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Women have been doing crazy things to lose weight for a long time, and when there’s a long white dress hanging in the wardrobe it often goes to another level. But the latest method to be spruiked by a few unscrupulous doctors would render even a weight loss infomercial star speechless. Yesterday, it was in my news feed on social media. Then it hit my screens, being reported on in news programs and morning television. And still, over 24 hours later, I can’t believe it.
The story goes that over in the States, women are using a new ‘diet’ technique to lose a few pounds quickly, usually in the lead-up to their wedding day. They forego food altogether for ten days, and get their nutrition instead from a special formula delivered via a naso-gastric tube. They get around 800 calories per day, including protein and nutrients but no carbohydrates. Common side effects include halitosis, dizziness, fatigue and constipation.
Now, I am pleased to say that I have heard nothing but disbelief and anger from every commentator who has broached this subject, but my feelings on it go slightly further. It absolutely floors me. Boggles me. Makes me want to get on a plane, find the people doing this and slap them with something large and piscatorial. Sometimes, I think, healthy people can be incredibly stupid.
My expertise on this subject is very personal, and quite involved. Due to an auto-immune disease, combined with some quirks of my internal design, I have had countless naso-gastric tubes, both to feed me and to drain things out of my stomach. I have also tried feeding via a PEJ tube, which is inserted through the wall of your abdomen directly into the upper intestine, and parenteral nutrition, which is administered intravenously. For anyone who even, for a split second, thought this might be an easy way to drop a dress-size, I can tell you categorically it is NOT FUN.
Think about it. A big plastic tube up your nose. Even at the most basic level it’s not appealing. Then you need to consider it goes down your throat, where it rubs and irritates til you have trouble swallowing and talking, and that you’re tethered to a bag (or IV pole, or feeding pump) for the entire time it’s inserted. Is that how you’d want to spend the week before your wedding?
If you widen your focus and look at the broader health implications, this weight loss method becomes even more ridiculous. Like any crash diet, the kilos are going to come boomeranging straight back, and will probably bring some extra friends with them. As for your nutritional needs, 800 calories a day is less than half of what my dietician tells me I should be having, and I’m a pretty small person. And then there’s the less scientific, but equally valid point that even though the stuff they put up the tube says that contains all of your nutritional needs, there is something magic about real food that makes your body feel and perform better. Simply put, the whole process is just not good for you.
Why anyone would voluntarily have this done to them is beyond me. The countless nights I have spent attached to machines and tubes of various kinds, both at home and in hospital, are things that I wouldn’t wish on anyone. That the medical expertise exists now is amazing; I wouldn’t be here without it and I’m very grateful to the boffins who figured it all out. To be using it for such trivial purposes, however, is deeply disturbing.
Beyond the questions of women’s body image issues that it obviously raises, it also calls into question the ethics of the doctors willing to charge customers for this ‘service’, and a system under which unnecessary and potentially threatening treatments are administered for purpose of losing as little as ten pounds (that’s just over four kilos, in our language). As someone who relies the medical system of this country frequently, I want to know that the doctors treating me are only doing what they think is absolutely necessary for my wellbeing. Every procedure carries risks – a naso-gastric tube, for example, if inserted incorrectly, could cause internal perforations and cause infections. When there are medicos who will do things on a patient’s whim, or to make extra cash, is can make the trust we place in the whole system shaky.
If your happiness on your wedding day hinges on you being a couple of kilos lighter, chances are there is no ten day procedure that will help you.
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Lara Irvine is a writer based in regional Victoria, who has not yet given up her day job in an office. You can hear from her sporadically on twitter here.
What do you think? Have you ever considered a risky weight loss method?
Comments
65 Comments so far
let’s hope the grooms are turned on by haliatosis, fatigue and constipation.
What a fun, romantic and sex-filled honeymoon that will be…
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Wrong wrong wrong. That is all.
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I got my wedding dress made, and the first thing the dress maker asked me was if I was going to try to loose weight between then and the wedding! I was surprised, and said no. It did need ti be taken in a bit singer the bust in the week or two before, but I think that was partly due to underwear and maybe a kg or so lost due to being super busy in the lead up.
