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31-Year-Old Lives on IV Feed Due to Rare Illness
16 Apr
Summary
- Shayla Talei has not eaten a real meal in three years due to gastroparesis.
- She relies on total parenteral nutrition (TPN) via a backpack pump.
- Her chronic illnesses began with what she initially thought was a pinched sciatic nerve.
Shayla Talei, a 31-year-old living in Oklahoma City, has been unable to consume solid food for three years due to gastroparesis, a condition causing stomach paralysis. She currently relies on total parenteral nutrition (TPN), a liquid nourishment delivered intravenously via a backpack pump that runs for 12 hours daily.
Her health challenges began in high school with what was initially perceived as a pinched sciatic nerve. This misdiagnosis led to Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS), a chronic pain disorder. Over time, her CRPS progressed to gastroparesis, a less common development that severely impacted her digestive system.
Talei previously ran her own salon but had to close it last spring due to the demands of her chronic illnesses, which often leave her with low energy or cause her to faint. She also uses a wheelchair and finds social media to be one of the few activities she can manage.
Her condition means even drinking water is painful, described as feeling like glass shards. After hospitalizations due to malnourishment, she transitioned to TPN, her last resort for nutrition, though she misses the experience of eating. Talei shares her daily medical routines and health journey with over 249,000 followers on TikTok.
