Do you poop while on TPN?
Even if you are unable to eat, your bowels will continue to function, but not as regularly as before. You may pass a stool (poo) that is fairly watery and contains some mucous. There is no way of knowing how much food you have eaten so it is impossible to say with any certainty how much you should be passing daily. Your doctor will let you know what to expect after testing your stools first thing in the morning soon after you start the tube. In addition to the diarrhea caused by insufficient intake, you may also have loose motions due to lack of absorption of nutrients into your bloodstream. This can happen when you are not eating enough fat or fiber or when you are taking medications known as corticosteroids that can cause constipation as well as other health problems if they are used for long periods of time. When you do not ingest sufficient amounts of fluids, your urine stream could be slowed down too. This is because fluid loses its water molecule when it becomes urine and so you need to replace these molecules if you want the flow of urine to be unaltered. Doctors often recommend increasing your fluid intake when you are using TPN because missing meals would otherwise lead to dehydration. However, you should only drink liquids that contain electrolytes such as milk, juice, and water with additives like flavoring agents or soda.