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Let's talk G-tube!

Posted by Julie H @jkhagen1, May 22, 2025

I've searched the Mayo forums for ideas and can't seem to find anything. I am really struggling with granular tissue/granuloma forming around my g-tube. I am literally visiting a nurse every week to have it cauterized with silver nitrate. I resorted to "Dr. Google" and found a few things to try. Has anyone tried and had luck with any of the following? I'm brave, but some of this stuff seems a little nuts. 1. sprinkling table salt on granuloma, letting is sit for 10 minutes daily (this one is actually presented as effective in the journal for wound care).; 2. Tea tree oil; 3. Nystop powder (but I don't think I have a fungal infection) 4. Nasacort AQ (yes, nasal spray) seems weird, but a few folx swear by it. I would prefer to just yank this stupid thing out, but currently not able to get enough nourishment.

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omaest | @omaest | Apr 11 8:54am
In reply to @sepdvm "Hello Julie @jkhagen1 and welcome to the Head and Neck group. I do not have any..." + (show)
Profile picture for Sue, Volunteer Mentor @sepdvm

Hello Julie @jkhagen1 and welcome to the Head and Neck group. I do not have any experience with a g-tube, although my father had one many years ago during his treatment. He had no major issues other than irritation which was controllable with antibiotic and cortisone creams. Excessive granulation tissue seems to be unique to certain individuals. I am a veterinarian and very familiar with it in horses as they love to produce granulation tissue around wounds.. We also used caustic silver nitrate to inhibit it, or surgery, and it did not work well. My more recent experience with Manuka Honey.....a medical grade type of honey for wounds.....makes me think that it might help your situation. Open, chronic wounds will heal beautifully with it. I wonder if it would help to control the irritation from the tube that is stimulating the granulation tissue to form? That's the same theory as using the Nasacort where the steroid in it decreases the inflammation. It also inhibits bacterial growth so fights infection. You can order it on Amazon so maybe another thing in your arsenal to use?

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@sepdvm Does Manuka Honey act as a moisture barrier too? All around my G-tube and below my skin has been burned by the stomach acid leaking. Leaving the area very red and sensitive. I have tried Aquaphor Advanced Therapy, Coloplast, and Calmoseptine. The calmoseptine will form a skin like cover but it comes off when cleansing the area.

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Sue, Volunteer Mentor | @sepdvm | Apr 12 3:08pm
In reply to @omaest "@sepdvm Does Manuka Honey act as a moisture barrier too? All around my G-tube and below..." + (show)
Profile picture for omaest @omaest

@sepdvm Does Manuka Honey act as a moisture barrier too? All around my G-tube and below my skin has been burned by the stomach acid leaking. Leaving the area very red and sensitive. I have tried Aquaphor Advanced Therapy, Coloplast, and Calmoseptine. The calmoseptine will form a skin like cover but it comes off when cleansing the area.

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@omaest While some brands are very thick, I would not expect it to be a watertight barrier. Although it is good at preventing infection and stimulating healing. I wish
I knew more about stoma care to help you out,

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omaest | @omaest | Apr 12 4:59pm

Thank you for the info! I've got some ordered to arrive tomorrow, I'll let you know what happens.

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Julie H | @jkhagen1 | Apr 13 5:46am

Hi Friends - hindsight is truly 20/20 - here are a few things I can share now. I had the G-tube removed about two weeks after this post. I understand why the doctor ordered it, but if I had to do it over again, I would not have consented to this. I was not prescribed any pain medication post-insertion and was sent to the ED two days after because I was experiencing so much pain from muscle spasms. I was in constant discomfort from the granuloma. The formula (Kate Farms organic) made me nauseous, so I had to take medication to avoid vomiting. I insisted (against doctor's advice) it be removed when I visited the ED for a second time for excrutiating pain. I immediately felt better and guess what? Without the pain and nausea, I actually started eating real food.

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omaest | @omaest | Apr 14 7:50am
In reply to @sepdvm "@omaest While some brands are very thick, I would not expect it to be a watertight..." + (show)
Profile picture for Sue, Volunteer Mentor @sepdvm

@omaest While some brands are very thick, I would not expect it to be a watertight barrier. Although it is good at preventing infection and stimulating healing. I wish
I knew more about stoma care to help you out,

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@sepdvm You are correct it is not a water barrier. I'll find a use for it.

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omaest | @omaest | Jun 16 8:39am
In reply to @omaest "I have a question about the G-Tube and how one is to keep the exposed tube..." + (show)
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I have a question about the G-Tube and how one is to keep the exposed tube and feeding port from dangling. I have been laying it to the right side and slightly higher than the where it goes into my stomach and using Medipore cloth surgical tape. This does work but it seems that movement of my arms and trunk disturb the hole and it starts to leak. Is it okay to let it be lower than the entrance to the stomach and tucked into the waist band of my slacks? Also, I use calmoseptine over the area that is very red caused by the leaking. Is there any other product one would recommend.

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@omaest I just found a solution - have only used it one day but I think it's going to work. I had some left over depends from a hospital stay awhile ago. I cut off the padded part and used the top as a waist band. It is comfortable and keeps everything from jiggling around.

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Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | 1 day ago
In reply to @omaest "@omaest I just found a solution - have only used it one day but I think..." + (show)
Profile picture for omaest @omaest

@omaest I just found a solution - have only used it one day but I think it's going to work. I had some left over depends from a hospital stay awhile ago. I cut off the padded part and used the top as a waist band. It is comfortable and keeps everything from jiggling around.

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@omaest, is your solution still working?

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omaest | @omaest | 1 day ago

I ran out of the leftover depends and haven't purchased any new. I don't think it's was the best idea but it did work. The problem is one side of the depends is a lot looser than the other so I'd tuck the loose end under my sports bra and the tighter end is closer to my waist.

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omaest | @omaest | 23 hours ago
In reply to @colleenyoung "@omaest, is your solution still working?" + (show)
Profile picture for Colleen Young, Connect Director @colleenyoung

@omaest, is your solution still working?

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@colleenyoung, Here's a picture - you might ask why not pull the sports bra down over the tube. It just felt too tight.

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omaest | @omaest | 4 hours ago
In reply to @omaest "@colleenyoung, Here's a picture - you might ask why not pull the sports bra down over..." + (show)
Profile picture for omaest @omaest

@colleenyoung, Here's a picture - you might ask why not pull the sports bra down over the tube. It just felt too tight.

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@colleenyoung, The tube is secure but it still wiggles out when I am active.

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