Non-dairy alternatives for tube feeding

[Claireflo]

I'm hoping someone may have some suggestions for alternatives to dairy based feeds for tube feeding. My Dad currently uses fortisip, however he has significant issues with mucus. This has been going on for 3 months and he's been on various antibiotics for infections, on the highest level carbocisteine, he's on glycopyrronium bromide, PPI (lansoprole), nebuliser every 4 hrs and cough assist machine and nothing has helped.
He had a stomach upset from latest antibiotics and stopped the feeds for 24 hrs and he didn't suffer from the mucus issue (that's not to say he didn't still have some excess thick secretions but he wasn't constantly blocked and choking).
He's seen a dietician but has to wait for his usual dietician to be back next week to see if she can recommend any alternatives. If anyone has any suggestions I can let him know to ask about them. Thanks!

[Ellie]

The short answer is yes, there are soy based tube feeds available - all the major companies have dairy free tube feed products. If your dad wants 'sip feeds' (oral nutritional supplements), they might be more difficult to find as dairy free. They come as lactose free, rather than dairy free - they contain dairy protein.

He had a stomach upset from latest antibiotics

Was that abx for a chest infection and, if it's an ongoing/recurring infection, did he ever get his sputum analysed? xx

[House44]

i have been trying soy for the last few weeks as fortisips we're making me feel sick. definitely better and not so heavy

[Ellie]

Claireflo There's always the option of blitzing regular food and putting it through the tube, and when I say blitz, I mean really blitz in a heavy duty blender, so as not to block the tube. xx

[Claireflo]

Thanks Ellie and House44 I'll get him to ask about soy alternatives. I did think about suggesting he blends some food but was worried that he wouldn't get it thin enough and would block the tube.

Ellie yes the antibiotics were for a recurring or ongoing chest infection. He's had 2 samples which led to the last 2 lots of antibiotics. I just got told they had grown bugs and he needed antibiotics.

[Ellie]

I did think about suggesting he blends some food but was worried that he wouldn't get it thin enough and would block the tube.

A Nutri Bullet, or similar, blends food well, adding some water if necessary to keep the food smooth and thin.

Does his tube have a legible FR marking on it? That's the width of the tube, the wider the better - it will say FR16, FR20 etc.

[Jac123]

As others have suggested soya products can work really well. My husband had the mucus problem but now has Soya PEG feed and the problem stopped and he tolerates it really well.