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Feeding tube patients: What's your experience?
Esophageal Cancer | Last Active: Jul 24 3:53pm | Replies (45)Comment receiving replies
Thank you for suggestions regarding formula. We switched to Nutren 1.5 and so far nausea is less but still occurs when he takes more than one container in succession. We will give it more time to adjust.
I have another question about j-tubes. My husband had to have his j-tube replaced two times recently. On both occasions they just deflated and fell out. My question is about leakage from the stoma afterwards. The leakage consists of bile mixed with formula and comes from around, not through, the tube. The first time this happened, the leakage stopped within several days. This current event has lasted a week so far. I think this may be caused by movement when pushing the new tube in—perhaps the movement widens the hole in the jejunum but then eventually the opening closes around the tube again. Has anyone had this experience? Is my assumption correct? Or is this something to worry about? Suggestions are welcome.
Replies to "Thank you for suggestions regarding formula. We switched to Nutren 1.5 and so far nausea is..."
After you clean the area around the flange and secure the split sponge with 2" paper tape, do you secure the hanging tube to the body? I place it parallel with the flange on either side of the flange and secure it to the body with a couple of strips of 1" paper tape. That prevents the weight of the tube and tip from pulling the inflated balloon downwards. Let me know if this is not clear and I will post a picture of what it looks like when done.
These pictures show how the tube is secured to the body to prevent its weight from dragging the whole contraption down and out by sheer gravity. Also, by using different 1" paper tape from the 2" tape used on the split sponge (with no overlap), I can access the port throughout the day for hydration without disturbing the sponge or the flange. I also tape the tube to the body while tube feeding is going on with the pump - again, to prevent gravity pull.
My husband had a ton of green fluid come out when his became dislodged. The people in interventional radiology stated it was the fluid surrounding the intestines and it stopped when he got his j-tube replaced.
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Question for aheid: how many cartons of Nutren 1.5 in 24 hours and how long does it take?
What is the mL/hr? I might have an idea about the nausea, let's first see the facts.
The J-tube just literally fell off once, new tube was put in within 3 hours which is critical, as the body wants to heal itself and close up the hole when the foreign object(the tube) falls. I am meticulous about cleaning the area around the flange - daily now - in the earlier days, there was more seepage and I did it 2 or 3 times a day. The stuff that comes out of the hole is nasty caustic and causes skin irritation and has high potential for infection. For cleaning I use barrier cream generously on a Q tip until it comes out clean especially under the flange. Then, depending on the condition of the skin, I either apply a layer of zinc oxide ointment or a layer of barrier cream. That is a daily decision. I got boxes of 4X4 split sponges from Amazon and change them liberally. I look forward to your answer on the mL/hr.