Mic-Key balloon

[sdavis227]

Parker has had the Mic-Key now for a few weeks and we are supposed to be checking it every week to make sure there is 6mL of water in the balloon.

The box that we received for the extra tube had a nice 10mL syringe with what I believe to be a catheter tip. This worked great to check the water but the place where we get all the supplies says they have no such thing without the whole box. They've given me luer-lock tips with a catheter adapter, but after trying that the last time, the water leaked out and if I had not had an extra 10mL w/catheter tip, I have no idea if he would still have a g-tube.

Anyhow, I would love your feedback on what kind of syringe you guys use for the balloon. Also, how often do you check it and is it 6mL for every button?

Thanks!

 

[sdavis227]

Parker has had the Mic-Key now for a few weeks and we are supposed to be checking it every week to make sure there is 6mL of water in the balloon.

The box that we received for the extra tube had a nice 10mL syringe with what I believe to be a catheter tip. This worked great to check the water but the place where we get all the supplies says they have no such thing without the whole box. They've given me luer-lock tips with a catheter adapter, but after trying that the last time, the water leaked out and if I had not had an extra 10mL w/catheter tip, I have no idea if he would still have a g-tube.

Anyhow, I would love your feedback on what kind of syringe you guys use for the balloon. Also, how often do you check it and is it 6mL for every button?

Thanks!

 

[sdavis227]

Parker has had the Mic-Key now for a few weeks and we are supposed to be checking it every week to make sure there is 6mL of water in the balloon.

The box that we received for the extra tube had a nice 10mL syringe with what I believe to be a catheter tip. This worked great to check the water but the place where we get all the supplies says they have no such thing without the whole box. They've given me luer-lock tips with a catheter adapter, but after trying that the last time, the water leaked out and if I had not had an extra 10mL w/catheter tip, I have no idea if he would still have a g-tube.

Anyhow, I would love your feedback on what kind of syringe you guys use for the balloon. Also, how often do you check it and is it 6mL for every button?

Thanks!

 

[sdavis227]

Parker has had the Mic-Key now for a few weeks and we are supposed to be checking it every week to make sure there is 6mL of water in the balloon.

The box that we received for the extra tube had a nice 10mL syringe with what I believe to be a catheter tip. This worked great to check the water but the place where we get all the supplies says they have no such thing without the whole box. They've given me luer-lock tips with a catheter adapter, but after trying that the last time, the water leaked out and if I had not had an extra 10mL w/catheter tip, I have no idea if he would still have a g-tube.

Anyhow, I would love your feedback on what kind of syringe you guys use for the balloon. Also, how often do you check it and is it 6mL for every button?

Thanks!

 

[sdavis227]

Parker has had the Mic-Key now for a few weeks and we are supposed to be checking it every week to make sure there is 6mL of water in the balloon.

The box that we received for the extra tube had a nice 10mL syringe with what I believe to be a catheter tip. This worked great to check the water but the place where we get all the supplies says they have no such thing without the whole box. They've given me luer-lock tips with a catheter adapter, but after trying that the last time, the water leaked out and if I had not had an extra 10mL w/catheter tip, I have no idea if he would still have a g-tube.

Anyhow, I would love your feedback on what kind of syringe you guys use for the balloon. Also, how often do you check it and is it 6mL for every button?

Thanks!

 

[AUradar]

I don't recall needing to have anything attached to the syringe. I thought you connected straight to the port, but I haven't done it in a while as my wife handles that. Regardless, just keep the one they gave you and reuse it. That is not a steral procedure. Just wash it like you wash the feeding tube adapter.

As far as how often we check it, I don't think we do. If it seems loose or starts leaking we'll check, but I don't think anyone ever told us once a week.

 

[AUradar]

I don't recall needing to have anything attached to the syringe. I thought you connected straight to the port, but I haven't done it in a while as my wife handles that. Regardless, just keep the one they gave you and reuse it. That is not a steral procedure. Just wash it like you wash the feeding tube adapter.

As far as how often we check it, I don't think we do. If it seems loose or starts leaking we'll check, but I don't think anyone ever told us once a week.

 

[AUradar]

I don't recall needing to have anything attached to the syringe. I thought you connected straight to the port, but I haven't done it in a while as my wife handles that. Regardless, just keep the one they gave you and reuse it. That is not a steral procedure. Just wash it like you wash the feeding tube adapter.

As far as how often we check it, I don't think we do. If it seems loose or starts leaking we'll check, but I don't think anyone ever told us once a week.

 

[AUradar]

I don't recall needing to have anything attached to the syringe. I thought you connected straight to the port, but I haven't done it in a while as my wife handles that. Regardless, just keep the one they gave you and reuse it. That is not a steral procedure. Just wash it like you wash the feeding tube adapter.

As far as how often we check it, I don't think we do. If it seems loose or starts leaking we'll check, but I don't think anyone ever told us once a week.

 

[AUradar]

I don't recall needing to have anything attached to the syringe. I thought you connected straight to the port, but I haven't done it in a while as my wife handles that. Regardless, just keep the one they gave you and reuse it. That is not a steral procedure. Just wash it like you wash the feeding tube adapter.