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ARGH!!!!!! When I went looking for my wedding dress I was so small I looked like I had a disorder, and the sales lady looked at me disparagingly and said ‘Of course, you’ll loose some weight between now and then’. I promptly changed back into my own stuff and left. I bought my dress from a shop where the lady looked at me in a dress and said ‘well don’t you look perfect’. Like, WOW!!!!
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I found out that my wedding dress no longer fit me about 3 months before my wedding when I attended a second fitting. I will admit that I was a bit upset at the time, not helped by the fact I received plenty of ‘advice’ about how to drop a couple of dress sizes in a hurry (I was told to take horse diuretics among other pearls of wisdom!!!). I couldn’t believe the amount of people that felt they had the right to comment on my body, just because I couldn’t squeeze myself into a dress that I was going to wear for one day.
Thats when I realised that I didn’t need to fit the dress, the dress needed to fit ME, simple. I talked to the lovely lady at the bridal shop, exchanged it for a dress two sizes bigger and strutted my curvy arse down the isle a few months later feeling as beautiful as I have ever felt! I was lucky enough to be marrying the most wonderful man on earth (in my opinion anyway), who cares if there was a bit more of me to love.
Brides-to-be, please just enjoy your wedding day, you won’t regret it!
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this is a ridiculous but sadly not unbelievable in a society that is constantly looking for new weight loss initiatives that provide an easy way out. What’s most disturbing is that usually a feeding tube is utilised when someone is on the brink of life. People who consider this, and any other drastic weigh loss measure, need to think long and hard about why they want to do it, why it’s a better option than eating healthy and exercising.
I just don’t understand why brides always want to lose weight before their wedding. the guy has already proposed, obviously he loves you the way you are, why on earth would you want to change that by doing something so demeaning and harmful to your health?
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Holy crapballs. People are just getting out of hand with these diets. An NG tube would have to hurt like a bitch! If I tried it, with my deviated septum and severe allergies making me sneeze, I’m sure it would only end badly.
Plus, and this is what I can’t get over, what about the part where food tastes awesome? Why deny yourself something so basic like the deliciousness of a well cooked meal with your mates?
I’ve recently lost four kilos (the magic ten pounds), and I’m not even lying, it was all in portion control. Didn’t even change my workout! Portion control and avoiding carbs after lunch if possible. Way easier than having a tube rammed in my nose.
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A friend of mine is married to a beautiful Cambodian man who has a brother still living in Cambodia. Recently his wife gave birth to their first child, a gorgeous baby girl. They have since found out that the baby was born with 2 holes in her heart and with no hospitals in Cambodia equipped enough to perform such a delicate surgery, no money to pay staggering medical costs to go O/S even if they could get a visa (unlikely) and difficulty in even communicating what the proper diagnosis is, they have been told to take her home and make her comfortable as there is nothing they can do without more money.
So to hear about women being so vain and wasting precious resources as well as basically burning money (for what? so you can look good for one day when everyone already knows what you look like?) is not just an insult to all those who have been unwell in Australia but for all those overseas who do not have access to even the most basic medical care. Sometimes our society astounds me.
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How can doctors even think about supporting this? I can’t believe that doctors would be allowed to support this.
I don’t even have the words to describe how I feel about this.
I wonder at the end of it all if these women even have the energy to enjoy their wedding day.
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My 18 year old daughter has been seriously ill for the past 6 years with bowel/gastro intestinal illness and has had many NJ/NG tubes inserted for months at a time. She now has a PEG tube. The kind of horror she has experienced because of these tubes is beyond words. There is nothing that could ever make her want a tube and she spends every moment of her life wishing she didnt need one to live! Is our society that vain? Are some doctors that greedy they would inflict pain needlessly this way on a patient? Not to mention it has damaged her throat and ulcerated her duodenum
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As a medical student I can’t believe these doctors still have their licence to practice!! And I am ashamed of their behaviour when, as medical professionals, they should be following the ethical guideline of ‘do no harm’.
