do you poop when you are on tpn only? My daughter does nothing by mouth- only tpnright now. Also can anyone help me understand when we use TPN I thought it went all through the veins....but does it go into the intestines to digest? I need a simple explaination please.
thanks tricia (mom to 11 yr old tpn)
Hi Tricia:
I was hoping that someone else on TPN-only would reply to you. I eat and do TPN, so obviously I have bowel movements. But, I can say with certainly that TPN is intravenous and bypasses the gastrointestinal system, which when you think about it is pretty much the main point. The waste from TPN would be processed through urination, not through bowel movements, as your intestinal tract is not connected to your circulatory system. Well, that might not quite be the right way to say it, since your circulatory system provides essential blood flow to the intestines to keep them working properly, but what runs through one doesn't run through the other, they are separate systems entirely.
However, there are probably things that your body is just processing naturally, like stomach acids and things like that, to where a person would have some waste through their intestinal tract even when not ingesting anything. I would think that would not amount to much. I'm trying to remember being the hospital just on TPN, though, and I don't quite recall having much coming out but maybe a bit. I was too sick to really remember much.
I'm not sure I'm really answering your question very well, but I'd encourage you to talk to your doctor as she/he can explain it much better than I can.
Take care,
Fran
The TPN solution just runs through your daughter's blood vessels. It does not enter her digestive tract. she will still produce bowel movements although they may be smaller and runnier than previous. The bowel movements will be made up of waste products but will not contain any remnant food stuffs (as she's not eating any!). Are you worried about something in particular?
It is true that TPN is delivered directly into your daughter's blood stream, and it does not enter her digestive system when it is being infused. However, there is some proportion of TPN that is not completely usable by the body, and that is processed through the liver and deposited into the GI tract as waste. This along with the natural production of bile from the liver, as well as the secretions from the stomach and the pancreas, does all accumulate in the bowel and will create stool, although it will usually be much softer and much less in volume than what a person will generate if eating or getting solutions delivered into the GI system directly (such as gastrostomy formulas). My daughter also receives TPN only, and she produces enough stool for a soft bowel movement about every 10-14 days. She cannot move this stool out of her body without assistance, and requires liquid glycerin solution inserted into her rectum in order to assist her to move this stool out of her colon. You will need to determine what your daughter's accumulation of stool will be, and how often she will need to pass this stool. However, if she does not pass it by herself, she will likely need some form of assistance. Beware of Doctors - even GastroEnterologists - who may lecture you that since TPN does not enter the GI system, there can be no stool production. There is, and not having a way to get it out will develop into a significant problem.
I was hoping I'd find this topic on here... I've never been on full TPN before; last time I didn't get any lipids. So bowel movements were largely water last time. This time, they're strange...and getting very erratic. Are the suppositories over-the-counter or by prescription? Thanks.
Hi, I have belonged to the gastroparesis group both here and through g-pact, but am now going to stop j tube feedings temporarily and go on TPN. I am having a port implanted next wed. and starting TPN on Thursday. This is the first time I have looked up the topic for a group and was amazed that someone asked exactly what I was thinking. Poop.
Along with gp, I have MS, 2 types of arthritis, Fibro and blind. My orthopedic list of surgeries is incredible, however the gp came two months after a Nissen Fund. Wrap for GERD/ reflux.
I look forward to learning as much as I can about TPN and having such a great group to visit and ask questions too.
Bless you all throughout this evening and have a happy day tomorrow.
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