g-tube ?'s

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scheesman

Guest
my 4 yr old has a g-tube. It has been really red and crusty. We just noticed tonight that it smells funny, maybe like spoiled milk. She is on her tube 15hrs aday. When she is on her feeds it leaks some times but when her belly is empty it pulls her tube into her belly and hurts her. Docs act like they have no clue. Please help
 
S

scheesman

Guest
my 4 yr old has a g-tube. It has been really red and crusty. We just noticed tonight that it smells funny, maybe like spoiled milk. She is on her tube 15hrs aday. When she is on her feeds it leaks some times but when her belly is empty it pulls her tube into her belly and hurts her. Docs act like they have no clue. Please help
 
S

scheesman

Guest
my 4 yr old has a g-tube. It has been really red and crusty. We just noticed tonight that it smells funny, maybe like spoiled milk. She is on her tube 15hrs aday. When she is on her feeds it leaks some times but when her belly is empty it pulls her tube into her belly and hurts her. Docs act like they have no clue. Please help
 
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crickit715

New member
i was told to put a mix of mylanta and desitin (diaper rash cream) around the button if it starts to get red. that will help reduce the stomach acid and the irritation (redness). the sour milk smell is just her stomach acid which is normal. i would check the water level in the balloon to make sure it is full, i check my daughters about every other week..when the water level starts to go down it can cause more leakage (some leakage is normal). my little ones tube will "pop in and out" as she contracts her stomach muscles. she has taught herself how to "pop" it back out when it gets too tight. (i always see her lift her shirt up and look at her button, then she will pop it out and put her shirt back down) it is probably painful because the stomach acid is irritating her skin. hopefully the cream mix and checking the water level will help! <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">
 
C

crickit715

New member
i was told to put a mix of mylanta and desitin (diaper rash cream) around the button if it starts to get red. that will help reduce the stomach acid and the irritation (redness). the sour milk smell is just her stomach acid which is normal. i would check the water level in the balloon to make sure it is full, i check my daughters about every other week..when the water level starts to go down it can cause more leakage (some leakage is normal). my little ones tube will "pop in and out" as she contracts her stomach muscles. she has taught herself how to "pop" it back out when it gets too tight. (i always see her lift her shirt up and look at her button, then she will pop it out and put her shirt back down) it is probably painful because the stomach acid is irritating her skin. hopefully the cream mix and checking the water level will help! <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">
 
C

crickit715

New member
i was told to put a mix of mylanta and desitin (diaper rash cream) around the button if it starts to get red. that will help reduce the stomach acid and the irritation (redness). the sour milk smell is just her stomach acid which is normal. i would check the water level in the balloon to make sure it is full, i check my daughters about every other week..when the water level starts to go down it can cause more leakage (some leakage is normal). my little ones tube will "pop in and out" as she contracts her stomach muscles. she has taught herself how to "pop" it back out when it gets too tight. (i always see her lift her shirt up and look at her button, then she will pop it out and put her shirt back down) it is probably painful because the stomach acid is irritating her skin. hopefully the cream mix and checking the water level will help! <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">
 
J

Jbenjamin152

New member
ok you will need to get some bactrcin (spelling may be off) but if you add this the skin around the tube site this will help with the red crusties...I have had a tube since I was 11...most people don't realize how much your digestive track "sucks" on your stomach this is how you get your food digested...if you have nothing in your stomach then you will find if you have a G tube that it pulls REALLY HARD ON it....I find that if you open and shut the "g" tube this releases the tension in your stomach and allows the pain to subside because you are in a way letting the suction suck air in...this in no way hurts you or makes you have burps or gas...it's up to you if you want to do this but I know if you try it once your daughter will appreciate it....ok and so if you notice that it "leaks" look at the tube if you can pull the tube up just a little and look under the edge sometimes the tubes will "break"...this means that where the "T" part of the tube is then you will need to look and see if at the edge of the flat part "top" where it connects to the part that goes into the stomach
right there where they intersect...there can be a break if there is the tube needs to be replaced you should then talk to the G.I.(Gastro Intestional) doctor and ask him to have a look at the tube that you think it is broken and needs to be replaced...that is the advice I can give based on the information at hand you can call me if this is not helpful enough. Josh Benjamin 26 with CF ddf508 gene and g-tube patient for 15 years <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0"> hope this all is helpful...my phone number is 607-589-4352 call whenever you have a question or just need someone to talk to.
 
