>----- Original Message -----
From: "Kate Murphy" <katemm@mindspring.com>
To: "Multiple recipients of list ADHESIONS"
<adhesions@mail.medispecialty.com>
Sent: Tuesday, February 27, 2001 9:07 AM
Subject: Re: Millie
> On 26 Feb 2001, at 20:20, Millie wrote:
>
> > Kate,
> > Iam afraid of that tube because I hear they don't give you anything so
you
> > don't feel it. Just the idea of a long tube passing through your
insides.
> > I've had the flexible sigmoids ( oh, how they hurt!!!) I serenaded the
whole
> > waiting room, I'm sure. That was bad enough, let alone tubes from the
top
> > end. Yuck!!!
>
> Millie,
>
> The NG tube only goes as far as the stomach. I've had them for
> about six surgeries, put in in the OR when I was asleep. They are
> annoying and make your throat either tickle or be sore, but
> certainly nothing to be panicked over.
>
> Last summer, one was inserted while I was awake. It hurt, but the
> alternative -- continuing to vomit explosively -- was worse. Two
> nurses did it as gently as possible and providing me with lots of
> support.
>
> Your fear of this tube is very real. Nothing I can say will change
> that. I think that it is one of the issues that you need to discuss
> with a therapist.
>
> I had a very dear friend in my cancer support group who helped me
> to chase away frightening and bothersome thoughts -- he told them
> "Go away!" when they came into his life to disturb him. He helped
> me not to obsess about things I could not change.
>
> I enjoy planning fancy dinner parties (even though my physical
> disabilities have limited my really big ones) and when I find myself
> unable to get away from frightening thoughts, I think about what I'd
> like to have for Christmas dinner or Thanksgiving or an engagement
> party for my son. I think about all the different dishes, what the
> table settings should be like etc. This helps me not to focus on
> scary things.
>
> Having had an NG tube put in without any sort of anesthesia, I
> would do it again if I had to. The reality is that I may well have to,
> but I sure am not going to worry about it and ruin today!
>
> Kate
> Kate Murphy
> katemm@mindspring.com
>