New G-tube, no appetite

F

froggymama

New member
My daughter received her g-tube placement March 18th.

The first week, she had very little appetite, which I assume is common after having surgery, plus hospital food is not the greatest.

The next few weeks, her appetite picked up. She ate than she ever has in the past. We thought, "This is awesome! The g-tube is a lifesaver!"

Now (a month later) she barely eats. Today she had Cheerios and two milks. That's it, and that has been the norm for a while. She has zero interest in food and is angry when we put food in front of her. She's not hungry at all.

I just sent two emails to our nutritionists and we have an appt. with her GI doc tomorrow, but I always seem to learn more from CF families than our CF staff. So any advice, suggestions, would be wonderful. Thanks in advance! Elise
 
F

froggymama

New member
My daughter received her g-tube placement March 18th.

The first week, she had very little appetite, which I assume is common after having surgery, plus hospital food is not the greatest.

The next few weeks, her appetite picked up. She ate than she ever has in the past. We thought, "This is awesome! The g-tube is a lifesaver!"

Now (a month later) she barely eats. Today she had Cheerios and two milks. That's it, and that has been the norm for a while. She has zero interest in food and is angry when we put food in front of her. She's not hungry at all.

I just sent two emails to our nutritionists and we have an appt. with her GI doc tomorrow, but I always seem to learn more from CF families than our CF staff. So any advice, suggestions, would be wonderful. Thanks in advance! Elise
 
F

froggymama

New member
My daughter received her g-tube placement March 18th.

The first week, she had very little appetite, which I assume is common after having surgery, plus hospital food is not the greatest.

The next few weeks, her appetite picked up. She ate than she ever has in the past. We thought, "This is awesome! The g-tube is a lifesaver!"

Now (a month later) she barely eats. Today she had Cheerios and two milks. That's it, and that has been the norm for a while. She has zero interest in food and is angry when we put food in front of her. She's not hungry at all.

I just sent two emails to our nutritionists and we have an appt. with her GI doc tomorrow, but I always seem to learn more from CF families than our CF staff. So any advice, suggestions, would be wonderful. Thanks in advance! Elise
 
F

froggymama

New member
My daughter received her g-tube placement March 18th.

The first week, she had very little appetite, which I assume is common after having surgery, plus hospital food is not the greatest.

The next few weeks, her appetite picked up. She ate than she ever has in the past. We thought, "This is awesome! The g-tube is a lifesaver!"

Now (a month later) she barely eats. Today she had Cheerios and two milks. That's it, and that has been the norm for a while. She has zero interest in food and is angry when we put food in front of her. She's not hungry at all.

I just sent two emails to our nutritionists and we have an appt. with her GI doc tomorrow, but I always seem to learn more from CF families than our CF staff. So any advice, suggestions, would be wonderful. Thanks in advance! Elise
 
F

froggymama

New member
My daughter received her g-tube placement March 18th.
<br />
<br />The first week, she had very little appetite, which I assume is common after having surgery, plus hospital food is not the greatest.
<br />
<br />The next few weeks, her appetite picked up. She ate than she ever has in the past. We thought, "This is awesome! The g-tube is a lifesaver!"
<br />
<br />Now (a month later) she barely eats. Today she had Cheerios and two milks. That's it, and that has been the norm for a while. She has zero interest in food and is angry when we put food in front of her. She's not hungry at all.
<br />
<br />I just sent two emails to our nutritionists and we have an appt. with her GI doc tomorrow, but I always seem to learn more from CF families than our CF staff. So any advice, suggestions, would be wonderful. Thanks in advance! Elise
 
I

izemmom

New member
Well, I certainly don't have any advice on how to increase her appetite or make her eat. If I figured that out, I'd be a happy momma! Emily is like this, too, although it has improved with time. We quickly found out that breakfast was going to have to go. She will maybe have a yogurt, but that's it until lunch. Not even morning snack with her preschool class, unless it's chocolate chip cookies. Those are irresistible.

She ususally picks at lunch. I make sure that lunch is mostly protein, some carb of some sort and a vegetable to bribe her with (you can have another carrot if you eat a bite of ham first.) There will maybe be an afternoon snack, but not always. Dinner is awesome, now, but certainly wasn't at first.

