Hi every one

My mum has had a Peg tube in place since January this year. Unfortunately she is experiencing a lot of pain with it and discharge.

Originally we thought it was just inflammation because she caught it on something a while back. The doctor prescribed Vioxx to relieve the inflammation but it hasn't really helped.

Mum even saw the PEG nurse who actually inserted the PEG in January and she says it is to do with Mum's flange (the triangle piece that sits touching the outer stomach). She says that Mum didn't have it close enough to her skin and so what is happening is that the tube goes in and out a lot taking bugs from the outside of the tube in.

She advised Mum to try and keep the flange tight against her skin, but this is proving to be very uncomfortable. Also they took a swab of the discharge and it is not an infection or anything, but this pain in her stomach still remains.

Does anyone have any ideas on what we can do about this? I must mention that Mum is very particular in keeping the area around the PEG clean.

By the way I have read some of the posts on the board and noticed that it is advisable to have the PEG replaced after 3-6months. No one has suggested this to us for my Mum. Do you think it is worth asking about?

Kathleen
Carer of Mum/Cancer of base of tongue removed January 2003 - no radiation.