Question:
HAS ANYONE ELSE REQUIRED A PIC LINE AND TPN FEEDINGS.

I HAVE A FRIEND WHO IS THREE MONTHS POST-OP AND IS ALWAYS NAUSEATED. SHE HAS COME TO NEED A PIC LINE AND TPN FEEDINGS. THEY TRIED GASTRIC FEEDINGS BUT SHE WAS DRAINING BILE FROM HER POUCH. HAS ANYONE HAD SIMILAR PROBLEMS. SHE IS DISCOURAGED WITH FEELING BAD. HER 50# WEIGHT LOSS IS NOT BEEN AS REWARDING AS FEELING GOOD WOULD BE AT THIS POINT.    — tigerlil58 (posted on April 7, 2008)

April 6, 2008
I have no info on what your talking about. What did grab my attention on your post was the nausea all the time. I had that and come to find out that feeling of "hungerpang/nausea" was actuallly the pain of an ulcer, it was just past my new pouch in my testines. I finally got that diagnosed and am on ulcer liquid meds. Just thought I'd share that, in case it helped anything. Hope the best for your friend! KR
   — Kathy-R

April 7, 2008
A pic line and TPN? A little too drastic for just nausea. I would seek a second opinion with a different surgeon. If she is dehydrated IV fluids would do the trick. Something just doesn't seem right. Ana, RN
   — nursevilla

April 7, 2008
This also happened to someone I know, but then right around the 3 month mark she was able to start taking things. Has she had an endoscopy yet before considering such radical treatments? This would show any ulcerations and /or stricture; my friend had neither. Some people's stomach just seem to take longer for the swelling to go down. My friend is now almost 4 months out and is doing fine.
   — obeseforever

April 7, 2008
I don't have the answer but I am in a similar position. 5 weeks out and after being put back in the hospital twice they put in a PIC line and I have nightly TPN feedings. It has helped with the naseau but I wonder how long I will have to live like this.
   — C. Burkhart

April 7, 2008
No answers for you or your friend, or any of the others that have posted with illnesses, but I will keep you in my prayers and thoughts. I realize more and more each day that when I start complaining about my somewhat slow weight loss, at least I have not been sick at all and for that i am truly grateful and blessed. I will keep good thoughts for you all, My two cents
   — Jeanne Aldrich

April 8, 2008
I want to encourage your friend. 3 months after my bypass I had my gallbladder removed. Afterwards, I developed severe nausea and vomiting and could not keep anything down. I went thru a lot of EGDs and other tests and due to the lack of nutrition, I did have a pic line and needed TPN for about a month. I had a multitude of tests, but they never found the answer as to why I had the N/V. That was almost five years ago, and I don't have any problems now. I have lost the weight and I feel great! And dehydration can cause nausea, but sometimes you need a little more than just fluids, you need nutrition. I want to encourage you and let your friend know that they will get better. I will also have ya'll in my prayers.
   — AnnCouchRN

April 8, 2008
Yes! I had a Pic Line and TPN for two weeks in the hospital and nearly six weeks at home. After my second trip to the hospital, they finally did an endoscopy and found an ulcer. I then went on the TPN and have gotten off about three weeks ago. I was also very nauseated, but my problems started around five months out. But then my Doc. says my whole progress is slow. Your friend will gain weight on the TPN but will lose it quickly after she is off for a few weeks. Tell her I wish her the best. Phyllis
   — pammaley

April 8, 2008
I have been there, I was 3 months out when the very same thing happened to me, I got very dehydrated, could'nt keep anything down, water, meds or nothing. I wound up in the hospital for a week, they had to put in a picc line and I had it for a little over a month. I had to have the visiting nurse come to my house and they showed me how to do the TPN thing. Trust me, it was no picnic. I started out at 526 lbs a little over 3 yrs ago and had open RNY on 8/22/2006. I have lost almost 300 lbs. I feel a gazillion percent better. If you want, have your friend e-mail me. Peggy
   — DBlazer325