now lactose intolerant! how special, I never was before. But, I'm able to eat dairy if I take those Lactase pills, so if she's not casein intolerant, just lactose, then I would get some of those pills at Walmart and see if they work. Eating RAW dairy products is one of the quickest ways to restore nutrients to the body, especially if she can tolerate the taste of goat's milk. It's even more nutritious. (very expensive though) What she really needs right now is densely packed nutrients, because it doesn't matter how many calories or fat grams she gets if she's not able to DIGEST them. Organic is always best. Try organic goat's milk plain whole-fat yogurt (add applesauce, it's really good!), avocado's, raw cheese, any fresh or frozen dark berry (not canned, and frozen berries are good for baking and yogurt too), organic meats that have maybe been cooked in the crockpot so they're easier to digest. Tomatoes if she can stand the acid, any dark green or red vegetable, almonds have more nutrients than peanuts, both are high-fat and full of fiber, apples, bananas, organic grapes, fish once in a while, carrots. If she can't have casein, that will be harder, she'll need more probiotics if she can't have yogurt, but I have some recipes for dairy free stuff.

I have lots of other suggestions as to nutrition, there are also a few great websites, my favorite being the Weston Price foundation website. There are a lot of recipes on there for truly nutritious, DIGESTIBLE, food. Her problem now is trying to digest all the food she's eating, her insides are tired and they need help. The biggst things to do are to take probiotics and digestive enzymes, maybe buy some dried papaya w/no sugar added and eat a spear every day. Or you can buy those chewable papaya enzyme tablets. Sorry for so many ideas, these are all things that helped me get up to a decent weight. I would avoid forcing her to eat, instead have foods that you can take a few bites of all day long. Her appetite will come back. Oh, and vitamin B supplement should help, whether the docs have mentioned it or not, I only learned about it a few months ago and I've been gluten-free for three years, and it's really helped my energy level. hope I haven't overwhelmed you, I'll stop talking now. Let me know if you want any recipes.

Oh, stay away from starches, including potatoes unless they're with a meal, they'll just make her blood sugar see-saw. Fruit is better if she's feeling low, then some protein to keep it level.

Try a product called "Benecalorie." It is available online and in some local pharmacies. Do a Google search and take your pick.

It may be just what you need.

My fav. drink and I have put on some weight with is coconut milk, a banana, peanut butter, chocolate syrup and some ice, run it through the blender, makes a yummy breakfast drink! I also agree to try gaining the weight gradually as it is much easier to slow it down that way. If you gain too fast you could start a whole new host of problems! Good luck and best wishes. The avacados are also great. You can make dip, put them on sandwiches (before I had to stop eating bacon I would put avacados on a blt!) my current favorite is a turkey sandwich with avacado slices.