Feeding tube/coughing issues. Anyone else experience any of this?

ashmomo

New member
I will try to make this long story as short as possible. Sorry if I start to ramble...just want to get everything out. It is all kind of weird and I am just wondering if anyone else has had similar problems.

My 16 month old daughter has had problems w/ reflux and gaining weight as well as eating enough to gain weight. She just recently (Aug) had the Nissen Fundo surgery along with a g-tube placed.
We had many issues w/ overnight feeds at first. She would start coughing uncontrollably about half way through the night. We tried dif formulas and Reglan and Miralax. Nothing seemed to make a dif. We finally switch to Peptamen Jr...first night she starts coughing at about 60ml (we were down to 10 ml/hr trying to get this to work). AND she coughs for about 2-3 hours AFTER it starts and I shut the machine off. 2nd night on Peptamen, I decided to put enzymes in her int he middle of the run. It WORKED! Now, if I don't put the enzymes in by 4 hours into the run she WILL start coughing and it doesn't stop til about 1 hour after I put them in. I can only run her for 8 hours...else she needs the enzymes again after the next 4 hours (which I don't give her til we get up).
Now some nights are good and some she will still start coughing even with the enzymes. BUT it is a given she will cough without them, I have found that out the hard way! Don't miss that anymore!
Also the past couple days, during the day after her feeding she will blow out her diaper. LOTS of poo, like diarrhea. Not every time, but for the most part. I am wondering if she needs her enzymes about 1 hour before she drinks the Boost? Maybe it just takes them longer to start working in her?
I just don't know anymore with this. Has anyone else had similar issues? I think she coughs because she can't puke it up due to the Fundo...so she just coughs. It is a really wet cough. Like right now she is sick (which doesn't help the situation) but I can tell that when she was coughing last night it was because of the feeding, NOT due to her illness/sick cough. She did SO good for 2 nights prior...I don't know why she was coughing again last night over the feeding <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-blush.gif" border="0">(
Any advice would be appreicated. We go back to clinic on Monday...hoping for a little weight gain even though we can't get this crap figured out. Oh yeah...I should mention that we are out of the Peptamen for the past 2 weeks due to insurance needing to authorize. That prob doesn't help either. We are back to running the Pediasure, but it hasn't seemed to be an issue when given enzymes half way through...but it still causes coughing SOME nights?
 

ashmomo

New member
I will try to make this long story as short as possible. Sorry if I start to ramble...just want to get everything out. It is all kind of weird and I am just wondering if anyone else has had similar problems.

My 16 month old daughter has had problems w/ reflux and gaining weight as well as eating enough to gain weight. She just recently (Aug) had the Nissen Fundo surgery along with a g-tube placed.
We had many issues w/ overnight feeds at first. She would start coughing uncontrollably about half way through the night. We tried dif formulas and Reglan and Miralax. Nothing seemed to make a dif. We finally switch to Peptamen Jr...first night she starts coughing at about 60ml (we were down to 10 ml/hr trying to get this to work). AND she coughs for about 2-3 hours AFTER it starts and I shut the machine off. 2nd night on Peptamen, I decided to put enzymes in her int he middle of the run. It WORKED! Now, if I don't put the enzymes in by 4 hours into the run she WILL start coughing and it doesn't stop til about 1 hour after I put them in. I can only run her for 8 hours...else she needs the enzymes again after the next 4 hours (which I don't give her til we get up).
Now some nights are good and some she will still start coughing even with the enzymes. BUT it is a given she will cough without them, I have found that out the hard way! Don't miss that anymore!
Also the past couple days, during the day after her feeding she will blow out her diaper. LOTS of poo, like diarrhea. Not every time, but for the most part. I am wondering if she needs her enzymes about 1 hour before she drinks the Boost? Maybe it just takes them longer to start working in her?
I just don't know anymore with this. Has anyone else had similar issues? I think she coughs because she can't puke it up due to the Fundo...so she just coughs. It is a really wet cough. Like right now she is sick (which doesn't help the situation) but I can tell that when she was coughing last night it was because of the feeding, NOT due to her illness/sick cough. She did SO good for 2 nights prior...I don't know why she was coughing again last night over the feeding <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-blush.gif" border="0">(
Any advice would be appreicated. We go back to clinic on Monday...hoping for a little weight gain even though we can't get this crap figured out. Oh yeah...I should mention that we are out of the Peptamen for the past 2 weeks due to insurance needing to authorize. That prob doesn't help either. We are back to running the Pediasure, but it hasn't seemed to be an issue when given enzymes half way through...but it still causes coughing SOME nights?
 

