Everyone,
Thank you for all the helpful tips. Do any of you have problems with reflux or asperation? They want to put my tube in my small intestine. I just found that out.

Hi Charm,
What do you mean again by a button tube? Never heard of it. I shall do some research on that.
Thanks

Hi there again... to the people talking about formula's etc. Is it not possible to make healthy blended food on your own? I know it's a lot of prep work but ultimately from a health stand point you would be eating food that's prepared fresh by you and gives you more control... there is a website for tube feeders that offers nutritious options with no additives and chemicals.

As for you - Itsokay.... Mine was placed in my small intestine during treatment... the bad thing about that is you are then stuck on a formula feed I think... since - i was told by a dietician that you have to have a special type of feed for that as it has to be predigested? Of course there are probably many different brands, but I would ask. good luck.

Robin

Regular G or J tubes have a long tube dangling out the front.
Buttons or skin level devices do not.
I did not realize that you were talking about a J or Jejunum tube. Those tubes go into the small intestine.
J tubes require a special type of "button". Here is a link to one woman's J button story J button
Here is a link to pictures of the two most popular G or gastronomy"buttons". They go directly into the stomach Mickey vs AMT button

As you can see, the J button has a tube on the inside since the intestine does not have the storage of the stomach. The G button has no tube. Both use a balloon to hold it in.

There are also combo J and G tubes. J tubes almost always require very slow feed drip with a pump. You need a tube first to let the stoma heal properly before you can get a button
Charm

I have a J/G tube which has a port for the stomach and another one for my large intestine. I usually use the smaller one (stomach) for meds and the larger one for the feeding formula. The J/G tubes are great but they do wear out quickly. That is a huge disadvantage of them, having to go every 2 or 3 months for a new one. Its done on an outpatient basis where you are awake for the whole thing. It can be uncomfortable, but it is fast. I usually walk out of there with a brand new one about 25 minutes after I walk into the hospital.

Good luck!!!

I m not sure what kind of information you are looking for. I've had a tube for three years and will have it for the rest of my life. The last replacement was the newer button type which I like better than the "hanging tube" type. I use Jevity and other than coffee and chicken noodle soup broth thats about it. Most liquids (and I mean thin liquid) doesn't taste good. I just accepted the idea and have learned to live with it, I still go out with family and friends but just order coffee. I have traveled extensively with it. Some things in life just can't be changed, the sooner you accept the idea the better off you are. I have always taken the thought if thats the worse thats going to happen to me I pretty lucky.

I have not yet had the J tube put in. I am getting a second opinion by doing aonther Barium Swallow Test and Barium Swallow test through the tube I currently have to see if it is truly a swallowing problem versus a reflux problem that is causing my asperations. I did a little test last weekend eating a bit of food and drinking some liquids. I asperated that evening and had a stomach ache and was ill that night and the following day. I just want to check out all my options before I completely give myself up to having a feeding tube the rest of my life.
Robin