Pics of G-tube???

[Anonymous]

Hi everyone so Cassie’s pedi GI is setting everything up for her G-tube placement, but says it could be up to a month to get the ball rolling. I was just curious if anyone has any pics of their kids G-tube. I dont know what to expect. Also I was wondering, does the tube just hang out or does it like hook up then come off?? Is the tube like an NG kind of???? Just have some silly questions sorry! -Vanessa

[Anonymous]

Hi Vanessa,
With the g-tube, you attach the tube to the button when you feed them, give meds, etc, then you can take it off when you’re done and it’s just the little button. It’s pretty nice. Here are a few pics of Bryce:

Here is one of his g-tube button without the gauze on (sorry! It’s really blurry)

And here’s one with the gauze on. We keep gauze around it because it keeps him from getting granulation tissue.

This is a pic with his tube attached to the button. See, the tube is a lot bigger than the NG tube (it’s clear, you can see the milk in it):

This one is a pic of Bryce at 4mo. right after his g-tube placement. You can see two bandages on either side of the button, and tape on his navel. Those are the three incisions they made to place the button – all very small. (You can also see two incisions further down by his legs. These are from his inguinal hernia repairs).

Hope that helps!

[Anonymous]

Thanks for posting those very personal pictures Heather. Bryce seems like such a little trooper. He is going to be an amazing little person, adolescent and adult.

[Anonymous]

sorry to take over this post.. but heather or anyone else.. i was wondering how long you do the gtube for?? when can they start eating orally?? and thanks for posting, i always wondered what it looked like to.

does anyone have any pics of the ngtube?? i dont know what that is either!

[Anonymous]

Not sure this will work — cannot remember how to post pics here. This is Matthew with his NG. His Gtube looks just like Bryce’s. I am trying to find a picture of his PEG but no luck yet

[Anonymous]

do they always have the tube up their nose?? or do you take it in and out?? and what is the difference between the 2.. why do some get one and not the other? sorry for all the questions…

[Anonymous]

Well, usually doctors will put in NG tubes first — because they are the least invasive procedure — ie it is not a surgery, you just have to put a tube up their nose, down the back of the throat into the esophagus and into the stomach. But NG tubes are usually temporary. I say temporary but sometimes due to anatomical issues, they are permanent for some kids. problems with NG tubes are — you have to constantly check them because if they move from esophagus to trachea, or move up, then the child is at risk of aspiration/drowning. So this is the scary part. Also, they are said to increase reflux because obiously having that tube there does not allow the LES to closee all the way. Finally, they are hard to keep in. Yes. you want to leave it in as long as possible, but the children end up taking them out constantly, and it is a struggle to put them back on etc and really can become a horrible experience for some children. Most of the time, you have to have someone hold the baby down so they do not move so you can insert this tube and when they swallow it they usually cough… it is heartbreaking, although does not hurt but it can be traumatic.

The Gtube is put in when it is clear that the child is going to need additional nutrition for some time.The reasons for tubes are many and usually there are several factors — lack of appetite, lack of oral motor skills, aspiration, vomitting. metabolic diseases, other disorders such as autism sometimes, MR… many more, anatomical problems…

[Anonymous]

Thanks so much Heather! Im scared!!! Is the button put on right away after surgery? And what if it comes out? OMG I would freak out!!! Ohh ya what about tummy time??? Would the button bother her, is it hard????? Sorry for all the questions, but youre a pro by now I bet. -Vanessa

[Anonymous]

More questions… sorry! Since the tube is thicker does the milk go faster or do they have smaller ones. I dont know if they will be doing pump feeds now that shes getting the g-tube. We just do gravity feeds. Also please dont tell me that if it comes out we have to put it back in ourselves!? Does that button actually come off and u can see the hole?? LOL I am just such a wussss when it comes to this stuff!