As someone who has lived off nasogastric tube feedings for many years (as a child/adolescent) I just can’t fathom why someone would subject themselves to this; the fact that they are suggests to me they have far greater issues than dropping a few dress sizes for a wedding.
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I’m getting married next year. So should I get on the carb free diet 6 weeks prior, or the one my work colleague is on which you eat different proteins on different days, or the starvation diet? I’m not disciplined enough for any of these.
My plan is this… I have increased my vegetable intake, I’m eating breakfast everyday and I’m going to try & eat more fruit & walk my dog. But I’m doing that for life not for the wedding. I want to look like me in my wedding photos not a skinnier version of me or a heavily made up me, just me. Those who matter don’t mind & those who mind don’t matter.
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Pffft, go to the gym and lift weights 3-4 times a week (split the routine so you do biceps/triceps one day, hamstrings/shoulders, quads/back another day etc). Seriously you will notice a HUGE difference in your body.
Don’t bother with carb free nonsense. You are right about walking doggy (try to walk for an hour or jog 20mins at least 3-4 times a week and increasing vegetables.
Just increase your exercise and clean up the bad bits (or mininmise the bad bits) and you’ll notice a huge differencein your body. seriously i’ve lost heaps of weight from just weight training and i still go out and party and drink and eat cake. i have shape and am fitter, stronger and healthier.
it’s also excellent for dealing with stress of planning your event.
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Great post, Kym. I love the way you think!
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Oh, this is awful! There’s enough stress involved in weddings without trying to cope with making decisions when you’re starved to the point of fainting. How can anyone be happy with this idea? Aren’t weddings meant to a joyous event?
And what happens when the bride gets ‘fat’ years down the track? Will this become a regular part of her life? What does that tell her husband – and any children they may have – about her self esteem?
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If your future wife did this surely you would have serious doubts in your mind about your future together.
I agree with Jay sometimes it is just impossible not to be judgmental of such behaviour. I’m actually disgusted that there are doctors that actually undertake this procedure.
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Stop judging.
I get it- you all think the women are stupid, dumb, silly … Whatever.
But have any of you stopped judging and spoken to any of the women????
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Some things are just so stupid it is impossible not to judge. What a great idea why don’t we all get on a plane and speak to the women then we can decide whether we should judge them….or not…..or maybe we can just read the article and give our opinion which is that trying to lose weight in such a brainless way just makes any normal sane woman shake her head in disbelief. I doubt any man would prefer his bride to be with hallitosis and constipation rather than a couple of extra kilos which will come back after the wedding anyway. Kind of get the feeling you just want to disagree with whatever anybody says but your comment really doesn’t give anything to the discussion.
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Some things are just so dumb and not to mention dangerous that we SHOULD judge them and come right out and say that they are just wrong wrong wrong. I can’t believe that there could be any circumstances under which this behaviour could be considered ok. Shame on any doctor who allows this, they should be struck off.
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No, I haven’t spoken to them because I don’t know anyone stupid enough to pay a quack $1500 to have a plastic tube shoved down their nose in the name of vanity.
What’s not to judge? They’re stupid, vain and weak willed. Hell, I’m feeling pretty good about myself at the moment.
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I had a naso gastric tube after surgery last year and I hated it so much I pulled it out and tried to convince the nurse that it fell out. Why anyone would do such a thing is beyond me.
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“If your happiness on your wedding day hinges on you being a couple of kilos lighter, chances are there is no ten day procedure that will help you.”
This comment is so bang on. Honestly, I can’t fathom why women seem to be SO preoccupied about having the perfect wedding without even giving a second THOUGHT as to how their marriage will be. If I were the groom, I’d be running for the hills.
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My comment isn’t about the procedure but about the women…
When I tried to lose weight for my wedding, a colleague said to me: Your fiancée loves you as you are. Don’t stress too much about loosing weight.
And I didn’t.
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Too cranky to formulate coherent commentary. I watched my premmie baby girl be fed through a neogastric tube for 10 weeks…it was horrible.
