Feeding tube patients: What's your experience?

Welcome, @mmiles04. How is your husband doing? Is his feeding tube permanent? How are YOU doing?

My husband started on Jevity 1.5 but now he’s on Boost High Calorie which runs about530 calories and 22 grams of protein.

You might try prochlorperazine—it's available as a suppository. Good luck.

I have had a g tube for 2 weeks but since starting chemo I get nausea before I get enough nourishment into myself, even with a pump unless I keep the pump running constantly or set the ml per hour high then the nausea is a problem.
Since my esophagus is blocked nausea isn’t able to be relieved - I cannot vomit. I take an anti nausea but there’s nothing for immediate relief. Should I ask my doctor for something like phenergin? I’ve had that in suppository years ago but it burned bad as I recall. Any ideas? Still losing weight as well 115 now ( 67 yr old male 5’6”) 135 my precancer weight

We switched brands one last time to Vital One peptides, which is supposed to be more digestible, but even that wasn't tolerated. Hubby subsequently had his j-tube removed and is now on TPN (IV nutrition)....it is easier on him because it goes right into his bloodstream but it, too, has caused problems. With not using his digestive system, his gallbladder filled with sludge (more likely when someone who is on IV nutrition). On the upside, vomiting is almost totally gone but he continues to have issues with nausea—emanating from the abdomen. The j-tube was removed more than one month ago and he still leaks bile from time to time—I was under the impression that it closes within hours. His "recovery" is and has been horrible.

I was on ISOSOURCE for several months and had some diarrhea but it got better.
Don

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.

My husband was switched from IsoSource to Nutren due to diarrhea. It has less fiber. But they also found that he had an infection after they did a stool culture. Once treated with an antibiotic he was better.

Just started 50 micrograms fentanyl patch as I’m about to be done with 4 mg dilaudid every 4 hours ( plus 25 micrograms patch) which has only kept pain from being 8/9 but never less than 5/7. If the 50/ hr patch isn’t working I’ll have to see what will be offered for the constant breakthrough pain. Now that I’m able to get enough nourishment, pain really is the main problem- and a debilitating one at that. I’m skeptical that I won’t be worse off in a couple days. Also every swallow of a trickle of liquid hurts , then triggers a bunch of hiccup spasms, which is annoying. 2 more treatments of palliative radiation and 2nd round of 1st series of chemo begins Wednesday. I’m watching for any signs of improvement of either pain or swallowing because it’s all I can do ( other than prayer which is my priority)

Admitted to hospital via ER for starvation, dehydration and severe pain from EC w/ Mets to spine 10 days ago and had surgery for g-tube on 2nd day. Due to inactivity of digestive system and opiates, it’s been difficult getting used to bolus feeds which caused intense discomfort and only a week later getting tolerable, though I feel stronger ( nourished) but still in great pain. I’m getting jevity 1.5 cal. Bought a metered feed pump and IV pole for night time feeds we hope to begin soon- Have appt with nutritionist in couple days. Meanwhile, radiation and chemotherapy began Mon. And Wed respectively. Glad to be home and that therapy to defeat this cancer has finally begun. Been a very difficult month.