Christine

Isn't it amazing how once you are totally dependent on the PEG tube more than the few months that the OCF advocates for it experience, just how complicated and troublesome it is? I hope mine lasts the six months but you are right the replacement procedure seems a breeze in comparison with what we put up with otherwise
charm

I did read the Roger Ebert article. What a story of inspiration. Poor guy has suffered so much and keeps going. Hey....that sounds like so many of us on here!!!!! Nice to see it getting out to the general public just how awful OC can be. But at the same time, what can be overcome when life just isnt fair.

Christine, your PEG is the kind that I took out for cleaning and reinstalled three times by myself.

Actually, the only PEG that is really a PEG is the kind installed with endoscope (The E in PEG). The others are G-tubes.

My most recent PEG, before the Mic-Key, was in for six months and was still going strong. I have it here at home and the tube is still flexible, the Y-cap is replaceable and the mushroom anchor is good, albeit discolored.

Charm, I wish my Docs would trust me with the silver nitrate sticks...

Pete

My PEG is really a G-tube. I still call it a PEG cuz Im not very technical. I have it anchored in my stomach and also a balloon anchor in my intestine right past the stomach. I use the larger sized tube which goes into my intestine. As far as the top goes, it has 2 parts and a tiny one for nurses to stick needles to give meds.

I also have a handy attachment that helps me when Im feeling sick. Its a white bag that hooks up to the tube that is in the stomach. If Im ill, it sucks out all the nasty stuff from my stomach and I feel instantly better. I can use the stomach port for formula if I need to but the tube is so tiny Im afraid it will clog too easily. That port I flush once or twice per week and its good.

Pete...hows the critters?

Charm...please update if those sticks work. Ive had a problem with this for months.

Pete

Thanks for pointing out that technical correction. Finally, I can state that I HAVE NEVER HAD A PEG only a G tube since no doctor wants to try and thread an endoscope down my mouth and throat after the salvage surgery. Instead they use a fluoroscope each time to take a look. I will update my signature line. Yep, I'm lucky my ENT thinks patients need to be empowered to deal with cancer as a chronic condition, hence her okaying me getting silver nitrate plus writing the justification so I could get the Vitamix medical discount.
Charm

Christine
I dropped off the prescription for "silver nitrate applicator" yesterday at the pharmacy which had to order it but thinks it will be in on Monday. I will post back and probably post on my granulation tissue thread to document my adventures in self administration of silver nitrate. I know the basics, cover skin with vaseline, put only on granulation tissue but as you know, the devil is in the details. My ENT did confirm that in her experience only silver nitrate works.
Charm

Did the silver nitrate sticks work?

Christine

Yes and no. I posted an explanation on my granulation thread.
Short version: the sticks worked but I messed up by not putting a bandage or vaseline underneath the stoma to protect the normal skin. Oh, well, next time it will be better.
Charm

That is exactly what would have happened to me too. Thats why I thought I would learn from you.

I think that I will just leave mine alone. Right now its not hurting so its ok.

With all the excitement of having my feeding tube pop out in the middle of a Pilates class at the gym, I forgot to update here.
After I picked up the tube from the floor and saw that the balloon was totally deflated, I tried to stick it back in but it was like pushing a wet noodle. I was pleasantly surprised to see that nothing was gushing out of the hole in my stomach.

At the hospital, when they put in my 4th feeding tube, a replacment mickey tube (16 FR), this Interventional Radiology doctor has put me on a three month replacement schedule. This tube lasted only 4 months. Like Pete, I get to watch it on a fluoroscope and for the first time I declined all pain pills, lidocaine, etc so I would not have to sit in post op.
It hurt less than the silver nitrate sticks I self administered. So for me, "PEGs" (used generically even though this was not endoscopic nor percutaneous) are a 90 day wonder.
Charm