It should be used in cases of medical necessity, not in cases of stupidity or vanity or both. Grrrr.
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This kind of extremism is absolutely shocking and saddening. It clearly exhibits the kind of quick-fix mentality, that you so rightly say no 10 day diet is going to help with.
This is a mental problem that is borne out of deep self-loathing. I feel sorry for the women who feel that this is a good option to ensure their slimness and “happiness” on their wedding day, and like many of you pretty disgusted at the unscrupulous doctors who would offer this as a treatment and prey on those who clearly need some help with their psychology and emotions.
The only way to lasting slimness is through self-love, healthy mind, healthy choices, healthy body.
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thank you, 100% agree
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I have an eating disorder & my doctor tried to have me admitted to a medical ward a few weeks ago for refeeding (via NG tube) & couldn’t get me a bed. Having previously had NG Tubes before – they hurt like all fuck. They hurt going in. They hurt when they rub against your nose.They hurt when you cough & sneeze. They hurt even more being pulled out (even moreso when you’re an angry eating disorders patient & you pull it out yourself) & like any medical procedure, they have medical risks attached. In the instances I’ve had them, I’ve needed them to save my life.The benefit has far outweighed the cost.
Perhaps I wouldn’t feel so bitter about this if eating disorders didnt’ have the highest mortality rate of any mental illness & there were more than 2 state-wide funded beds in NSW. But if this trend hits Australia, you can be assured that I’ll be banging down the doors of every doctor who does the procedure & telling them they’re idiots personally.
PS – shameless plug, but if you want to sign a petition for an increase in the eating disorder services available to adults with eating disorders in NSW – please, please, PLEASE sign the petition here. http://www.change.org/petitions/nsw-health-it-s-time-to-provide-adequate-care-for-eating-disorders-patients-in-nsw
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Agreed Ella – they “hurt like all fuck”.
I had one for months overcoming illness in hospital. I can not begin to describe how disgusted I am that these MORONS -yes, these women are stupid – plain and simple, would CHOOSE a NG tube.
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I know eating disorders are terrible but if someone has the lucidity and perspective to write about their ED (as you obviously do, and have been doing for what seems to be a long time) there comes a point where they need to try and do something about it. If you’re well enough to recognize you have an ED you should be well enough to fight it.
Why should beds be given to an “angry eating disorder patient” who rips the feeding tubes out of their nose ahead of a sick child or someone with a condition they haven’t inflicted on themselves?
Sorry if this sounds harsh but I don’t think someone who enjoys wallowing in an eating disorder and demands the right to medical resources while refusing treatment is that much better than a vain bride.
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Lucille, I work with children with eating disorders and what you’ve described above is a common reaction, as many in the community perceive eating disorders to be a choice. I think it can help people to view ED’s as a complex psychiatric conditions (which they are) and that often these patients do not want, or feel worthy of receiving treatment in the first place. People with ED’s need compassion, just like others who are struggling with a physical or mental illness.
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A child with an eating disorder is different to a grown woman who seems to spend inordinate amounts of time blogging about it. I think these pro-ano blogs are a tremendous worry because they glorify eating disorders as a lifestyle choice and a badge of honour.
Blogging about an eating disorder validates it in the sufferer’s mind (esecially when there is lots of positive feedback) and cements it as their identity, as well as encouraging them to become increasingly self-absorbed.
I suffered anorexia too, and went through the gamut of doctors and psych wards. However I belonged to a generation that didn’t have access to the Internet or pro-ano blogs, thank god.
I managed to recover, but it was messy and difficult and I still couldn’t tell you where the lines between being sick, recovering and getting well began or ended. But I know while it took me some 20 years I did get well in the end. Now I regret those wasted years and just think how stupid and pointless it all was. Certainly not worth bragging about on a blog.
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I’m glad to hear you’ve recovered, Lucille, and it sounds like as a result of that, your perspective of the condition may now be at a different point to what it was when you were in the acute stages.
Indeed times are different with the advent of the internet and related sites/blogs.
