Teen eats no food for 6 months, doesn't starve.

[Bateluer]

http://www.ksl.com/?sid=11414128&nid=148

I'd have shot myself a few weeks in.

"Gentrie was diagnosed with gastroparesis. It means a paralyzed stomach," said pediatric gastroenterologist Dr. Janet Harnsberger. "Her case is death-defying. She literally cannot tolerate any feeds that go into her stomach."

A trooper though.

So what will Gentrie ask to eat first after her surgery?

"Not the hospital food, that's for sure," she said

 

[Kipper]

http://www.esquire.com/features/chrons-disease-diet-0909

A longer and slightly better-written article about a similar experience...

Edit: diabetics frequently get gastroparesis as well.

 

[moshquerade]

Of course she doesn't starve, because she is being fed through a tube.

 

[darkswordsman17]

Of course she doesn't starve, because she is being fed through a tube.

I'm sure that has nothing to do with it.

 

[Azraele]

Yikes, how horrible for her. 🙁

 

[dfuze]

Going by the thread title I thought she wasn't eating because she didn't want too.

Poor girl, hope the surgery is a success for her.

 

[GasX]

Gastroparesis is NOT paralysis of the stomach. It is a reduced ability of the stomach to empty its contents (in the appropriate direction). Often this is a result of nerve damage caused by poorly controlled diabetes, but there are many possible causes. This girl obviously has a very severe case. Hopefully, the surgery will work for her.

 

[PokerGuy]

Hopefully they can fix it in surgery... that would seriously suck.

 

[child of wonder]

My grandfather didn't eat or drink for 11 years after he had a stroke that prevented him from swallowing without the food or water getting into his lungs.

Your move, Gentrie.

 

[LTC8K6]

Teen is well fed for 6 months, doesn't starve.

 

[rasczak]

Gastroparesis is NOT paralysis of the stomach. It is a reduced ability of the stomach to empty its contents (in the appropriate direction). Often this is a result of nerve damage caused by poorly controlled diabetes, but there are many possible causes. This girl obviously has a very severe case. Hopefully, the surgery will work for her.

please clarify. i'm type 2 and never heard of this.

 

[swanysto]

I guess her bf doesn't have to worry about the awkwardness of asking her whether she spits or swallows.

 

[TraumaRN]

please clarify. i'm type 2 and never heard of this.

Well as an ER nurse I'll offer a little bit of knowledge, diabetic gastroparesis usually happens when you don't' control your sugar on a regular basis, such as your blood sugar is above 300 all the time for example. You'll start vomiting uncontrollably, even with an empty stomach. Usually comes with intense abdominal pain. Certain medications can help it(Reglan aka metoclopramide). But generally treatment is lots of IV fluids, correct the blood sugar level, anti-emetics, and time. Low fat diets helps as well.

 

[GasX]

please clarify. i'm type 2 and never heard of this.

One of the consequences of poorly controlled blood sugar (i.e. chronic hyperglycemia) is nerve damage. If you have never heard of this, do some reading on diabetic neuropathy.

there are a myriad of problems that come from this, but some of the more common ones are:

Gastroparesis
Peripheral numbness and/or tingling*
Light-headedness when standing up (orthostatic hypotension)
Loss of bladder control
Rapid heart rate

 

[rasczak]

One of the consequences of poorly controlled blood sugar (i.e. chronic hyperglycemia) is nerve damage. If you have never heard of this, do some reading on diabetic neuropathy.

there are a myriad of problems that come from this, but some of the more common ones are:

Gastroparesis
Peripheral numbness and/or tingling*
Light-headedness when standing up (orthostatic hypotension)
Loss of bladder control
Rapid heart rate

i've actually gone through the peripheral numbness myself recently and light-headedness when standing up, the worst is when i need to climb stairs. i had never heard of gastroparesis though. that one is troubling my mind.

 

[GasX]

i've actually gone through the peripheral numbness myself recently and light-headedness when standing up, the worst is when i need to climb stairs. i had never heard of gastroparesis though. that one is troubling my mind.

The peripheral neuropathy should be worrisome. Suppose you have a rock in your shoe and you don't feel it. You walk around on it all day and develop a nasty sore. Your impaired wound healing (also secondary to diabetes) leads to the wound turning gangenous and off comes your foot. That may sound a bit extreme, but a LOT of diabetics end up losing toes and feet along the way...

 

[rasczak]

The peripheral neuropathy should be worrisome. Suppose you have a rock in your shoe and you don't feel it. You walk around on it all day and develop a nasty sore. Your impaired wound healing (also secondary to diabetes) leads to the wound turning gangenous and off comes your foot. That may sound a bit extreme, but a LOT of diabetics end up losing toes and feet along the way...

thanks for the info.

 

[JulesMaximus]

So, how long before the Gastroparesis Diet fad catches on? 😛

 

[crab]

I had developed sepsis back in 2000, and didnt eat a thing for about two weeks. (also didnt eat for two weeks when I broke my neck and was on a vent in traction, but I barely remember that) Its hard to eat when your organs are shutting down, and are totally in a psychotic kind of state.

You feel so amazingly hungry...everything sounds like it would be the best meal you'll ever eat. You dream about food. Finally the doc says its time to try eating...the first thing in your stomach rockets back out ipecac style. You actually have to take days to train your stomach to eat anything again. Its like some terrible joke lol.

They actually have nutritional IV substances (parenteral?) which completely bypass your digestive systems. I remember it looking like a big bag of urine being pumped into a vein.

 

[moshquerade]

So, how long before the Gastroparesis Diet fad catches on? 😛

You know... I thought of that at first too. I thought there are many obese people reading that article who wish they had that girl's problem.

 

[FelixDeCat]

I havent eaten in 30 minuets....and i havent starved either. 😱

 

[Meghan54]

They actually have nutritional IV substances (parenteral?) which completely bypass your digestive systems. I remember it looking like a big bag of urine being pumped into a vein.

Commonly known in the "trade" as hyperal....high glucose content, vits, minerals, all the usual stuff to maintain bodily functions. Most typically delivered through a central line, not a peripheral IV line.

 

[Lean L]

Please change the wording of the title. It is so atrocious, a third grader would cringe upon reading it.

 

[amdhunter]

She's still too fat.

 

[TraumaRN]

Commonly known in the "trade" as hyperal....high glucose content, vits, minerals, all the usual stuff to maintain bodily functions. Most typically delivered through a central line, not a peripheral IV line.

Smokes your liver after a while though.