Susan

As far as I can tell, Don B is unique in having an option to get checkups on his PEG and guidance on its care and handling.
I had one visit from a home nurse who went thru the basics of how to hook up the gravity bag and insert the Y extender and that was that. Nothing else. I've had zero help and already am on my fourth PEG in 18 months due to leakage and falling out. But I have overcome all the clogs, spurts, leaks, infections, granulation tissue etc with tips and hints right here from OCF.
Your idea of putting real food instead of high fructose corn syrup solids is excellent but IMO premature at this time. It is so hard to get adjusted even to the nutrient. I'm surprised you're using Ensure as that is not covered by most insurances nor home medical services. Typically a prescription nutrient like Jevity 1.5 is given. I've used Ensure while on trips and for the last month of my first Radiation treatment but otherwise use the jevity 1.5 along with wholesome food in the Vitamix but it took several months to work up from the gravity bag feed to the faster syringe. As Christine shared, many find the feeding pump to be more comfortable and tolerable as it can be set much slower than the gravity drip (which is slower than the syringe bolus push)
You sound like a great caregiver.
One final tip, I always "sanitize" my feeding tube with a nice glass of wine put down my feeding tube... It also helped boost the effects of the pain pills. Not mainstream medical advice but it has worked very well for me
Charm
Charm