It's just the way it is. We had to give up the expectation that she was going to eat on our schedule. She eats what she can when she can, and that's that. Over time I learned not to stress about it. It got easier after the first two or three months, when the weight really started to increase.

We are now down to doing feeds on 4 nights, instead of 7. Let me tell you...the day after an off night, she eats like every CF mom's DREAM! Hungry as a bear, ready for breakfast, asks for seconds, wants specific foods (this can be a problem - she had a desperate need for hash browns the other day and I had none...) It's wonderful. And, her weight has stayed steady.

You'll get there. Just calm yourself by remembering that she is getting a TON of needed calories while she sleeps. What she eats during the day is not as crucial as it once was, and having the g-tube will not destroy her appetite forever. It's OK. It really is.

I wish I had a strategy for you other than wait it out. I know how badly you want to "do" something. I was there, too. But, remind yourself that one of the reasons you got this thing was to take some pressure off all of you. Let it do it's thing. Hang in there, friend.
 
I

izemmom

New member
Well, I certainly don't have any advice on how to increase her appetite or make her eat. If I figured that out, I'd be a happy momma! Emily is like this, too, although it has improved with time. We quickly found out that breakfast was going to have to go. She will maybe have a yogurt, but that's it until lunch. Not even morning snack with her preschool class, unless it's chocolate chip cookies. Those are irresistible.

She ususally picks at lunch. I make sure that lunch is mostly protein, some carb of some sort and a vegetable to bribe her with (you can have another carrot if you eat a bite of ham first.) There will maybe be an afternoon snack, but not always. Dinner is awesome, now, but certainly wasn't at first.

It's just the way it is. We had to give up the expectation that she was going to eat on our schedule. She eats what she can when she can, and that's that. Over time I learned not to stress about it. It got easier after the first two or three months, when the weight really started to increase.

We are now down to doing feeds on 4 nights, instead of 7. Let me tell you...the day after an off night, she eats like every CF mom's DREAM! Hungry as a bear, ready for breakfast, asks for seconds, wants specific foods (this can be a problem - she had a desperate need for hash browns the other day and I had none...) It's wonderful. And, her weight has stayed steady.

You'll get there. Just calm yourself by remembering that she is getting a TON of needed calories while she sleeps. What she eats during the day is not as crucial as it once was, and having the g-tube will not destroy her appetite forever. It's OK. It really is.

I wish I had a strategy for you other than wait it out. I know how badly you want to "do" something. I was there, too. But, remind yourself that one of the reasons you got this thing was to take some pressure off all of you. Let it do it's thing. Hang in there, friend.
 
I

izemmom

New member
Well, I certainly don't have any advice on how to increase her appetite or make her eat. If I figured that out, I'd be a happy momma! Emily is like this, too, although it has improved with time. We quickly found out that breakfast was going to have to go. She will maybe have a yogurt, but that's it until lunch. Not even morning snack with her preschool class, unless it's chocolate chip cookies. Those are irresistible.

She ususally picks at lunch. I make sure that lunch is mostly protein, some carb of some sort and a vegetable to bribe her with (you can have another carrot if you eat a bite of ham first.) There will maybe be an afternoon snack, but not always. Dinner is awesome, now, but certainly wasn't at first.

It's just the way it is. We had to give up the expectation that she was going to eat on our schedule. She eats what she can when she can, and that's that. Over time I learned not to stress about it. It got easier after the first two or three months, when the weight really started to increase.

We are now down to doing feeds on 4 nights, instead of 7. Let me tell you...the day after an off night, she eats like every CF mom's DREAM! Hungry as a bear, ready for breakfast, asks for seconds, wants specific foods (this can be a problem - she had a desperate need for hash browns the other day and I had none...) It's wonderful. And, her weight has stayed steady.

You'll get there. Just calm yourself by remembering that she is getting a TON of needed calories while she sleeps. What she eats during the day is not as crucial as it once was, and having the g-tube will not destroy her appetite forever. It's OK. It really is.

