It was either a touch of a stomach bug or a side effect of a new drug (Robinul) I've been taking to reduce my mucous and excessive saliva, but around midnight I had amazingly painful stomach contractions and esophegeal cramps trying to throw up. But just as my cricophyaryngeal muscles especially the old musculus constrictor pharyngis inferior & epiglottis have been adamant about not letting food or water down my throat to my stomach (instead only going to the lungs), they are just as stubborn about letting anything back up !
So from midnight to 3 am, I am hacking away, bent over the toilet bowl while only mucous and maybe one little sip of stomach contents comes up. The noise was horrific with the empty retching and then sharp intake as I struggled to breathe until the mucous plus came out and my wife was frantic about calling 911. But we both know better than trying to get real help on PEG/swallowing issues on a Saturday night in an ER. I'd try and relax the muscles with a heating pad and it helped somewhat but that urge to purge would not leave.
Then it dawns on me: hook up the feeding tube connector insert to my PEG button valve and just leave the clamp open.
YES. Streams of vile looking stomach contents yearning to be free burst forth. Ah - relief.
So, my fellow Pegsters: if gulp comes to choke: just open up your connecting tube and let her rip.
An Alternative to Vomiting plus no nasty aftertaste.
Charm

Wow Charm...that is just unbelievable but so glad you found a solution to the problem.

Vomiting is no fun but not being able to vomit is just horrific...so sorry but I bet someone else will benefit from your experience.

Hope you are feeling better,

Deb

Charm, I am so sorry to read of your struggles in the middle of the night! I know how bad you must have felt. I cant imagine not being able to throw up. It must have been terrible!!!

Ive been sick off and on for the past 3 years. I have found one of the benefits of having a J/G tube is that I can easily purge the offending stomach irritants. I learned this while in the hospital and the PEG tube had become dislodged and embedded in my abdominal wall. My J/G tube came with a bag which holds fluids. I can hook this up to the one side of my tube and it will drain all the contents that is making me ill. I know it sounds disgusting but this bag has helped me many times over the past few years. Once the gunk is out of my stomach I instantly feel better. Anyone who has a J/G tube should have the plastic bag that goes with it.

Be careful with getting dehydrated. Everything that comes out needs to be replaced as soon as you can handle it.

Sure hope you are feeling alot better now!!!

I was intrigued by the title of your post so clicked on it and was at first horrified by your experience. The horror turned to laughter at your turn of phrase and continued humour around what must have been a frightening and painful experience. This definitely needs to be added to the list of good things about PEGs that someone (you or Christine?) posted a couple of years back.

Now I don't know if I should offer sympathy or say something smart arse.

Karen

YACK!!!!!! Sorry you went through this but great solution!

Charm, wow that sounds horrible, but again your experience turns into a valuable tip for others. Thanks for sharing and hope you are feeling much better. It's a constant learning isn't it ?

Charm,

Thanks, I just finished my breakfast drink as I read your post! Now get some much need rest.

Oh My Goodness, Charm! How awesome that you figured out what to do and were able to get relief! Hope you have gotten some needed rest. I just wonder if anyone in the emergency room would have known what to do even if you had gone there. What you and Christine have posted really should be included as valuable instructions for anyone using a PEG. Or maybe demonstrated on a youtube video? (Simulated, of course - I would not like to see anyone in such discomfort in an actual situation).

Wow that is simply amazing! And yes Charm you sure do have a way of explaining things!