Who am I? Why did I switch formulas?

Hi! I go by the name of "Ro," for short. I'm a teenager who has a rare form of muscular dystrophy. Some of the muscles that it affects the most are the muscles that I need to eat, so naturally, I became a "tubie" in 2009. (I've had one ever since, and will for the rest of my life.) When I first got my feeding tube (g-tube) I was able to tolerate the standard (and horrible) formulas that they give just-about everyone. I had no diagnosed gastrointestinal problems, and did not see a GI doctor. Over the years I began to have problems, eventually being diagnosed with delayed gastric emptying and poor weight gain / failure to thrive (in adult). 

It's safe to say that I've always been particularly thin my entire life, but as my muscles have gotten weaker, and when I get sick - it's now easier for me to stay sick longer, not eating when I was sick just wasn't going to cut it anymore. I needed to have a way of nutrition during all times. The feeding tube surgery was great... I thought it was going to hurt. And I mean hurt - a lot. The recovery process was the part that hurt the most, and part of it was from it being flat out annoying. If you go too long without cleaning the stoma area or moving your (g-tube) at first, granulation tissue can form and it's horrible to get off. But that's enough about why I have a tube. 

I made this post to show a list of ingredients that are in the (latest) formula, Peptamen Jr. 1.5, that I used before I switched over to Real Food Blends. I've highlighted only a few of the ingredients that should catch your eye. These are ingredients that are in many of the top commercial formulas out there.    

Ingredients in (unflavored) Peptamen Jr. 1.5:

Water, Maltodextrin, Enzymatically Hydrolyzed Whey Protein (From Milk), Medium Chain Triglycerides (From Coconut and/or Palm Kernel Oil) and less than 2% of Cornstarch, Soybean Oil, Canola Oil,Fructooligosaccharides (Soluble Fiber), Calcium Phosphate, Soy Lecithin, Tuna Oil (EPA & DHA Source), Inulin (Soluble Fiber From Chicory), Potassium Chloride, Magnesium Chloride, Sodium Phosphate,Guar Gum, Potassium Citrate, Sodium Ascorbate, Choline Chloride, Salt, Taurine, Alpha-Tocopheryl Acetate, Magnesium Oxide, Inositol, Ferrous Sulfate, L-Carnitine, Zinc Sulfate, Calcium Pantothenate,Niacinamide, Vitamin A Palmitate, Vitamin D3, Phytonadione, Manganese Sulfate, Thiamine Mononitrate, Citric Acid, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Riboflavin, Copper Sulfate, Beta Carotene, Folic Acid, Biotin, Potassium Iodide, Chromium Chloride, Vitamin B12, Sodium Selenate.

Here are reported symptoms from these ingredients:

Maltodextrin - Can cause allergic reactions, bloating, AND flatulence (farting).

Soy Lecithin - Common side effects include: nausea, stomach pain, bloating, diarrhea, and skin rashes.

Potassium Chloride - The most common side effects are: diarrhea, gas, stomach discomfort & vomiting.

Magnesium Chloride - Can cause diarrhea.

Potassium Citrate - Possible side effects: abdominal or stomach pain, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting.

Salt - Can cause high blood pressure, kidney problems, and more.

Magnesium Oxide - Common side effect: diarrhea.

L-Carnitine - Somewhat common side effects: stomach cramps, diarrhea, headache, nausea & vomiting.

Zinc Sulfate - Nausea, vomiting.

Folic Acid - RARE but side effects that have been reported are: nausea, flatulence (farting). 

Potassium Iodide - LONG-TERM effects may include: confusion, severe headaches, unusual tiredness, weakness/heaviness of legs.

 These are ingredients that are in many of the top commercial formulas out there.    

Guess what the most common symptoms that I had were when I was on Peptamen Jr. 1.5? I had bloating, flatulence (farting), stomach pain, occasional diarrhea, occasional vomiting, and occasional nausea. ALL of these symptoms stopped when I switched formulas.

♥

(And just for fun's sake, I thought I'd leave the ingredients of Real Food Blends below. Notice something different?)

Orange, Chicken & Barley - Chicken, Barley, Carrots, Water, Orange Juice Concentrate, Ginger, Grape seed oil and sunflower seeds.

Quinoa, Kale & Hemp - Water, Kale, Grape Juice Concentrate, Hemp Powder, Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Quinoa & Cinnamon.

Salmon, Oats & Squash - Water, Squash Puree, Salmon, Pomegranate Juice Concentrate, Rolled Oats and Flaxseed Oil.