ashmomo

New member
I will try to make this long story as short as possible. Sorry if I start to ramble...just want to get everything out. It is all kind of weird and I am just wondering if anyone else has had similar problems.
<br />
<br />My 16 month old daughter has had problems w/ reflux and gaining weight as well as eating enough to gain weight. She just recently (Aug) had the Nissen Fundo surgery along with a g-tube placed.
<br />We had many issues w/ overnight feeds at first. She would start coughing uncontrollably about half way through the night. We tried dif formulas and Reglan and Miralax. Nothing seemed to make a dif. We finally switch to Peptamen Jr...first night she starts coughing at about 60ml (we were down to 10 ml/hr trying to get this to work). AND she coughs for about 2-3 hours AFTER it starts and I shut the machine off. 2nd night on Peptamen, I decided to put enzymes in her int he middle of the run. It WORKED! Now, if I don't put the enzymes in by 4 hours into the run she WILL start coughing and it doesn't stop til about 1 hour after I put them in. I can only run her for 8 hours...else she needs the enzymes again after the next 4 hours (which I don't give her til we get up).
<br />Now some nights are good and some she will still start coughing even with the enzymes. BUT it is a given she will cough without them, I have found that out the hard way! Don't miss that anymore!
<br />Also the past couple days, during the day after her feeding she will blow out her diaper. LOTS of poo, like diarrhea. Not every time, but for the most part. I am wondering if she needs her enzymes about 1 hour before she drinks the Boost? Maybe it just takes them longer to start working in her?
<br />I just don't know anymore with this. Has anyone else had similar issues? I think she coughs because she can't puke it up due to the Fundo...so she just coughs. It is a really wet cough. Like right now she is sick (which doesn't help the situation) but I can tell that when she was coughing last night it was because of the feeding, NOT due to her illness/sick cough. She did SO good for 2 nights prior...I don't know why she was coughing again last night over the feeding <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-blush.gif" border="0">(
<br />Any advice would be appreicated. We go back to clinic on Monday...hoping for a little weight gain even though we can't get this crap figured out. Oh yeah...I should mention that we are out of the Peptamen for the past 2 weeks due to insurance needing to authorize. That prob doesn't help either. We are back to running the Pediasure, but it hasn't seemed to be an issue when given enzymes half way through...but it still causes coughing SOME nights?
 

crickit715

New member
just throwing this out there.....my daughter had the nissen/fundo and gtube placement at 4months old...she is now almost 3. never had a problem with coughing during feeding at night until recent and they found it is actually a post nasal drip that is causing the cough when she lays down. do you think it could be something as simple as that?? at first i thought it was feeding related also, but that doesnt seem to be the case with us. just thought i would throw that suggestion out there! good luck!! <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0"> ricki
 

crickit715

New member
just throwing this out there.....my daughter had the nissen/fundo and gtube placement at 4months old...she is now almost 3. never had a problem with coughing during feeding at night until recent and they found it is actually a post nasal drip that is causing the cough when she lays down. do you think it could be something as simple as that?? at first i thought it was feeding related also, but that doesnt seem to be the case with us. just thought i would throw that suggestion out there! good luck!! <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0"> ricki
 

crickit715

New member
just throwing this out there.....my daughter had the nissen/fundo and gtube placement at 4months old...she is now almost 3. never had a problem with coughing during feeding at night until recent and they found it is actually a post nasal drip that is causing the cough when she lays down. do you think it could be something as simple as that?? at first i thought it was feeding related also, but that doesnt seem to be the case with us. just thought i would throw that suggestion out there! good luck!! <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0"> ricki
 

LouLou

New member
'tis the time of year for a post nasal drip cough. Have you tried not doing a feed one night? Did she still cough? Have you ever done a sinus rinse with her? You may be surprised what comes out of there. I do them on on my son...have since he was around 2.
 

LouLou

New member
'tis the time of year for a post nasal drip cough. Have you tried not doing a feed one night? Did she still cough? Have you ever done a sinus rinse with her? You may be surprised what comes out of there. I do them on on my son...have since he was around 2.
 

