[tri-med] Re: frazzled ramblings

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "The Ngais"
>> She had never like gravity feeds...too fast I think.

I had very little help from anyone when I started Alex on feeds via his
g-tube. I found that he had less of a problem with bolus feeds when they
were thicker (that is pureed food as opposed to liquid). When I did do
boluses of liquid I would give him "sips" rather than a bolus amount. By
that I mean I would push the liquid rather than gravity feed the bolus, but
I would push 5mls, wait a few minutes then push another 5 or 10 mls, wait
and so on. (it was easier to control a push than to control a gravity feed)

I looked at it this way - if any of my other kids had drunk a glass of milk
without pausing in between mouthfuls I wouldn't have liked it and would have
expected them to throw up. Why should a tube feed be any different?

Of course by the time Alex was 4 or 5 and doing his own tube feeds he would
push it in so fast it made my head spin. But then typical 4 and 5 year olds
don't like to waste time eating anyway :-)) Food has never been a priority
for Alex.

But there is hope!! On the weekend I gave Alex a chicken sandwich. I used
REAL roast chicken and he actually ATE IT!!!! Even told me it was yummy but
that it was too dry and could I put some mayonnaise on it!!! Miracles do
happen!!!! For those that are wondering why this is such a big deal - for
the last 4 years the only sandwich Alex would eat was a processed cheese
sandwich (no cream cheese, no hard cheeses, only soft processed cheese).
Over the last year or so I had managed to convince him to head devon
sandwiches with lots of tomato sauce (ketchup to the Americans) - but that
was the total extent of his sandwich repertoire. He actually preferred dry
bread (not even any butter).

I have not lost my mind - it's backed up on disk somewhere.
-- Unknown

Keep Looking For Rainbows!!
   _--_|\
 /Karen \
 \ _.--._ /
          v Karen, Mum to Alex (9 years, T-18 Mosaic)
http://members.optushome.com.au/karens

                  Building ___ooOOoo__ Rainbows
                       www.trisomyonline.org
                  Families Helping Families On-line

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