[Anonymous]

Vanessa,

i am assuming you are a pro by now with the NG tube. well the G-tube in my opinion is way better to deal with that an NG tube, i was always very nervous and not very confident that i cold put the NG back in. i only put in once before they changed her tube to a G-Tube (kendra pukes and all over and screamed loud, i was so upset). thanks God. you will be so much relax with the G-tube. of course at first i freaked out and have to get the right feeding speed and the right amount of milk or kendra will puked. thanks God for Thais and her advise. yeah you might get an ifection here or there (we already got our first one) but some antibiotic ointmnet usually takes care of it. we have the PEG, we do not have a button like Heathers and Thais. honestly i don’t know if i want a button. according to our surgeon they leak more, come off more, get infected easier and i would have to change myself, which i don’t know if i could do it ( iam such a wimp). i am getting used to the peg and we are getting great input on how to keep it from hanging out. kendra doesn’t pulled on it as long as she doesn’t see it. tummy time we do it on a bopy pillow and once it healed up more we started to do it on a soft small matress and the we are trying the floor an dshe doesn’t hting to hurt anymore. she is almost crawling!! you’ll be great! and iam sure Thais, Heather and me could help out with questions you may have(or any other mom with a tube feeder).

[Anonymous]

Vanessa,
I know it’s kind of scary at first (even the thought of having a hole in my baby’s tummy freaked me out at first) but I really think once you actually get the g-tube you’ll be happy with it. Now to answer your questions:

Is the button put on right away after surgery? The button is what they place during surgery. So when your baby comes out of surgery, she’ll have the button already in.

And what if it comes out? Don’t worry – they teach you in the hospital before you ever leave how to replace the button if it comes out, and they send you home with a whole kit with instructions. It was a little scary when Bryce’s came out the first time, but once I actually did it, it really wasn’t a big deal at all. (and you can do a lot to prevent it from coming out, it doesn’t come out that easily at all).

what about tummy time??? Would the button
bother her, is it hard????? You can put a onesy on them so the button doesn’t snag during tummy time, but Bryce’s never has even when he’s on his tummy without a shirt. Obviously they’re a little sore there for awhile after surgery, but once it heals, they can be on their tummies without a problem. Bryce doesn’t seem to even notice his.

Since the tube is thicker does the milk go
faster or do they have smaller ones. The milk does go faster than with an NG tube, and it takes a little getting used to, but you just adjust the speed by lowering or raising the syringe for gravity feeds. (we do those too). You get used to it really easily, and it’s nice because it doesn’t get clogged as easily as the NG.

Also please dont tell me that if it comes out we have to put it back in
ourselves!? LOL – you do, but like I said, it’s really not as bad as it seems once you actually do it, and it’s rare that it does come out. If you’re really uncomfortable with it, you can take her to the ER and have them do it.

Does that button actually come off and u can see the hole?? Yes, if the button comes out there is a hole, but you can’t see inside or anything, so it’s not that gross – kind of like a big earring hole I guess. It kind of closes in when the tube comes out, if that makes sense.

Okay! I think I got them all. Let us know if you have any more questions. I’m sure the more you know about it, the more comfortable you’ll be with it.

[Anonymous]

Therese – thanks so much for that comment. He sure has been a strong little boy.

[Anonymous]

Thank you so much Heather, for taking the time to answer all my questions. It makes me feel a little better that I know more what to expect. I know I will still be freaked out but like everything you get used to it. Just like the NG I was shaking and cried the first time, even 2nd and 3rd. It was horrible!!! And now I do it at least 3 times a week! I still dont like it, because she cries, but It’s like second nature now. And Leo I know for sure that I will like it better than the NG. It just makes her gag so bad, as if she didnt already have hypersensitve gag reflex!! UGH! I just dont know if it will just be the peg or the button. If you just have the peg, then the tube needs to stay in right?? That sounds like it would be a drag, just like now with the NG!! Well thank you again for your help!! I feel better now!! -Vanessa

[Anonymous]

Vanessa,

well, the peg hangs, but we keep it tug in her cloth and she doesn’t even notice unless she sees it. we use a tape called flexi track that anchor the tube in one place so it doesn’t swing around. yes i t stays in. to me it has not been hard to deal with at all. just at first i was a bit intimadating about how to handle it, but once i found a way that works good for us it is been ok. i am very happy with peg. i think i probably would like the button, but just the idea of having to change it scares me to death! i think you’ll be ok. it sounds like you are so strong already and such a good mom to Cassie.

[Anonymous]

Hi Vanessa,

i have been thinking of you and Cassie lately. i hope you guys are holding up. Did she have her G-tube place yet? just wondering. hugs

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