Once Jeremy indicated that he thought he was ready for a feeding tube, things went remarkably quickly. He had the tube placed on December 26th and is now home with instructions for a completely new regimen.
What they said we should do:
- Use the feeding tube for premixed liquid nourishment 5 times a day (!)
- Use a different part of the tube for his meds, twice a day
- Have him eat by mouth as desired - but nothing dry to avoid choking
- Unfortunately anything too creamy triggers his gag reflex
- And generally he seems to have very little appetite
It’s weird to me that no one suggested a feeding tube before now. He has lost 50 pounds since March. He eats very little and struggles to get enough calories. He doesn’t really want to use the tube and I worry that when Jess goes back to work after Christmas break, we may have a hard time convincing him to accept it.
Plus, if he wants to continue going into the office from time to time, that obviously will not work with the new schedule.
I need to remember that this is his journey, and I am just a supporting character. I look forward to seeing how puppy Squirt becomes part of the family. I hope to find ways to give Jess and her daughters times of respite and joy. I am blessed to be part of the story.
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