I wish I had a strategy for you other than wait it out. I know how badly you want to "do" something. I was there, too. But, remind yourself that one of the reasons you got this thing was to take some pressure off all of you. Let it do it's thing. Hang in there, friend.
 
I

izemmom

New member
Well, I certainly don't have any advice on how to increase her appetite or make her eat. If I figured that out, I'd be a happy momma! Emily is like this, too, although it has improved with time. We quickly found out that breakfast was going to have to go. She will maybe have a yogurt, but that's it until lunch. Not even morning snack with her preschool class, unless it's chocolate chip cookies. Those are irresistible.

She ususally picks at lunch. I make sure that lunch is mostly protein, some carb of some sort and a vegetable to bribe her with (you can have another carrot if you eat a bite of ham first.) There will maybe be an afternoon snack, but not always. Dinner is awesome, now, but certainly wasn't at first.

It's just the way it is. We had to give up the expectation that she was going to eat on our schedule. She eats what she can when she can, and that's that. Over time I learned not to stress about it. It got easier after the first two or three months, when the weight really started to increase.

We are now down to doing feeds on 4 nights, instead of 7. Let me tell you...the day after an off night, she eats like every CF mom's DREAM! Hungry as a bear, ready for breakfast, asks for seconds, wants specific foods (this can be a problem - she had a desperate need for hash browns the other day and I had none...) It's wonderful. And, her weight has stayed steady.

You'll get there. Just calm yourself by remembering that she is getting a TON of needed calories while she sleeps. What she eats during the day is not as crucial as it once was, and having the g-tube will not destroy her appetite forever. It's OK. It really is.

I wish I had a strategy for you other than wait it out. I know how badly you want to "do" something. I was there, too. But, remind yourself that one of the reasons you got this thing was to take some pressure off all of you. Let it do it's thing. Hang in there, friend.
 
I

izemmom

New member
Well, I certainly don't have any advice on how to increase her appetite or make her eat. If I figured that out, I'd be a happy momma! Emily is like this, too, although it has improved with time. We quickly found out that breakfast was going to have to go. She will maybe have a yogurt, but that's it until lunch. Not even morning snack with her preschool class, unless it's chocolate chip cookies. Those are irresistible.
<br />
<br />She ususally picks at lunch. I make sure that lunch is mostly protein, some carb of some sort and a vegetable to bribe her with (you can have another carrot if you eat a bite of ham first.) There will maybe be an afternoon snack, but not always. Dinner is awesome, now, but certainly wasn't at first.
<br />
<br />It's just the way it is. We had to give up the expectation that she was going to eat on our schedule. She eats what she can when she can, and that's that. Over time I learned not to stress about it. It got easier after the first two or three months, when the weight really started to increase.
<br />
<br />We are now down to doing feeds on 4 nights, instead of 7. Let me tell you...the day after an off night, she eats like every CF mom's DREAM! Hungry as a bear, ready for breakfast, asks for seconds, wants specific foods (this can be a problem - she had a desperate need for hash browns the other day and I had none...) It's wonderful. And, her weight has stayed steady.
<br />
<br />You'll get there. Just calm yourself by remembering that she is getting a TON of needed calories while she sleeps. What she eats during the day is not as crucial as it once was, and having the g-tube will not destroy her appetite forever. It's OK. It really is.
<br />
<br />I wish I had a strategy for you other than wait it out. I know how badly you want to "do" something. I was there, too. But, remind yourself that one of the reasons you got this thing was to take some pressure off all of you. Let it do it's thing. Hang in there, friend.
 
