[athikers]

Does anyone here use appetite stimulants to help their little ones eat? What are the side effects, have you found them to be helpful?

Also, has anyone used a food additive like benecalorie? Did your child tolerate it?

[SuzBerg]

Emily was on megastrol acetate for an appetite stimulant after her last surgery. It really worked she ate more than I thought possible. The problem for us is it was NOT a long term solution. We were told it was only to be used for less than 6 months (because of side effects), so of course as soon as she went off it she went back to eating like a little birdie. It's hard for me to know what side-effects were related to the megastrol and what side-effects were from having major open heart surgery and what side effects were from all the other 10 different meds she was on. BUT, I'm pretty sure her very swollen puffy cheeks were caused by the megastrol (my pediatrician said this too). And her belly was very swollen too but some of that could have been from fluid. I just know that now that she is off it she is not swollen but she lost 5-6 of the 9 pounds she had gained (again could have been fluid caused by other things). So I would say try it (if your doc agrees) but be aware that it might not be a real solution.

I like benecalorie WAY more than duacal (we have tried both). The benecalorie we use adds I think 300-400 calories (?) maybe not that much I could go look in the cupboard if you want me to. But the duacal the hospital gave us only added 60. It was much easier to add the benecalorie than the powdered duacal also. BUT I would only add the benecalorie to pediasure formula, thick soups etc. I tried it in orange juice once and Em could tell by looking at it that "That's not orange juice"! Of course if this is for Teeter he's younger and it might be easier to sneak things past him. Benecalorie is pretty expensive and had to be special ordered for us but I really like it and think it's worth it.

We haven't used it a lot lately but I'm going to start again as we are having "weight issues" again and I'm starting to worry. I also have started feeding her the "YoBaby" prducts again (although she hates that they are "for babies, she likes the taste). The drinkable yogurt has more calories than "Nutri-Pals" and I think just a little less than regular pediasure. It's the only product I can find that uses whole milk thus the extra fat and calories which are a bonus for our kiddos.

[jessnboys]

With M, we used benecalorie as well as Enlive. Enlive is about 800 calories and comes in a juice box (apple & peach flavor). He loved it b/c it was his special juice that brother didn't get and yet it wasn't baby stuff. It tastes super sweet and a pain if spilled. The benecalorie was nice b/c I mixed it with his mashed potatoes or before I scrambled eggs. Chocolate milk worked really well too. Now, at 8 yrs old, M likes to cook and helps come up with ways to add calories to his and take away some from mine (too many years of eating off his menu, lol). Keep up the hard work. I don't have any experience with stimulants b/c of M's other health issues.

Failure to thrive is soo hard! Feel free to PM me if you ever need/want anything.

[momraine]

M has just started on Remeron and it's helping his appitite. I think it's also an antidepressent or anti anxiety. We tried benecalorie and he could taste it in anything. Of course he does not like foods that I could add it to. He does not like shakes or chocolate milk of any kind. He does not like mashed potatos or eggs or any soft food. He did the like the enlive for a while, but we only ever found it with 300 calories, I would love to find it with the 800. After a while though he got tired of it and refused to drink it. I waited a few months and then for a while I would mix it half and half with his v-fusion juice which is his favorite. He likes the strawberry banana and I found I could hide some enlive in a cup of that juice. Though we did run out and I have not ordered more. It too is so expensive! He also does not like yogurt or pudding or sour cream or cheese. Though now on this medication he has asked for string cheese. I am looking for some made with whole milk. He is also 8, but he has no interest in helping cook, he is mentally 8, but emotionally more like 2. He also has no desire for more calories. Though with this medicine for the first time ever he is interested in snacks. So I let him pick some out and I dumped them into a recloseable plastic container that he can open and close and put it low in the pantry where he can reach it and also some drinks he can get himself. I have to keep his snacks seperate as I have a 13 year old who loves food, all food! He is overweight and so I have to keep him in low fat and low cal snacks, as well as me and dh. Another son is into weightlifting and wants certain healthy stuff, and dd is into healthy eating. She prefers salad to ice cream!
Other ideas I have heard from other parents include adding butter or sour cream to recipes, or powdered milk (I looked hard to find a powdered whole milk) or grated cheese. Good luck, I have been fighting the same issue.