Re: Re: TPN / Nutrition / Myrna

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 10/31/2002 8:29:38 US Eastern Standard Time,

newma18@... writes:

> >>>... I was on TPN from the 9 of June until about the 20 of Aug. I had to

> have a pseudocyst drained but am now at home and am eating pretty much what

> I want to and so far feeling really good. Myrna<<<

Myrna,

I am so sorry to just learn that you have been on TPN for that time. Were you

in the hospital for all for that time? TPN is a wonderful invention. It

allows the gut to get its needed rest. What I had a lot of trouble with is

with the Lipids (fats). I put on so much weight, I felt horrid. I ended up

eventually getting three line infections and secondary sepsis.

You know, I never, ever, really appreciated how fortunate we are to be able

to eat normal food, basically, regular consistency, with utensils, with our

mouth. You never think about the possibility of never being able to

experience the satiety of the feel and taste of food, the good feeling

sucking on a straw drinking a real think fruit smoothie, the joy of having

your mouth water when smelling steamed vegetables. Oh, the olfactory senses!

Being sick has made me slow down, take my time, take small bites, chew many

counts before swallowing. It takes less food to fill me up, but of course I

eat every three hours, too. Trying to eat and not get nauseated is like

trying to be a bull in a China shop and not break anything. I have to move

real slow. I don't mind, though. I will do whatever I have to do to be able

to continue oral nutrition.

Although there are alternative nutritional routes, like TPN or Tube Feedings,

our bodies were designed to receive nutrition through our mouths, chewed by

our teeth, predigested with saliva, moved down our pharynx, esophagus, into

our stomach, and through our intestine. I am so grateful that I provided such

meticulous oral care to all of my patients with Tube Feedings and TPN when I

was a nurse. It wasn't until I was on TPN that I realized how detrimental it

is on all of these organs when the process of digestion is eliminated from

their functions. They actually are interdependent upon each other as well as

the external food consumed to achieve optimum wellness.

I am glad that you are no longer having to receive TPN, Myrna. Continue

taking such good care of yourself. I have to be careful though, because I can

no longer eat what I want to. When I embarked on my journey to wellness, food

and mealtime took on a new meaning. It is now called Nutritional Healing. I

look at food the same way as I do medications, I no longer eat fruits and

vegetables, I eat so many gms of carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins,

minerals, fiber, and water. All in an effort to achieve cellular homeostasis.

* I found a nice laminated Quick Study Guide on Nutrition that I use as a

reference through out the day.

* I grin because, God bless us, we are all trying to do whatever we can

figure out to do, to achieve some semblance of quality of life :-)

Karyn , RN

Founder / Executive Director

http://www.pancassociation.org

1- / KarynWms@...

PAI Home Office: Indianapolis, Indiana, USA