S

sdelorenzo

Guest
I agree with Tami. My daughter always skips breakfast when she does a night feeding. She eats a little at lunch and then at dinner we expect her to eat a good meal. But she really is never hungry. We stopped worrying about how much she eats during the day when the weight started to come on quickly. By the way, it took a month or two of doing night feeds before the weight came on.
Sharon, mom of Sophia, 8 and Jack, 6 both with cf, Grant, 14 months no cf
 
S

sdelorenzo

Guest
I agree with Tami. My daughter always skips breakfast when she does a night feeding. She eats a little at lunch and then at dinner we expect her to eat a good meal. But she really is never hungry. We stopped worrying about how much she eats during the day when the weight started to come on quickly. By the way, it took a month or two of doing night feeds before the weight came on.
Sharon, mom of Sophia, 8 and Jack, 6 both with cf, Grant, 14 months no cf
 
S

sdelorenzo

Guest
I agree with Tami. My daughter always skips breakfast when she does a night feeding. She eats a little at lunch and then at dinner we expect her to eat a good meal. But she really is never hungry. We stopped worrying about how much she eats during the day when the weight started to come on quickly. By the way, it took a month or two of doing night feeds before the weight came on.
Sharon, mom of Sophia, 8 and Jack, 6 both with cf, Grant, 14 months no cf
 
S

sdelorenzo

Guest
I agree with Tami. My daughter always skips breakfast when she does a night feeding. She eats a little at lunch and then at dinner we expect her to eat a good meal. But she really is never hungry. We stopped worrying about how much she eats during the day when the weight started to come on quickly. By the way, it took a month or two of doing night feeds before the weight came on.
Sharon, mom of Sophia, 8 and Jack, 6 both with cf, Grant, 14 months no cf
 
S

sdelorenzo

Guest
I agree with Tami. My daughter always skips breakfast when she does a night feeding. She eats a little at lunch and then at dinner we expect her to eat a good meal. But she really is never hungry. We stopped worrying about how much she eats during the day when the weight started to come on quickly. By the way, it took a month or two of doing night feeds before the weight came on.
<br />Sharon, mom of Sophia, 8 and Jack, 6 both with cf, Grant, 14 months no cf
 
M

Mommafirst

Guest
Over time it has gotten so much better for us. Alyssa rarely eats breakfast. But we have the pump set to end at 4am, so by about 10am she is hungry for the first snack...usually a bowl of cereal. By lunch she is starved and eats a good deal...mac and cheese, yogurt, a fruit.

We've gotten tot he point that the only difference between a non-feed day (where we don't use the tube the night before) vs. a feed day, is the breakfast thing. Otherwise, she's become an awesome eater. Hang in there, it takes time.
 
M

Mommafirst

Guest
Over time it has gotten so much better for us. Alyssa rarely eats breakfast. But we have the pump set to end at 4am, so by about 10am she is hungry for the first snack...usually a bowl of cereal. By lunch she is starved and eats a good deal...mac and cheese, yogurt, a fruit.

We've gotten tot he point that the only difference between a non-feed day (where we don't use the tube the night before) vs. a feed day, is the breakfast thing. Otherwise, she's become an awesome eater. Hang in there, it takes time.
 
M

Mommafirst

Guest
Over time it has gotten so much better for us. Alyssa rarely eats breakfast. But we have the pump set to end at 4am, so by about 10am she is hungry for the first snack...usually a bowl of cereal. By lunch she is starved and eats a good deal...mac and cheese, yogurt, a fruit.

We've gotten tot he point that the only difference between a non-feed day (where we don't use the tube the night before) vs. a feed day, is the breakfast thing. Otherwise, she's become an awesome eater. Hang in there, it takes time.
 
M

Mommafirst

Guest
Over time it has gotten so much better for us. Alyssa rarely eats breakfast. But we have the pump set to end at 4am, so by about 10am she is hungry for the first snack...usually a bowl of cereal. By lunch she is starved and eats a good deal...mac and cheese, yogurt, a fruit.

We've gotten tot he point that the only difference between a non-feed day (where we don't use the tube the night before) vs. a feed day, is the breakfast thing. Otherwise, she's become an awesome eater. Hang in there, it takes time.
 
M

Mommafirst

Guest
Over time it has gotten so much better for us. Alyssa rarely eats breakfast. But we have the pump set to end at 4am, so by about 10am she is hungry for the first snack...usually a bowl of cereal. By lunch she is starved and eats a good deal...mac and cheese, yogurt, a fruit.
<br />
<br />We've gotten tot he point that the only difference between a non-feed day (where we don't use the tube the night before) vs. a feed day, is the breakfast thing. Otherwise, she's become an awesome eater. Hang in there, it takes time.
 
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