If you suffer from pancreatitis and are not able to eat so you have to get a feeding tube, does that result in weight loss? Or would the nutrients in a feeding tube help maintain your weight?
I don’t have a feeding tube myself but I know someone who does. She is able to maintain her weight with the feeding tube however she isn’t able to gain weight. I don’t know any details but I would speak to a pancreas specialist. I myself have trouble eating solid foods but when I have pain I rest my pancreas and stick to liquids only for a couple days. I drink Ensure or something equivalent so I get something nutritional. You can also speak to a dietitian who can further advise you what you can do.
I had a tube for about 3-4 months. I lost 55 lbs. They took it out and I still had problems eating. I lost another 50lbs.
I’ve not been diagnosed with pancreatitis (yet) and I don’t know if I have it. As for now I can eat and maintain my weight, but because I feel sick all day, I can’t help it but think about the worst. I hope I won’t ever need s feeding tube. Wish you all the best!
That’s a scary amount of weight to lose. I hope you are doing alright today.
I have gained a lot of it back. I do still have pain every day and have problems eating. My doctor says it probably won't ever go away.
That’s not fair ☹️ I hope you still manage to enjoy life xx
Maria, I began to suffer from chronic pancreatitis at 28 years old. It escalated, 20 years later, into full blown pancreatic attack which shut down of the common bile duct with my gallbladder. I became jaundiced, doubled over with continuos pain. A pain women have described as dry birthing. It is extremely painful. This pain is caused by cramps in your swollen pancreas which, with the drain duct plugged, continues to produce digestive enzyme and the pancreas eats itself. Recovery requires not a feed tube but IV feeding with lipids and nutrient fortified liquids. I had one IV in each arm for 32 days. As for the feed tube, I had one for three months as I went through radiation for throat cancer. I did loose 65 pounds in 2 months. Even then, chemo therapy made me so sick I had a pancreatic attack again, 15 years after the last time. What I am saying is, yes you can loose weight with a feed tube and one does not eat in any way with pancreatitis.