Thanks for helping me to explain. In my case, many drs have told me that tpn
will probably be permanent. That doesn't mean, though, that I have accepted
that yet! Because of my problems with non-healing, infection, and pancreatitis
they are hesitant to tell me I can live on this for long (My drs have said
anywhere from 2 years...my dietician said the longest has been 20 years (I am
23 now)). My liver enzymes are already elevated and I have already had one
episode of septicemia. I'm going to fight this all the way, though. The main
thing I am concerned about in the short time is the atrophy and disintegration
of the gi tract. My specialists tell me I will "probably never be able to eat
again." However, I have far from given up and I try to eat/drink every day. I
end up having to suction it, but still it keeps the mucous membranes intact and
I see it as "practice" for my stomach muscles. They are blaming a lot of it
on TM, but I also have malabsorption which is a separate problem. That is what
stops me from being able to absorb anything. I now have to take all my meds iv
push. btw...we are looking for an ansaid type pain med that can be given iv
push. Ironically, most of them are narcotics and I (thank heaven...literally)
don't need that now...if anyone has any pharmaceutical knowledge I and my
pharmacist would be grateful!
One day at a time...that has helped me enormously. They have had me see
phychologists to help me deal with this. One therapist needed help much more
than I lol! She came into my room and started telling me all the things that
could happen and demanding "do you realize...!!!" I finally told her that I
refuse to think about the future like that. I cannot afford to worry about
what has not happened yet. When I became at peace with that, I felt like a
weight was lifted from my heart. Maybe that is what she was trying to
acomplish...but I doubt it. I think the woman was in need of a sedative :-)
Well, once again, that email ended up much longer than I meant. Thank you all
for listening! Please take care, everyone,
Mykella
twinkie wrote:
> Hi Barbara,
> TPN is total parenteral nutrition-basically supplies all your
> nutritional needs through an IV line that goes in through an incision in
> your neck or clavicle that goes directly into the superior vena cava and
> into the heart. The biggest risk is infection at the site of insertion. Lab
> work is done every few days and the contents of the fluid is changed if
> necessary. This can be done for a looong time and gives the internal organs
> a chance to rest,and hopefully in the future allows the person to resume
> eating,although each case is different. Hope that explains it. Cheryl
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Barbara L Dusel <scragglesd(AT)juno.com>
> To: zora(AT)worldnet.att.net <zora(AT)worldnet.att.net>
> Cc: tmic-list(AT)eskimo.com <tmic-list(AT)eskimo.com>
> Date: Sunday, May 02, 1999 10:46 PM
> Subject: Re: [TMIC] To all of those I worried...
>
> >Hi Mykella,
> >
> > I'm so very glad you are back!!! If you want, you can write me, or
> >pick anyone on the list with an easy email to remember - ie.
> >lynnn(AT)webtv.net - that's an easy one to remember and we could forward
> >your message to the whole list. That is,......if you can't get to a
> >computer in the future and just grab a friend in the hallway and ask them
> >to send a hello to us.
> >
> > From my experience, ...whenever I have asked someone kindly to email
> >to Bill - okay, like if I'm up in Indiana and I ask someone to email Bill
> >to tell him I'm okay, they usually tell me 3 or 4 times they will do it
> >and then they never do--but it would be worth a try!!!!!
> >
> > The other thing I wanted to say - I don't know what tpn is. I've been
> >out of town so I'm about 38 messages behind in case someone explained
> >tpn.
> >
> >Barb D.
> >PS If it is really personal, it is ok not to explain.
> >
> >___________________________________________________________________
> >You don't need to buy Internet access to use free Internet e-mail.
> >Get completely free e-mail from Juno at http://www.juno.com/getjuno.html
> >or call Juno at (800) 654-JUNO [654-5866]
> >
> >