Vitamix

soonermom
soonermom Member Posts: 155
in Head and Neck Cancer #1

Maybe I am the only person who did not know this but just in case there is some other uninformed caregiver or patient out there, I wanted to be sure everyone knows that Vitamix offers a medical discount for famiies who need to blend food for medical reasons.  There are some hoops to jump through and your options are limited on the model but it is the same mixer my daughter bought from them years ago and it has been a work horse for their family.  I did not find out about the discount until after I had already purchased a different model for full price.  My husband has had extreme difficulty with returning to eating post treatment.  He has severe food aversions to smells and textures not to mention taste confusion.  The traditional blender we had simply could not get lots of healthy foods to a texture he would tolerate.  The Vitamix I ordered also makes soup hot and ready to eat after blending which I am counting on to increase his vegetable intake.  I just think he wil feel so much better ingesting real food.  Thank you VHC High Calorie Boost for keeping him alive but Vitamix and I are going to kick you and the PEG tube out of his life as soon as possible.  He already says the smoothies are a step up and he is eating more of them.  Soup is on for tonight.  Even with the medical discount Vitamix is an investment.  If you don't need it, forge forward but I can see that this frustrating problem is not going away at our house anytime soon.  I've told my children I will leave it in my will to the most helpful one.  :))))

Comments

  • Tilly26
    Tilly26 Member Posts: 30
    #2
    Good to know! Thanks!

    Thank you for passing along!!

  • soonermom
    soonermom Member Posts: 155
    #3
    I am a convert

    This is the second meal I have made using the Vitamix.  I am kind of like a kid with a new toy, so excuse my fervor but those of you with loved ones struggling to eat after HNC treatment understand my delight.  I have made two very tasty, healthy, nutritous meals we can both eat using the blender.  I was just not able to make this level of food, especially using vegetables with my prior blender.  My husband has struggled with everything about food since his diagnosis and I have not been able to find many options for him at all.  He developed serious food aversions that were impacting his recovery physically and emotionally.  If you have a loved one struggling with food issues consider expanding your options with a good blender.  I am sorry now I limped along with a less powerful blender for so long. He wants that PEG tube out.  

  • soonermom
    soonermom Member Posts: 155
    #4
    OCF

    If you go to the OCF site they have worked out a relationship with Vitamix for HNC medically related conditions.  Just search the site or look on the far right site banner.

  • Starzzy
    Starzzy Member Posts: 11
    #5
    OCF

    hi, can you tell me what ocf stands for? I have a vitamix to use but have only been been doing puréed soups from a can. My blender just died too so I'm in need of a new one.  Thanks

  • soonermom
    soonermom Member Posts: 155
    edited July 2017 #6
    Oral Cancer Foundation

    They have a moderated website.  They have a Vitamix banner on the right hand of the site but if you search the site Vitamix comes up a lot.  I think you used to be able to go through VItamix directly but I now OCF is involved. I know there is some kind of process.  As I said before I did not find out about any of this until after I purchased mine.  Some info indicated that Vitamix had discontinued the medical discount and OCF had then partnered with them to come up with some kind of program.  Under the feeding thread, I started a new thread.  If you posted a question on there for how to purchase a Vitamix through OCF I am sure the moderator, Christine would give you current directions.  You might confirm you get a discount and how to access that through OCF.  I know OCF also has something going where if you purchase off Amazon they get a small kickback.  I think to get the discount you have to do it through the OCF office and have some medical documentation which is how it was with Vitamix as well.  Christine is great and will let you know exactly what to do.  Vitamix limited you to the reconditioned models, which by the way I would not hestitate to purchase.  I know people with them and they have been very happy.  I think OCF may have worked out something to include more models but you will have to check to get current info.  It is worth it, all around and I wish I had known about it before I purchased.  Good luck.  

  • OKCnative
    OKCnative Member Posts: 326 Member
    #7
    We started with a high end

    We started with a high end Ninja blender/processor (because we already owned one), but it just couldn't turn everything into fine liquid. 

    So, we located a Vita Mix in preparation for treatment. So far, everything we throw at it it is able to turn into smooth liquid.

    Don't hesititate to look online and on apps to find a used one at a great price. Ours is 5000 model that is many, many years old and works like a champ.

    I actually took my own dietitian to my dietitian meeting at the cancer center - have to admit it caught her a little off guard. But, I told the cancer center's dietitian that I did not plan on having a PEG and I prefered not to get my nutrients from Ensure or Boost and instead had a dietitian and close friend that would help me experiment with real food nutrient sources that I could tolerate while meeting my caloric and protein needs.

    We've been playing around with different soups and smoothies and protein powders (going for plant based).

    I've been using MyFitnessPal on my phone for years. That's the only thing that worked to get me to loose 50 lbs about 9 years ago - eat whatever you want but stop when you hit your calorie max. You soon learn to either eat healthy or be hungry all day.

    I guess I'll just be doing that in reverse now - instead of not going over 1,600 calories, I'll be doing my best to at least hit 2,200.

  • SuzJ
    SuzJ Member Posts: 446 Member
    edited July 2017 #8
    my fitness pal

    aha! I thought I was the only one doing that!

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