Tube Talk
Thank you to everyone who sent material for the "Tube Talk" column. Anyone who is interested in participating can send their tips, questions and thoughts about tube feeding to: Tube Talk, c/o The Oley Foundation, 214 Hun Memorial MC-28, Albany Medical Center, Albany, NY 12208; or E-mail MetzgeL@mail.amc.edu.
Information shared in this column represents the experience of that individual and should not imply endorsement by the Oley Foundation. The Foundation strongly encourages readers to discuss any suggestions with their physician and/or wound care nurse before making any changes in their care.
Cruising for Adventure
Good news for Oley members who enjoy cruising but who may have doubts. In 2006, my husband Dennis (HEN consumer) and I took our first HEN cruise with Royal Caribbean International, which seems to be one of the few cruise lines able to provide supplies for IV or tube feeding. After a simple toll-free phone call to RCI’s medical/special needs department, their “can do” agents arranged for whatever we needed to appear in our shipboard cabin. Our canned nutrition was free of charge.
They apparently can provide for TPN folks, too, as a refrigerator and IV pole appeared in our cabin. We did not need the extra equipment, but were kindly surprised that so much was provided. Call RCI for specific needs and details.
Other cruise lines use a company called CareVacation, available on the Web and via phone. They charge according to what you need, and you can either work with them directly or through the cruise lines.
We love cruising, and there are so many pleasurable activities for everybody on a ship besides eating. If you can still eat orally, the buffets let you nibble or snack without feeling that you are wasting food, and you can have food delivered to your cabin or take it with you to pleasure feed. We had a marvelous time, and so can you!
— Andrea Peterson
Quechee, VT
Contacts:
CareVacation, www.carevacations.com or (877) 478-7827
Royal Caribbean International, www.royalcaribbean.com or (800) 722-5472 (Ext. 34492 for special needs department)
We received a note from Andrea, shortly after she shared this travel tip with us, saying that Dennis died on January 4, “after a very long battle with multiple health problems.” “I am glad we did it [the trip],” she says, “as it was the last happy week we had in Dennis’ life.”