TPN - Total Parenteral Nutrition
It is a method of giving the body complete nutrition directly into the bloodstream through an IV line — usually through a PICC line or central venous catheter.
Instead of food going through the stomach and intestines, TPN bypasses the digestive system completely.
TPN contains:
- Calories (dextrose/sugars)
- Protein (amino acids)
- Fats (lipids)
- Vitamins
- Minerals
- Electrolytes
- Fluids
I ended up on TPN because:
- Eating became extremely painful
- I begin avoiding food
- My weight dropped rapidly
- Malnutrition developed
- My body was not able to maintain enough calories to function properly.
Why eating can hurt in MALS
- Blood demand increases after meals
- The compressed celiac artery may struggle to meet demands
- The celiac plexus nerves become irritated and hypersensitive
Why nutrition matters before surgery
Malnutrition increases risks of:
- Poor wound healing
- Infection
- Weakness
- Longer recovery
- Complications
Food = Pain
The emotional side
Many patients with severe MALS describe:
- Fear of food
- Anxiety around eating
- Feeling trapped between hunger & pain
- Isolation from rapid weight loss & illness
Because eating is such a basic human activity, losing the ability to eat normally can become physically & emotionally exhausting.