Saw a recent post and wanted to ask something similar!
Is there a list of anything that you want to see more in characters with a G or J tube? Are there any tropes/stereotypes that i need to be wary of? Thanks!
Characters I’m thinking of:
- character who loses top 2/3 of stomach from a traumatic incident- has pylorus still and is able to eat a little by mouth but isn’t able to eat enough by mouth to sustain because remains of stomach is small- dependent on J tube
- autistic character who got a G tube as a child for various reasons including ARFID, and still has it and depends on it as an adult
Any character that has a j-tube, since I'm not familiar with literally any. I don't know if there are any stereotypes, as I don't think enough people are aware of this (or the jejunum being a body part they have in general).
Characters that have a specified reason why they have the feeding tube (even if it's just "they can't absorb enough nutrients" or "they cannot safely swallow") rather than just being Unable To Eat.
Some causes could include: gastroparesis (stomach paralysis), Crohn's, gastrointestinal and head-and-neck cancers/physical trauma, ulcerative colitis, dysphagia, eating disorders, intestinal failure... For temporary reasons, it could be as simple as "surgery".
Characters who have a feeding tube because of cerebral palsy. The lowest estimate of how many people with CP use one that I found was ~6%, which is not that low to be honest, but I can't say I've ever seen it represented. Though it's also limited by the fact that characters with cerebral palsy that severe aren't represented as a whole.
This isn't really a stereotype since the opposite is accurate for many people, but I'd like to see characters with feeding tubes that visibly improve after getting it. For example, a character that was malnourished regaining their energy after getting a tube placed.
Characters shown caring for their feeding tube by themselves.
Characters that have literally any other "aesthetic" than "hospital". A character that does spend a lot of time in a hospital/medical setting is not necessarily a Hospital Character as long as they have literally anything else going on. But if in every depiction they're just standing there with that IV drip on an infusion stand in that hospital gown...
Depending on the condition, some people with a feeding tube can still eat by mouth. They might just not be able to eat enough or to absorb it correctly.
Characters who can't eat by mouth, at all, and maybe do miss food but don't make it their entire personality.
A variety of characters with feeding tubes! Some that have always used it, ones that are new to it, ones that use it permanently/very long-term, ones that use it because of a temporary illness or surgery, etc.!
Input in the notes is very much welcome : )
