Hello everyone.

Four weeks into treatment, dad needed to be put on a feeding tube. Dad is a multiple stroke survivor (5 in 2011 alone) so he's on blood thinners. He cannot be off his meds for the required week before surgery. The thought of putting a PEG tube into him gave his doctors ulcers. So they settled for an NG tube.

I need some suggestions and tips for this thing. Dad has now had it for 6 weeks and I cannot manage to keep the thing secured on is nose. The tube has completely come out three times, which requires a trip to the ER. I have talked with ER and home health nurses and they are stumped.

The problem is that somehow dad gets the tape on top of his nose wet and the tape pops off. I have to change it a minimum of two or three times a day. I don't know how he does it. Sneezing and coughing shouldn't cause this many problems. I think one of his meds gives him a runny nose. He is 15 days post tx and really hasn't started trying to take anything by mouth as the sores haven't healed yet.

The ER nurse gave me a super sticky pink plastic tape. She said it was the strongest they had but it would really irritate the skin. I still have to replace it twice a day (that is one of the few things that makes me literally gag). I use skin prep to help with the adhesiveness and it doesn't seem to do much. Short of wrapping his entire head in tape, I'm at a loss. It is a huge and slightly rigid NG tube so it wouldn't easily adhere to the side of his face.

Each day it seems to work it's way off faster. I had to leave work on Friday after getting a call from my mom because it had come loose. Dad will be on this tube for several more weeks as he heals and relearns to eat.

I'm going to burn that ng tube in a ritual burning when he's officially done with it. Stomp it into the ground and grind it with my foot.

Does anyone have any suggestions?

hi angel i had a ng tube about 2 months . belive it or not i was so happy when they replaced that (xxxxxxx) thing with a peg. i pulled my ng tube out twice while i was still recovering from surgery at the hospital. after that they stitch the tube to a nostril. for me that was unbelievably painful but it worked.

Did they try a product called opsite to secure the NG tube to the skin? It is like an adhesive backed suran wrap in appearance and if you use skin prep before application it should adhere well.

Joe, YEOUCH! Seriously? They stitched it? I think he would prefer the raw nose.

Wally, I will ask the dr about opsite. I have not heard of that one. Thanks for the suggestions.

Rita

the trach that i had for 6 months was also stiched so to the hospital staff it was probably a cure for a troublesome patient.

Rita -
I googled ng tube and some of pictures show the attachment to the upper lip instead of the nose. Don't know if that would help.

Joe -
good you're feisty, probably worth the stitches in the grand scheme of things.

Maria, thanks for the research. I saw that as well but since the best I can tell is that the tape comes loose from a runny nose, I think the upper lip would be worse. I will give it a shot though.

I also did a image search and from what I saw, they all were having the same issues.

Rita

Dad met with his gp yesterday and convinced him to remove the ng tube. I must admit that both mom and I are against it at this time. Before yesterday dad hadn't started eating anything, zero, zilch, nada, by mouth and should be easing back into it. I told dad that I'm fine with it if he can get the needed fluids and calories. If by the end of the week if I'm not satisfied we would be having a very serious discussion and heading to the ER to get it put back in. Here's hoping.

Pick up some ensures or boost, even the drug store chains now make their own brand of this stuff. You can also order thru Amazon Carnation VHC (our green box on the main forum pages or by clicking on this link ). Thats 560 calories per can so he would need less (5) to maintain his daily requirements. I sure hope his muscles 'remember' how to swallow properly. Make sure you keep a close eye on him while he drinks and eats.

Make sure you have the magic mouthwash/viscose lidocaine/whatever stuff the doc's have help with the pain itself. Swish with the topicals, then drink the shake when the pain killing effect is at its peak - immediately or after about 5 minutes, depending on the product.

The canned products use emulsifiers of some sort that make it kind of like ... latex paint. My husband found my concoctions more palitable. It will not be a complete meal replacement: my husband had Ensure at work, and my shakes at home. If the ensure/boost doesn't go well, try the following:

1 packet vanilla Carnation breakfast essentials
1/2 - 1 scoop whey powder (the natural vanilla kind)
1-2 cups milk

Blenderize it. Use more or less milk (or soy or almond milk)to find the best consistency for your dad. Vanilla ice cream be appealing. You can add Benefiber, canned peaches, baby oatmeal (or rice cereal), cooked oatmeal to the basic formula as he recovers. Canned peaches were the first fruit he could tolerate in the shakes - bananas were a bit more challenging, oddly enough. Everyone is a bit different.

When things were at their most wretched, my husband would drink his nutrition at the kitchen sink so if he coughed or choked it would be less messy. I think that it was easier for him to swallow standing up.

Best wishes with your strong-willed dad.