Jane

Unfortunately, the standard procedure at most hospitals is to use a Foley catheter when a feeding tube falls out if it's an "emergency" , even though as Christine points out its diameter is too small for enteral feeding. While there is some tiny leakage from the stoma (hole in the stomach), it should be barely noticeable. Like Christine, my knowledge of feeding tubes was earned the hard way. The doctor's guess that the balloon and tube were defective is probably right. I had terrible problems with my balloons breaking or not fitting snugly.
If her doctor cannot get a properly fitting G or J/G tube in, ask him about parental infusion. In parenteral, or PN, nutrients are delivered intravenously and the GI tract is bypassed entirely. PN is given through a catheter which carries the liquid directly into the bloodstream, where it is absorbed by the body. Your doctor may know it by its the older terms TPN (total parenteral nutrition) or HA (hyperalimentation). This would let your mother avoid these stomach issues.
Sorry to hear about all this
Charm

Last edited by Charm2017; 07-24-2012 06:36 AM. Reason: typos

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