I wish you well.
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I don’t even feel like I need to write my own comment. Instead I’d just like to echo what Lucille et al. have already posted to express my wholehearted agreement.
This article isn’t about eating disorders – but the spin has gone that way (curiously). I’d simply like to say that I’ve been there, done that and regret, daily, all that wasted time. I’m very grateful that I have a life outside my eating disorder and my computer screen and, more so, that I don’t feel a desperate desire to blog, tweet and share every gory detail of my illness on the internet. There’s a lot more to see/do/experience in the physical, tangible world.
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This reply is not just to you, Rach, but to all those who share your view above and those who have shared it in their minds. This is not relevant to the article, but where this conversation has gone. I normally do not engage, but this time I can’t leave it be.
I was trained in Mental Health First Aid by a psychologist who runs mental health first aid courses and works with North Shore Mental Health. I wrote about it, and rather than writing my point again, I’d like to share an excerpt with you:
“The first task we undertook was writing down the purposes and skill sets required to administer standard physical first aid. Then the trainer asked us why this didn’t apply to mental health first aid? It does.
It was at this point she said something that resonated with me so strongly, I couldn’t even wait to finish the course to share it with you:
All illness is physical.
Diabetes is a chemical imbalance in the pancreas. Heart disease is a chemical imbalance in the heart. Mental illness is a chemical imbalance in the brain. She explained that the brain is made up of communication channels, within which there synaptic gaps. The messages are required to jump these gaps by the release of chemicals which travel across them. If the wrong chemicals are released the wrong message is received.
Gives you a whole different perspective, doesn’t it? Which brings me to the second part of what she said.
The only difference between physical illness and mental illness is our attitude towards it.”
Telling someone to just get over a mental illness is like telling an asthmatic to just breathe.
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I agree with this somewhat.
But if a diabetic refused to administer their insulin, all the while publicly advocating to others how important it is to look after their health – I imagine it would frustrate other diabetics who are doing their best to look after their health.
Eating disorders are difficult to overcome, fact. But sitting at home, proud of blogging about how severe your illness is isn’t going to change anything. I’ve read this blog that is being referred to, and the writer has described in vivid detail just how little control she has, how difficult it is to eat, how much pain she is in. Understandable. I also know some of this writer’s friends, who have tried their best to help, only to be knocked back.
I agree that telling someone to just get over a mental illness is ridiculous. But telling someone to accept the help that they are being offered – whether that’s letting a friend take them grocery shopping, letting someone cook for them or eat with them if they’re struggling to do it themselves… I think that’s reasonable.
I don’t understand why someone would sit around complaining about just how horrible everything is and how there’s absolutely nothing they could possibly do, when that just isn’t true. The only conclusion I can fathom is that by keeping things the way they are, the writer gets what they want. Attention. Support. Sympathy.
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I’m not sure where anyone said that eating disorders, or mental health issues, were less valid than physical health problems. In fact, a number of the above commenters have identified themselves as former – or current – eating disorder sufferers, so your comment appears to be somewhat invalid in that regard.
I see no attack on the original poster’s personality, simply the nature of those that blog and behave in such a manner.
No one has said “just get over it”. They’ve said, stop blogging about it in a public forum, glorifying every aspect of the illness and start actively working to create real, positive change in real time (rather than on a computer screen.)
Those comments have been unfortunately moderated away. What a harsh censorship of a group of strangers sharing an opinion in an open, online discussion.
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“someone who enjoys wallowing in an eating disorder”
This statement right here indicates you have NO IDEA what you are talking about.
Not one fucking ED patient “enjoys wallowing” in their mental illness.
Edited: I think my above statement may have been too harsh, and written too rashly.
Now I’ve read the comments that follow…
I can understand the point you’re making about pro-ana blogs (which I think are absolutely sickening) but I still think it’s a bit harsh to say someone who keeps a blog of their illness “enjoys” it.
I kept a diary when I was at my sickest (which arguably isn’t the same as it’s more private) but would you say that was me wallowing in self pity and “enjoying” being sick. Because I hated every minute of it, and like others have said, regret those years wasted.
