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#116010 04-27-2010 05:56 PM
Joined: Sep 2007
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I was checking to see if anyone has had problems with there feeding tube. It seems once a week I get an upset stomach and feels like I have a stomach flu. Can anyone tell me if this is normal with using a feeding tube.

Thank you


Round 1 5/2007 - 35 Rad treatments and 6 chemo of cisplatin
TPN feeding for 5 months during treatment and after.
Tumor was on the right side of the tongue.

Round 2. Tumor on the lower back right jaw area. Surgery on 3/12/2010 to remove the tumor, rebuild the jaw and some work on the back tongue.
lvredrock #116013 04-27-2010 06:10 PM
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Several things can cause this with tube feedings. Water down the formula, it could be too concentrated. Second slow down the rate you are fed. No matter which way you are getting your feedings, slow it down to 1/2 of what you currently run it at. You will see it makes a difference. After a week, it can be gradually increased til you are back at the current rate.

Ive had my tube for a long time and have had many different issues with it. What works best for me is doing my feedings overnight with the pump. Its easier than doing bolus or gravity methods. If you dont have a pump, ask your gastro doc for one.


Christine
SCC 6/15/07 L chk & by L molar both Stag I, age44
2x cispltn-35 IMRT end 9/27/07
-65 lbs in 2 mo, no caregvr
Clear PET 1/08
4/4/08 recur L chk Stag I
surg 4/16/08 clr marg
215 HBO dives
3/09 teeth out, trismus
7/2/09 recur, Stg IV
8/24/09 trach, ND, mandiblctmy
3wks medicly inducd coma
2 mo xtended hospital stay, ICU & burn unit
PICC line IV antibx 8 mo
10/4/10, 2/14/11 reconst surg
OC 3x in 3 years
very happy to be alive smile
lvredrock #116031 04-28-2010 06:15 AM
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 3,082
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An upset stomach only once a week? Sounds pretty good for a feeding tube. The longer you need or have to use a feeding tube, the more apparent and constant the problems. Christine's advice about watering down the nutrient formula is spot on.
It's true that both the bolus (medical term for using a big plastic syringe to push the nutrient into the feeding tube) or gravity (filling the bag and letting it drip down into the tube) require more time than hooking up to a pump during the night. However I toss and turn in my sleep plus I have to get up a couple of time to spit out the mucous or else choke to death, so haven't really considered the pump and therefore can not comment on it.
However with 6 to 8 feedings a day, I have developed some coping tricks. First, like Christine suggested, I water down my Jevity. Second, I wear an apron with a slit in it to slide my feeding tube thru so the little accidents and spills don't stain my clothes. Third, I "eat" with my wife, breakfast, lunch & dinner - (this is more a psychological trick to keep up our spirits) and fourth, I had them upgrade me to a larger size feeding tube (16 FR instead of the original 12).
I sincerely hope that your use of the feeding tube is temporary. Most of the posters here who tout the PEG would be singing a very different tune if they had to use it exclusively year after year.
IMO an upset stomach is the very least of any feeding tube problems when compared to leakage, granulation tissue, infection, replacement, blockage,cleaning - each month I discover a new issue. I hope you use is very temporary but Christine and I are living proof that any problems you encounter are surmountable and liveable. Keep swallowing as much as you can, even though you have the tube
I hope your stomach feels better soon
Charm


65 yr Old Frack
Stage IV BOT T3N2M0 HPV 16+
2007:72GY IMRT(40) 8 ERBITUX No PEG
2008:CANCER BACK Salvage Surgery
25GY-CyberKnife(5) 3 Carboplatin
Apaghia /G button
2012: CANCER BACK -left tonsilar fossa
40GY-CyberKnife(5) 3 Carboplatin

Passed away 4-29-13
Charm2017 #116051 04-28-2010 02:28 PM
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 1,128
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I'm a permanent attachment to my current PEG, and have been for 16 months.

Unless I am trying to take in formula at too fast a rate, I don't have stomach problems. Like Christine, I now prefer to do one continuous feeding overnight.

I find that disconnecting myself from the pump in the middle of the night is no big deal; if I had a pump with a battery, I would just unplug it from the wall and wheel it to the potty.


Age 67 1/2
Ventral Tongue SCC T2N0M0G1 10/05
Anterior Tongue SCC T2N0M0G2 6/08
Base of Tongue SCC T2N0M0G2 12/08
Three partial glossectomy (10/05,11/05,6/08), PEG, 37 XRT 66.6 Gy 1/06
Neck dissection, trach, PEG & forearm free flap (6/08)
Total glossectomy, trach, PEG & thigh free flap (12/08)
On August 21, 2010 at 9:20 am, Pete went off to play with the ratties in the sky.
Pete D #116109 04-29-2010 05:20 PM
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 63
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I've been using a feeding tube for 7 months with no problems (yet). I agree that watering down whatever you're using would be helpful. You may want to change the formula you are on. What are you using? I make my own formula and it works great for me! I get the fiber, fat, protein and everything else I need every day.
Patey


Pat - 62 yr. old -DX 8/29/09 SCC stage III floor of mouth
Lower teeth& bone removed
Port& Peg
Cisplatin x3; Rad 35 - ended 12/21/09
Fox Chase 2nd opinion-mandibulectomy; tracheotomy; left neck dissection; jaw reconstruction 5/13/10; flap failed;new flap 7/13/10; lipo January 2011

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