Re: college

[Guest guest]

Kelsey-

I just got my GT, and will soon be switching from Neocate to Vivonex-TEN

for nutritional reasons (you may want to look into this too).

Take a bag of gummy bears (or some other candy with no food proteins)

and DONT go out to restaraunts HUNGRY ever.

[Guest guest]

Kelsey-

I'm in my third year of college and I get all of my nutrition thru TPN and

J-tube feedings, with the exception of being able to eat bland food like

crackers, pretzels, etc.

I really can't eat all that much and I actually don't have to pay the $500+

it costs to get a meal plan in college. (Get a VERY detailed doctor's note

about why you can't eat dining hall food if you plan to do this.) I

understand how you feel regarding not being able to eat regular food.

Usually people who don't know that I can't eat ask me " if I'm sure I don't

want anything " . I just tell them no- that I'm really not that hungry right

now. After I get to know them better and they start to really wonder why I'm

not eating anything I tell them about my medical problem. If there is

anything that you are able to eat, besides neocate, bring that to munch on at

meal times and drink the neocate later (or earlier) if you are not

comfortable drinking it in front of people who you are just getting to know.

College kids are generally pretty accepting of other kids with medical

problems and are pretty supportive. When I eat something (or want

something) that my friends know will make me sick they stop me from eating

it. I usually fuss and whine at them for a few minutes, but I'm grateful to

them later when I would've been in pain. I live in the dorms and at night I

walk around hooked up to both my TPN and J-tube feedings and people are so

used to it that they don't even glance at it anymore. I still feel slightly

self conscious about it, though. But, in general, in college, and in life,

people will respond to your illness the way you present it to them. If you

are insecure about it or rush thru your explanation about it then they won't

be as Ok about it as if you look them in the eyes and tell them that this is

a part of your life, and explain it to them. It's no fun not to be able to

eat with everyone else and only be able to drink neocate, believe me- I know.

But, really, like I said, kids really don't notice and if they do they are

pretty good about it.

Are you planning on living in the dorms, too? I really like living in the

dorms, especially after missing out on my entire high school social life!!!!

It's definetely a good experience (and it teaches you independence,too- makes

moms frantic when you get sick, but we all learn how to deal with it!!!!)

-Malisa