Anyway, sorry this is incredibly off topic. I think NSG-diets are hideous, and the dr’s that allow them should have their practicing licenses revoked.
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See above. & beware of telling former and current eating disorder sufferers – and former and current bloggers – that they’ve got no idea.
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oh i knew i’d receive this comment.
I even edited my comment to add that my original comment was written too hastily.
There’s so much misinformation out there about mental illnesses, and people are so quick to judge. I read “wallowing in self-pity”, that made me angry and I commented accordingly.
After re-reading however, with a clearer, less emotional mind I felt maybe I was too harsh in saying ‘you’ve got no idea’.
But I still think it’s incredibly ignorant to even suggest that for a minute anyone enjoys having an eating disorder. And anyone who has had one would understand the hesitation and the fear to get support and help. I would think that coming from an ED background, the OP would have been a bit more tactful with her choice of words.
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I think the inference people enjoy the attention and validation they receive from blogging about their eating disorder rather than actually enjoying the experience of living with an eating disorder.
Thanks for coming back to this which your wise mind. I appreciate it.
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I think it’s such an interesting point, because although it’s never done specifically with the point of seeking attention in mind, once that attention is received I don’t think any ED sufferer would deny enjoying the satisfaction of hearing “you’re too thin” (for e.g.) So yeah, maybe that’s what the blogs set out to achieve – although they claim it’s to be ‘understood’ by other sufferers, I think it’s probably more with receiving validity?
I don’t know, it’s so difficult to comment on. I don’t even understand my own eating disorder, let alone anyone else’s.
But I think it’s important to debate the point, and the argument and not the person. I’m glad this was an intelligent discussion, and didn’t revert to name-calling or nastiness.
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I’m not sure if I’m angrier at those getting it done or the unscrupulous doctors facilitating them. Is this really what we’ve come to? As someone who doesn’t have a choice in being a medical frequent flyer I can’t wrap my head around doing this by choice, when I would do anything to be healthy again and avoid that kind of crap. To use it in this manner is simply disturbing.
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My experience with people who need NG tubes in hospital is that they are never more pleased than when the tube is removed (which is no fun at all). So sad to think that women associate being thin with being healthy.. Is it any way to start married life?
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You know I’ve been thinking on this issue.
The thing that really confuses me is why? Why a feeding tube?
Those things don’t come without risks.
So why doesn’t this women just drink the specially caloried diet elixir?
Just drink it! Then you won’t have to worry about aspiration pneumonia etc to deal with on your wedding day.
It just doesn’t make sense except perhaps for some negative attention seeking.
But really, how different is doing this from other cosmetic procedures? Things people do to achieve their idea of perfect, to satisfy their vanity?
Breast implants, botox injections…just as unnecessary for those cases that are purely for vanity purposes..and just as invasive.
It’s a sad world when we do such extreme things for the sake of how we look. But then again, for years humans have done this…foot binding, neck extensions via rings etc.
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Good point but something tells me these women aren’t the sharpest tools in the shed.
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I’d say it’s because they can deliver it continuously via a tube so there is constantly something in the stomach and therefore the brides to be won’t be tempted by that pesky real food. But that in itself carries massive risks. I remarked on this yesterday and I’ll say it again – stupidest, most ridiculous vanity driven thing I’ve ever heard! And as for the sheer lack of medical ethics from the doctors promoting it…don’t even get me started.
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That is the stupidest fu**ing thing I have ever heard of.
I just shake my head.
You know what annoys me the most about pre wedding diets? you will put the weight back on and never look like the person in your wedding photos!!!
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Thanks for a well-written perspective
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I have said it before and I will say it again: people are friggen idiots. Awesome, drop those precious few pounds before the ‘big day’ but what happens when you gain them back after the wedding?
And, as a medical professional, I don’t get why people need an NG tube to do this. Why can’t they just drink the special liquid diet food? Seems to me that the NG tube is a status symbol, so they can go round saying “look how dedicated I am to my perfect day”. Ugh it is all just sickening.
