Are feeding tubes helpful?
I'm at my lowest weight so far right now, and I just got really sick for a week with the stomach flu and was vomiting and couldn't keep anything down. I'm still feeling pretty sick and am just eating crackers, bread, and applesauce and sweet potatoes, and so far am keeping that down, so I'm hoping to return to my regular recovery eating in the next week because I'm starting to get better from the flu now.
But I ended up not gaining a single thing/or losing whatever I'd gained (I didn't look at the scale for the first two weeks of recovery, so I don't know if I had actually gained anything before I got sick and then lost it all again.)
I'm wondering if it would be a good idea to get a take-home feeding tube for a while to keep me out of the danger zone. Can a feeding tube help me maintain? Can it help me gain? My mom doesn't want me to get one, she doesn't see how it would help (and she's freaked out over me being on Ensure or anything, see previous post), and she says feeding tubes are awful and painful and would hurt my nose, give me a awful sore throat, and basically be the worst most miserable thing ever.
Any of you who've been on feeding tubes, was it really all that bad? Did it help you maintain weight or gain weight? Did you have to be hospitalized to have it put in, or could they just put it in and send you home? Did any of you get the tube by requesting it? Can you talk properly with one? If the feeding tube went into your intestines instead of your stomach, did you get awful hunger pains or ulcers from constantly having an empty stomach? Did the tube make you nauseated? Did you gag on it a lot? Just any and all info would be great, please.
I just want to gain enough weight fast enough that getting sick won't be so dangerous. Can a feeding tube help me gain at least five to ten pounds? I feel like it would help me make sure I am getting enough calories in my body while bypassing the whole 'eating' process that I keep yo-yoing back and forth on, until I'm at a better weight where a bit of a yo-yo in my recovery won't be so potentially harmful. I just feel like I'm not at a place where I want to entrust my health to my own eating habits yet, because I'm not always consistent enough.
Just give me your thoughts and experiences with feeding tubes, it would be really helpful. Thanks.
Personally... I don't think it's necessary. It's quite extreme, in fact. But I have also never reached the stage that I required IV feeding. I think that, if you feel you will not be able to handle your own recovery in your own hands yet, you should look into two things: inpatient treatment, or the Maudsley method. You've mentioned in other posts that your mum knows about your need to recover and Maudsley is all about parents coming in as carers to help their child return to full health. It's typically used with much younger children but it's still a plausible method if your mum is on board.
It is true that feeding tubes can be helpful - when a patient is incapable or unwilling to eat/drink the necessary amount of calories needed to recover. You seem like you are wanting to recover though, so it really isn't necessary. I can understand your mother's fear about the tube - my mom didn't want me tube fed either. But that was because she didn't want me to become dependent on it, she felt it was better for me to actually eat food so I could develop a normal relationship with it.
If you are still sick and having trouble with keeping food down, or can't seem to get yourself to eat enough, then a tube might help - if it is what your doctor is reccommending for you right now. Don't let your mother frighten you out of doing what you need to do to recover just because she has her own issues. Feeding tubes don't hurt. I admit, not the most comfortable thing - especially at first. Its kind of like having a big booger. But you adjust. And yes, you might get a bit of a sore throat. That's what iced drinks are for.
Will a tube help you gain weight? Yes. But you must realize, feeding tubes do not replace eating entirely. You would probably be prescribed about 1,000-1,5000 calories through the tube, and then the remainder of your dailly needs would be left for you to eat yourself. Feeding tubes really should only be used a last, final resort. Its not a simple quick fix like you may think. There's the weaning off of it, the lugging it around, and feeling full from the constant feed.
Is it worth it? Only you can decide what will be best for you. I would only reccommend the tube if you are really having a hard time with eating enough during the day or if you are having problems with full digestion and absorbtion of food.
tell your parents about maudsley of your younger its really good and very effective
Yeah, I think I was just scared of myself and desperate - I'm probably not going with a feeding tube just yet.
As for the Maudsley method, isn't that the one that involves the whole family? Sorry, no go, my Mom doesn't know about my ED and probably never will, she's the kind of person who would be very unhelpful and wouldn't understand. It would be a whole lot of "That's stupid, get over it." So, I'm going at my recovery alone. Once I've moved out of home I'll have more options in seeking outside help with recovery. So far this forum and all you guys are my lifeline.
I was fed through a tube sometimes as an IP.. it's not a nice experience. There's something very... defeatest, that tube feeding brings out in me personally. I dunno... Maybe some people find it helpful but to me it seems to epitomize anorexic achievement to look at yourself in the mirror with an NG tube taped to your face.. never again.
Real food. Real nutrients. Real digestion. Much better.
