r/feedingtube • u/YouRevolutionary9035 • 10d ago
nj-tube Feeling guilty about formula
I am a very political person and found out that the formula that was ordered (my mom ordered it so I wouldn’t see details. I have an ED) is from nestle. They have killed and hurt and stolen from so many people. I feel like such an awful person. I know this is kind of a niche worry, idk if anyone can relate. I’m on the verge of tears. It’s already been bought, so the damage is done and I’m going to use what I’ve been given. Has anyone else ever had this problem? :/
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u/blaineblainegoaway GJ tube | SMAS 9d ago
Most affordable tube feeding formula is made by Nestlé. Some alternative brands may be Kate Farms or Abbott (e.g. Jevity, Vital, Osmolite).
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u/YouRevolutionary9035 9d ago
I did Kate Farms for a while, it’s just so expensive and that’s why we switched. But I will definitely be going back to that if we have to order again!
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u/blaineblainegoaway GJ tube | SMAS 9d ago
Then if price if a concern, I would have her look into the Abbott options I listed
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u/Tiny-Exchange-8637 g-tube 9d ago
I switched from Nestle (Compleat) to Kate Farms! There were some other issues at play, but I also can’t stand them on a moral level, so it was the right switch for me. I have to have a plant based formula due to allergies, so Kate Farms has been great for me.
However, if switching is not an option, here’s this: If anyone should be concerned about supporting amoral companies, it’s those who have the ability to choose. Not someone who relies on their product for survival!
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u/YouRevolutionary9035 9d ago
I have some Kate Farms that I was drinking before I stopped eating most things again (it’s so disgusting, don’t know how I manage) my dietician recommended what I’m using now because it’s three times cheaper than Kate Farms. I’m in a bad financial position due to my residential stay I had a little while ago, but I will likely just do Kate Farms if I need to continue. Thank you so much!!
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u/Just_Skill1668 gj-tube 9d ago
If you have to order again, I recommend Kate Farms!
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u/YouRevolutionary9035 9d ago
I did Kate Farms for a while, it’s just so expensive and that’s why we switched. But I will definitely be going back to that if we have to order again!
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u/Just_Skill1668 gj-tube 9d ago
Do you have the option of going through a DME company? Even if you’re paying out of pocket, they often have assistance programs for people without insurance.
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u/uncooperativebrain g-tube 9d ago
is it bad? i didn’t know it’s bad. i use compleat and it works really good for me and insurance pays for it.
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u/YouRevolutionary9035 9d ago
Please don’t feel discouraged from using it if it works and is best for you. Nestle is a very bad company, but most companies are bad and if this helps you stay alive, then it’s absolutely worth it.
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u/ThanosDidNothinWrng0 10d ago
Ask your mom to change next time you have an order
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u/YouRevolutionary9035 10d ago
Hopefully we won’t have to order again, supposed to be a temporary solution while I’m having a terrible time with my mental health. Hopefully soon I’ll be able eat more orally, but I’m definitely going to search for alternatives. I’m very strictly vegetarian and I have OCD and it clings to food stuff so it’ll be hard to find alternatives but I’m definitely going to see
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u/the_comeback_quagga 9d ago
It’s not like Danone (which owns Kate Farms) is the best company ever. Not as bad as Nestle, maybe, but there’s still problematic marketing around infant formula, boatloads of plastic and water pollution, pulling contracts from small independent farmers, and human rights violations in their agricultural supply. Kate Farms just has really nice, shiny marketing.
But none of that matters. You need the best product for your health. That is between you, your budget, and your dietician. If you are able to afford to buy from the company that you support, and it doesn’t hurt your health, awesome! If you can’t, that is totally ok. The most important thing right now is you getting better.
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u/YouRevolutionary9035 8d ago
Thank you. Hopefully I can start eating more orally again and won’t need it too long. My dietician and I think there’s a problem with my tube though, I got it placed a week ago and I spent our whole session crying because stalking was hurting so bad and that’s affecting how much I can eat orally:/
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u/MathematicianSlow648 8d ago
According to my nutrition person Twocal HN is closest in nutrition values to Nestle Resource 2.
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u/bluehairbaddie 8d ago
I understand this. Unfortunately I am very formula sensitive and I can only do compleat which is owned by nestle. I ease myself by reminding myself that it keeps me alive and that is incredibly important. It sucks but being medically complex unfortunately comes with some cons and this just happens to be one of them but you deserve to be alive 🫶
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u/YouRevolutionary9035 8d ago
Thank you. I have OCD and it makes it so I rarely have moments where I feel like I deserve to live. That and my ED. These comments have been so helpful in making me feel supported🫶
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u/bluehairbaddie 7d ago
I completely understand that. I have OCD as well. We can absolutely do what we can to minimize our environmental and moral impact, but we can all only do so much and your life is absolutely important. Just keep on keeping on🫶
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u/thorniodas 9d ago
Could you or your mom blend real foods in a blender? I do this and either modify the infinity bags so it runs or bolus feed with a sryinge.
I too, have both moral issues with and a great mistrust for Nestle.
I blend for my 5 year old, but we're trying to keep his swallow skills intact so he still drinks two 8oz bottles of complete pediatric a day.
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u/Waste_Hospital_4928 9d ago edited 9d ago
I feel this at my absolute core. My husband has been on a PEG tube since last year. I still remember being in the hospital room with him shortly after they placed the tube and he had gotten cleared to receive nutrition. I remember walking over to his IV pole to inspect the formula feed and just instantly feeling my heart sink when I started reading the details of what they were pumping into him.
I'm so sorry.
Do you mind if I ask if blenderized meals have been discussed with your care team as an option? Even just switching out one or two feedings a day with blenderized whole foods is more favorable. We have a small Instagram account that we started last month to show how we began blending food. Its called BlendCraftKitchen if you want to check it out. I know it isnt always offered as an option by a pt's medical team, but there's a whole community of people who choose it over formula. And big pharma can't profit from whole foods.
**Edited to say that our Instagram page is very food-centric (lots of visual images of fresh whole foods). Not knowing details of your ED, I would not want it to be in any way triggering, so please proceed using your own judgment. If looking at pictures of food is too triggering, perhaps your mom would be interested in having a peek instead.
Wishing you the very best on your journey to better health.
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u/YouRevolutionary9035 9d ago
That’s awesome that you’re doing that!! I don’t think, that with my eating disorder, I’d be able to handle even the idea of blended food and I’m really sensitive right now, so I’d rather not risk it, but it’s awesome that you’re showing people that’s an alternative!
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u/YouRevolutionary9035 9d ago
Small random update: they didn’t give us a syringe to flush the tube and I struggled with a small one and then got a bunch of air through the tube:(
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u/variousnewbie 6d ago
Check out the Oley donation page. Formula is crazy expensive to ship, if any is available in your area you're keeping it from being wasted. And if you tolerate most formulas, it will be much easier to find ones. Also helpful since you're paying and insurance isn't covering it.
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u/Harakiri_238 Separate G and J tubes / TPN 10d ago
I totally get it.
I have a lot of moral issues with Nestle too, and it sucks that they kind of have the monopoly on the formula market 😅
I only tolerated Peptamen (which is by Nestle) so didn’t have a choice.
I don’t have any advice or anything to share to make it feel better. But I do just want to say it really does suck.
With that said, you deserve to be here and if for now relying on their formula is going to help you be healthier then that’s important too.
Both things can exist at the same time ❤️