Supplement Showdown...

[Solo_LTSurvivor]

I have a question regarding a recent experience and would appreciate your take on this.

Once upon a time at the clinic where I receive my primary care there was a nutritionist who basically "saw" people and called up Medicaid in order to obtain prior authorization for supplements such as Ensure, Boost, Nutrivir etc in order to get the practitioner to sign the prescription.

Well, this person moved on which meant that this process now falls on the primary care personnel.

On one of my last few visits I asked my specific PC person about the process to get Ensure and was told that s/he would have to "calculate" the specific caloric requirements before obtaining authorization and then writing the script.  Fine. Whatever.

At the next visit I asked again, if it had been done and was met with this whole opposition spiel about not really recommending this because it was full of chemicals and sugar yada yada yada and I could make something more nutritional myself by using ice cream and instant breakfast.

I took this as a sign of them being lazy of not wanting to go the extra step of calling Medicaid to get the authorization because it is documented in my health record the amount the nutritionist was calculating at each appointment, so that step was nil. Hell, the nurses could be given the info and then they could call as the entire process is AUTOMATED.

So I just said fuck it since I should be happy I am still living, and tolerating the meds with a decent CD4 count; albeit I am a walking contradiction of being skinny-fat AND underweight.

I go in for a routine in a few months -- if it were you, would you bother asking again?

[GNYC09]

I'm not sure I'm understanding your question correctly but, assuming it is about whether to ask for Ensure again...

I drank Ensure for a few months and enjoy the taste.  I stopped after a while because it is really an assortment of manufactured ingredients and contains a lot of fat (can't recall how much right now).  I now instead drink protein shakes with peanut butter (good fat in that), frozen fruit, wheat germ and whatever else I can scavenger up.  I think this is a good alternative to Ensure because you're taking in the same amount of calories, making sure it is healthy/organic and lowering the chance of harmful fat deposits.  

[Solo_LTSurvivor]

I'm not sure I'm understanding your question correctly but, assuming it is about whether to ask for Ensure again...

I guess I was basically venting over the fact that I was appalled at the fact that someone couldn't take a few seconds to do something for their patient.  It's not like I drink Ensure as a substitute for my 3 meals/day. I eat real food as these are supplements and not substitutes.  And despite the fact that you as a healthcare provider might disagree with certain ingredients in these supplements not everyone has the time to run to the market to buy instant breakfast and ice cream to make sure they can drink a "healthier" shake.  I burnt out a blender last year from making shakes and sometimes I just don't feel like going through all of that when I can just open a bottle or can.

The Kate Moss/Whitney on crack look is not pretty ~ especially when many of us still have to deal with the stigma of having hiv and people looking at us as if we have that "look".... be it them thinking we're "sick" or on "drugs" and I for one get tired of 'manorexic - don't you eat enough' bullshit.  Last time I checked there was no such thing as America's Next Skinny as fuck Male wannabe Model...

[TheRoof]

Strawberry Whey Protein with a tablespoon of peanut butter. + 2 Banannas in a blender with skim milk. Very enjoyable stuff, plus really healthy. Will help you gain weight the healthy way w/o having a lot of complication. Whey has 18 of the 20 amino acids in it. Much better productivity then eating tuna/white chicken, etc. You can get it cheap for 13 dollars at Wal Mart for a Huge Tub.

It's worth looking into.

[Solo_LTSurvivor]

Strawberry Whey Protein with a tablespoon of peanut butter. + 2 Banannas in a blender with skim milk.  You can get it cheap for 13 dollars at Wal Mart for a Huge Tub.

It's worth looking into.

Thanks for the tip.  Guess I'll have to look into it the next time I go into GNC since there aren't Wal-Marts in close proximity to the concrete jungle And I'm assuming that whole milk works just as well?  I don't do milk with % in their name ~ gotta be all or nothing.

[J.R.E.]

Hi

I still drink the "High Protein " Boost.  Have since 2003.  Actually in 2003, it was just the regular Boost. Then I switched to the "High Protein"  I have at least 3-4 a week. I also have my daily peanut butter intake,( have that on whole wheat crackers) and a banana daily. I also drink the nutritional drinks called "Naked".

I also have about 3 of those a week. I like the one called "Blue Machine". A little expensive though. I also have the pomegranate concentrate. One ounce per serving ( ususally in my orange/mango juice) or in my apple juice. But I am getting sidetracked here


Ray

[TheRoof]

Thanks for the tip.  Guess I'll have to look into it the next time I go into GNC since there aren't Wal-Marts in close proximity to the concrete jungle And I'm assuming that whole milk works just as well?  I don't do milk with % in their name ~ gotta be all or nothing.

Whole Milk works. One Con: More cholestorol. The thing with weight gain is that the best way it should be done is w/o making your cholesterol too high. That is why I stay away from whole milk. -- Whole Milk should be fine. It is worse eating a steak everyday then a cup of whole milk. So you should be fine in all.

Blenders are awesome!! Add as much peanut butter you want. etc. Any fruits. Making your own smoothies is the best because you get so much nutrients from proteins and the vitamins. Whey protein is amazing. That is the stuff that I swear by. GNC sells whey protein. But it is more expensive. Wal Mart and possibly Target have the cheapest Whey Protein and protein powders in general. I did hear that GNC sells a better whey product though. So you would get your money's worth from there.

[donna2008]

Whey protein is good, and I normally mix half water and milk. It also has alot of amino acids in it. I use the twinlabs 100% whey protein fuel, and I heard that Myoplex  by eas sports is good, I havent tried there protein shakes but there peppermint/chocolate protein bar tastes delicious. We dont really need insure unless you are underweight. All we really need is a good multivitamin, in my openion a nice protein shake and some selenium, along with a balance diet and exercise and I think we are good 2 go. LOL 
TAKE CARE

[Miss Philicia]

I used to use EAS Myoplex regularly and it's very tasty in a blender with milk and bananas or fresh strawberries.  They have flavored versions but I preferred by the "normal" and flavoring it myself.

[madbrain]

I like the Pure protein shakes. 35g of protein, and only 150 calories. And they taste great. I buy them at Vitamin Shoppe. Only downside - they are not cheap. $27.98 for 12. But well worth it.