As far as how often we check it, I don't think we do. If it seems loose or starts leaking we'll check, but I don't think anyone ever told us once a week.

 

[Buckeye]

My son has had his for a few years and we never ever check it now. The ml you put in the balloon varies depending on how tight you want it to fit to the stomach - more water in the balloon, less movement of the mickey button. If it's too tight then it causes granulation. We just played around with the ml for a while and found what ml volumn we preferred. And I have always kept the syringe that comes with the kits just in case we need to add more water or pull some out - I always assumed they were expecially made for just the Mickey balloon device, but I could be wrong.

 

[Buckeye]

My son has had his for a few years and we never ever check it now. The ml you put in the balloon varies depending on how tight you want it to fit to the stomach - more water in the balloon, less movement of the mickey button. If it's too tight then it causes granulation. We just played around with the ml for a while and found what ml volumn we preferred. And I have always kept the syringe that comes with the kits just in case we need to add more water or pull some out - I always assumed they were expecially made for just the Mickey balloon device, but I could be wrong.

 

[Buckeye]

My son has had his for a few years and we never ever check it now. The ml you put in the balloon varies depending on how tight you want it to fit to the stomach - more water in the balloon, less movement of the mickey button. If it's too tight then it causes granulation. We just played around with the ml for a while and found what ml volumn we preferred. And I have always kept the syringe that comes with the kits just in case we need to add more water or pull some out - I always assumed they were expecially made for just the Mickey balloon device, but I could be wrong.

 

[Buckeye]

My son has had his for a few years and we never ever check it now. The ml you put in the balloon varies depending on how tight you want it to fit to the stomach - more water in the balloon, less movement of the mickey button. If it's too tight then it causes granulation. We just played around with the ml for a while and found what ml volumn we preferred. And I have always kept the syringe that comes with the kits just in case we need to add more water or pull some out - I always assumed they were expecially made for just the Mickey balloon device, but I could be wrong.

 

[Buckeye]

My son has had his for a few years and we never ever check it now. The ml you put in the balloon varies depending on how tight you want it to fit to the stomach - more water in the balloon, less movement of the mickey button. If it's too tight then it causes granulation. We just played around with the ml for a while and found what ml volumn we preferred. And I have always kept the syringe that comes with the kits just in case we need to add more water or pull some out - I always assumed they were expecially made for just the Mickey balloon device, but I could be wrong.

 

[jacksmom]

The syringe for my sons g-tube is 6 mils but I was told by the surgeon and to use only 5 mils. I only use the syringe that came with the kit and when I replace his g-tube I keep the old syringe as a back up.
I too was told to check it every week, but now (over a year later) I only check it when the g-tube seems looser then it should be.
I would start out doing it once a week until you get used to how it should look, then you can stretch out the the legnth of time between checking it.
Honeslty, my sons g-tube was changed last November and I have hardly checked the water level in the balloon since. But like I said if it starts to look real loose I check it.
-Carey

 

[jacksmom]

The syringe for my sons g-tube is 6 mils but I was told by the surgeon and to use only 5 mils. I only use the syringe that came with the kit and when I replace his g-tube I keep the old syringe as a back up.
I too was told to check it every week, but now (over a year later) I only check it when the g-tube seems looser then it should be.
I would start out doing it once a week until you get used to how it should look, then you can stretch out the the legnth of time between checking it.
Honeslty, my sons g-tube was changed last November and I have hardly checked the water level in the balloon since. But like I said if it starts to look real loose I check it.
-Carey

 

[jacksmom]

The syringe for my sons g-tube is 6 mils but I was told by the surgeon and to use only 5 mils. I only use the syringe that came with the kit and when I replace his g-tube I keep the old syringe as a back up.
I too was told to check it every week, but now (over a year later) I only check it when the g-tube seems looser then it should be.
I would start out doing it once a week until you get used to how it should look, then you can stretch out the the legnth of time between checking it.
Honeslty, my sons g-tube was changed last November and I have hardly checked the water level in the balloon since. But like I said if it starts to look real loose I check it.
-Carey

 

[jacksmom]

The syringe for my sons g-tube is 6 mils but I was told by the surgeon and to use only 5 mils. I only use the syringe that came with the kit and when I replace his g-tube I keep the old syringe as a back up.
I too was told to check it every week, but now (over a year later) I only check it when the g-tube seems looser then it should be.
I would start out doing it once a week until you get used to how it should look, then you can stretch out the the legnth of time between checking it.
Honeslty, my sons g-tube was changed last November and I have hardly checked the water level in the balloon since. But like I said if it starts to look real loose I check it.
-Carey

 

[jacksmom]

The syringe for my sons g-tube is 6 mils but I was told by the surgeon and to use only 5 mils. I only use the syringe that came with the kit and when I replace his g-tube I keep the old syringe as a back up.
I too was told to check it every week, but now (over a year later) I only check it when the g-tube seems looser then it should be.
I would start out doing it once a week until you get used to how it should look, then you can stretch out the the legnth of time between checking it.
Honeslty, my sons g-tube was changed last November and I have hardly checked the water level in the balloon since. But like I said if it starts to look real loose I check it.
-Carey