LouLou

New member
'tis the time of year for a post nasal drip cough. Have you tried not doing a feed one night? Did she still cough? Have you ever done a sinus rinse with her? You may be surprised what comes out of there. I do them on on my son...have since he was around 2.
 

hockeykid

New member
During g tube feeds, it is important to have the head elevated by 30 degrees. If not, the formula can come back up and cause coughing and/or aspiration. I had to get a j/g tube for this exact issue. Good luck!
 

hockeykid

New member
During g tube feeds, it is important to have the head elevated by 30 degrees. If not, the formula can come back up and cause coughing and/or aspiration. I had to get a j/g tube for this exact issue. Good luck!
 

hockeykid

New member
During g tube feeds, it is important to have the head elevated by 30 degrees. If not, the formula can come back up and cause coughing and/or aspiration. I had to get a j/g tube for this exact issue. Good luck!
 

ashmomo

New member
Thank you for all the responses. It is definitely related to the feedig itself. It is not a nasal drip. If she is not hooked up, she does not cough at all.
Also if I run the feeding and put the enzymes in after 4 hours, she is good most of the time. Last couple nights she still is coughing around 6 hours in.
The nights without the tube are peaceful <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-blush.gif" border="0">)

Also I was having her elevated to darn near sitting up w/ pillows...did not help. Still the same coughing issues <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-blush.gif" border="0">(

She is sick right now and congested but right now has nothing to do with it really...this has been ongoing for the past month and a half since getting the tube.
 

ashmomo

New member
Thank you for all the responses. It is definitely related to the feedig itself. It is not a nasal drip. If she is not hooked up, she does not cough at all.
Also if I run the feeding and put the enzymes in after 4 hours, she is good most of the time. Last couple nights she still is coughing around 6 hours in.
The nights without the tube are peaceful <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-blush.gif" border="0">)

Also I was having her elevated to darn near sitting up w/ pillows...did not help. Still the same coughing issues <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-blush.gif" border="0">(

She is sick right now and congested but right now has nothing to do with it really...this has been ongoing for the past month and a half since getting the tube.
 

ashmomo

New member
Thank you for all the responses. It is definitely related to the feedig itself. It is not a nasal drip. If she is not hooked up, she does not cough at all.
<br />Also if I run the feeding and put the enzymes in after 4 hours, she is good most of the time. Last couple nights she still is coughing around 6 hours in.
<br />The nights without the tube are peaceful <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-blush.gif" border="0">)
<br />
<br />Also I was having her elevated to darn near sitting up w/ pillows...did not help. Still the same coughing issues <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-blush.gif" border="0">(
<br />
<br />She is sick right now and congested but right now has nothing to do with it really...this has been ongoing for the past month and a half since getting the tube.
 

amber682

New member
Sounds like reflux and slow motility. My DD had to take zantac, prevacid, and erythromycin (like .5 ml with each feed). She was eventually able to come off of the erythro. Reglan just didn't help her. If it were thicker, it might stay down easier, but I'm not sure if you could thicken it and still have it go through without clogging.
 

amber682

New member
Sounds like reflux and slow motility. My DD had to take zantac, prevacid, and erythromycin (like .5 ml with each feed). She was eventually able to come off of the erythro. Reglan just didn't help her. If it were thicker, it might stay down easier, but I'm not sure if you could thicken it and still have it go through without clogging.
 

amber682

New member
Sounds like reflux and slow motility. My DD had to take zantac, prevacid, and erythromycin (like .5 ml with each feed). She was eventually able to come off of the erythro. Reglan just didn't help her. If it were thicker, it might stay down easier, but I'm not sure if you could thicken it and still have it go through without clogging.
 

mariahsmommy

New member
Yeah I would have to agree that it sounds like reflux.

What volume per hour is your daughter doing?
Have you ever tried bolus feeds throughout the day? This is what I do with my daughter.
You could feed her 5 or six meals a day, let her eat what she wants first, do enzymes, then bolus feed like 4 to 8 oz. depending on what amount she eats.
My daughter is 22 months and she does 10 ounces at a time, but she doesn't eat much by mouth.
 

mariahsmommy

New member
Yeah I would have to agree that it sounds like reflux.

What volume per hour is your daughter doing?
Have you ever tried bolus feeds throughout the day? This is what I do with my daughter.
You could feed her 5 or six meals a day, let her eat what she wants first, do enzymes, then bolus feed like 4 to 8 oz. depending on what amount she eats.
My daughter is 22 months and she does 10 ounces at a time, but she doesn't eat much by mouth.
 
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