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Jbenjamin152

New member
ok you will need to get some bactrcin (spelling may be off) but if you add this the skin around the tube site this will help with the red crusties...I have had a tube since I was 11...most people don't realize how much your digestive track "sucks" on your stomach this is how you get your food digested...if you have nothing in your stomach then you will find if you have a G tube that it pulls REALLY HARD ON it....I find that if you open and shut the "g" tube this releases the tension in your stomach and allows the pain to subside because you are in a way letting the suction suck air in...this in no way hurts you or makes you have burps or gas...it's up to you if you want to do this but I know if you try it once your daughter will appreciate it....ok and so if you notice that it "leaks" look at the tube if you can pull the tube up just a little and look under the edge sometimes the tubes will "break"...this means that where the "T" part of the tube is then you will need to look and see if at the edge of the flat part "top" where it connects to the part that goes into the stomach
right there where they intersect...there can be a break if there is the tube needs to be replaced you should then talk to the G.I.(Gastro Intestional) doctor and ask him to have a look at the tube that you think it is broken and needs to be replaced...that is the advice I can give based on the information at hand you can call me if this is not helpful enough. Josh Benjamin 26 with CF ddf508 gene and g-tube patient for 15 years <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0"> hope this all is helpful...my phone number is 607-589-4352 call whenever you have a question or just need someone to talk to.
 
J

Jbenjamin152

New member
ok you will need to get some bactrcin (spelling may be off) but if you add this the skin around the tube site this will help with the red crusties...I have had a tube since I was 11...most people don't realize how much your digestive track "sucks" on your stomach this is how you get your food digested...if you have nothing in your stomach then you will find if you have a G tube that it pulls REALLY HARD ON it....I find that if you open and shut the "g" tube this releases the tension in your stomach and allows the pain to subside because you are in a way letting the suction suck air in...this in no way hurts you or makes you have burps or gas...it's up to you if you want to do this but I know if you try it once your daughter will appreciate it....ok and so if you notice that it "leaks" look at the tube if you can pull the tube up just a little and look under the edge sometimes the tubes will "break"...this means that where the "T" part of the tube is then you will need to look and see if at the edge of the flat part "top" where it connects to the part that goes into the stomach
<br />right there where they intersect...there can be a break if there is the tube needs to be replaced you should then talk to the G.I.(Gastro Intestional) doctor and ask him to have a look at the tube that you think it is broken and needs to be replaced...that is the advice I can give based on the information at hand you can call me if this is not helpful enough. Josh Benjamin 26 with CF ddf508 gene and g-tube patient for 15 years <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0"> hope this all is helpful...my phone number is 607-589-4352 call whenever you have a question or just need someone to talk to.
 
M

MaeFlower

New member
We were told that if the site around the g-tube is "angry red" use Bacitracin, like Josh said. It will help keep any bacteria at bay. My daughters site sometimes smells strange too. Sometimes it has a little bit of a leak, usually when the tube is pulling on her port or if she is straining to sit up or has gas or is crying (I think it's because the pressure pushes the stomach contents out). When this happens I check the fluid levels in it every other week or if it seems as if it is leaking stomach acid/fluid more than usual.

We also learned at the doctors office today that when there is a little bit of granulation around the site to use silver nitrate to help the tissue release itself and will stop the granulation from building up. The silver nitrate comes on what looks like a very long match and we are to place it in the crack/crease of where the granulation is occurring and it releases itself. You can find it at any medical supply store.

Josh, thanks for the advice about opening the port, I've never heard of that, but will certainly try it.
 
M

MaeFlower

New member
We were told that if the site around the g-tube is "angry red" use Bacitracin, like Josh said. It will help keep any bacteria at bay. My daughters site sometimes smells strange too. Sometimes it has a little bit of a leak, usually when the tube is pulling on her port or if she is straining to sit up or has gas or is crying (I think it's because the pressure pushes the stomach contents out). When this happens I check the fluid levels in it every other week or if it seems as if it is leaking stomach acid/fluid more than usual.

We also learned at the doctors office today that when there is a little bit of granulation around the site to use silver nitrate to help the tissue release itself and will stop the granulation from building up. The silver nitrate comes on what looks like a very long match and we are to place it in the crack/crease of where the granulation is occurring and it releases itself. You can find it at any medical supply store.