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Exactly what I was thinking. Why a NGT?
Why not just drink it?
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Are they going to sew their mouths shut as well? Or will the patients be sueing when it doesn’t work, cause they still ate the cake?
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Totally insane. So bad for you, and think about all the people who can only be fed in this way. How about exercise and healthy eating. Cutting our processed foods will do wonders for your health and waist line.
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I am the mother of a beautiful girl with anorexia, she needed an NG to save her life with much needed weight gain. This “diet” disgusts me! All involved should feel nothing but shame!
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/116/834/478/stop-using-ng-tubes-for-dieting-and-punish-prescribing-physicians/
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petition signed and shared
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To me this is another horrible manifestation of an eating disorder – so how any doctor could condone it is beyond me.
I wonder how these doctors would respond to patients coming to them with eating disorders? I mean they can’t really say that not eating or binging and purging are a problem if they are putting tubes down women’s throats for weight loss right?
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Fabulous,I know what fad I’m trying next!
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Where, oh where, have the smart people gone?
Oh where, oh where could they be?
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If I were this woman’s prospective marriage partner, I’d be thinking pretty seriously about whether I’d want to be in a life partnership with someone who thinks this is an acceptable way to deal with thinking your arse may look big in your wedding photos.
Heaven help them when they get to the really big issues in life.
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I don’t think I have the words to explain how extreme people are becoming…but many feel the same anyway.
What I did want to say was…
‘Boomeranging’. I am finding the nearest opportunity to use that word.
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I’d slap them with more than a fish. What stupid stupid women.
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It is insane the emphasis some people put on one day. All very nassacistic if you ask me and loses focus on what marriage actually is.
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Lara – thanks so much for your post and personal perspective. I too think this is the most insane and inane thing I’ve ever heard of. Also agree re the shoddy medical ethics behind the procedure – just because it can be done, doesn’t mean it should. What happened to “first, do no harm”???
Wishing you all the best, especially with your writing. If I may be so bold, you may wish to gain inspiration from my good friend Emma Grey: http://www.worklifebliss.com.au.
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I also was subjected to this truly TERRIBLE procedure when a minor throat repair went horribly wrong a couple of years ago. There is almost nothing I wouldn’t choose to endure rather than an NG tube, including the slightly less horrible PEG which replaced it.
Insanity marches on in a world where looks are more valued than relationships !
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Thank you for your comment.
I knew…just KNEW that having an ng tube inserted was doing more harm than good to my baby. Yes, he needed it initially but the insane approach taken by doctors and dieticians in continuing to increase the volume of tube feeds in babies/children when they are eating 50% or more orally eventually does more harm.
We ended up at 100% tube fed in less than 2 weeks due to feeding tube dependency. I had to give up breastfeeding my little man as he arched away and screamed every time i attemped to feed him (he was already full… duh!). He had oral aversions for months after we eventually weaned him at 4 months (almost by ourselves, with a little help/advice given reluctantly by the professionals). The tube wasn’t inserted properly on one occasion and every feed for a month was projectile vomited.
I am sure that it irritated his throat and nose, not to mention the rash all over his cheeks caused by the tape that holds the tube in place on the face. I knew it was all wrong, wrong, wrong!! but every nurse and doctor told me it didn’t hurt him and he would eat when he was “ready”.
Thank you for letting me know that what i felt was right. I know I did the best thing for him in researching tube feeding/weaning and weaning him as early as i could.
How anyone can do this by choice is just beyond me. I have recently lost 19kgs by going to weight watchers – eating better/less and moving more. It’s really not that hard…
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YUK! Why can’t women realize that they are worth so much more than that. If I were on such treatment because of a medical condition where I had no choice, I would be disgusted to see people taking this option and putting themselves through this purely by choice. And all for one day, It certainly wouldn’t make my day special, every time I’d look at a photo of my wedding day, I would remember just what I did to temporarily look that way. I tell you, if the man I married couldn’t accept me the way I was then he is so not worth having.Talk about loosing perspective of what is important in life.
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