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?