Josh, thanks for the advice about opening the port, I've never heard of that, but will certainly try it.
 
M

MaeFlower

New member
We were told that if the site around the g-tube is "angry red" use Bacitracin, like Josh said. It will help keep any bacteria at bay. My daughters site sometimes smells strange too. Sometimes it has a little bit of a leak, usually when the tube is pulling on her port or if she is straining to sit up or has gas or is crying (I think it's because the pressure pushes the stomach contents out). When this happens I check the fluid levels in it every other week or if it seems as if it is leaking stomach acid/fluid more than usual.
<br />
<br />We also learned at the doctors office today that when there is a little bit of granulation around the site to use silver nitrate to help the tissue release itself and will stop the granulation from building up. The silver nitrate comes on what looks like a very long match and we are to place it in the crack/crease of where the granulation is occurring and it releases itself. You can find it at any medical supply store.
<br />
<br />Josh, thanks for the advice about opening the port, I've never heard of that, but will certainly try it.
<br />
<br />
 
C

Cherylwithone

Guest
My DD has a gtube and she can tell when she needs to eat because hers gets sucks in. She says her stomach has a binky. (she is 17). Oh and she does say it hurts at times. Once she eats a little something it stops.

I agree with Ricki on cream mix. Sometimes it's just the tube rubbing the skin. DD has also used a little baby powder to dry the area out.
 
C

Cherylwithone

Guest
My DD has a gtube and she can tell when she needs to eat because hers gets sucks in. She says her stomach has a binky. (she is 17). Oh and she does say it hurts at times. Once she eats a little something it stops.

I agree with Ricki on cream mix. Sometimes it's just the tube rubbing the skin. DD has also used a little baby powder to dry the area out.
 
C

Cherylwithone

Guest
My DD has a gtube and she can tell when she needs to eat because hers gets sucks in. She says her stomach has a binky. (she is 17). Oh and she does say it hurts at times. Once she eats a little something it stops.
<br />
<br />I agree with Ricki on cream mix. Sometimes it's just the tube rubbing the skin. DD has also used a little baby powder to dry the area out.
 
S

scheesman

Guest
thank you all for the info. In the past we have used powder and cream. It helped a little but it is really bad this time, but she still says it doesn't hurt. I think we are gonna change her button tonight.
Another ? Josh how often do you change yours out. Do most of you guys change them at home
 
S

scheesman

Guest
thank you all for the info. In the past we have used powder and cream. It helped a little but it is really bad this time, but she still says it doesn't hurt. I think we are gonna change her button tonight.
Another ? Josh how often do you change yours out. Do most of you guys change them at home
 
S

scheesman

Guest
thank you all for the info. In the past we have used powder and cream. It helped a little but it is really bad this time, but she still says it doesn't hurt. I think we are gonna change her button tonight.
<br />Another ? Josh how often do you change yours out. Do most of you guys change them at home
 
A

Abuelita

New member
Hello Shawn,
I agree with what everyone else has said before me. I just have one question: when you say that your daughter is on the g-tube 15 hrs p.d. do you mean that she is receiving nutrition during that entire time?
My grandson, who turned three last week, is only fed through the g-tube at night during his sleep. The rest of the day, he eats "normally". In other words, he is only hooked up between midnight and 6.00 a.m. which is the time it takes for his supplement to be delivered.
Cheers,
Gill, grandmother to Miguel, born Nov. 2007, diagnosed at 3 months w/ CF ddf508, esophagous reconstruction to stop reflux and vomiting, Daniel (5) and Marta (8) both w/o CF (different father).
 
A

Abuelita

New member
Hello Shawn,
I agree with what everyone else has said before me. I just have one question: when you say that your daughter is on the g-tube 15 hrs p.d. do you mean that she is receiving nutrition during that entire time?
My grandson, who turned three last week, is only fed through the g-tube at night during his sleep. The rest of the day, he eats "normally". In other words, he is only hooked up between midnight and 6.00 a.m. which is the time it takes for his supplement to be delivered.
Cheers,
Gill, grandmother to Miguel, born Nov. 2007, diagnosed at 3 months w/ CF ddf508, esophagous reconstruction to stop reflux and vomiting, Daniel (5) and Marta (8) both w/o CF (different father).
 
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