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#131647 03-20-2011 08:06 AM
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 3,082
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Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)

Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 3,082
Last night was that "super full moon" and sure enough, my G tube balloon suddenly deflated and out plopped the tube. It's 9pm on a Saturday night, with interventional radiology closed until Monday morning at my CCC where I have the first appointment to get the feeding tube replaced. So I grit my teeth and pop it back in place, hastening to secure it with a wide bandage and criss crossed surgical skin tape. Gingerly test it out with a syringe and I'm back in business. Whew.

Technical note: I use PEG in the subject line since almost every OCF member's feeding tube is a PEG. My tube is exactly the same as a PEG except in the way it is inserted and what doctors will change it. 4 gastro docs simply refuse and say stick with IR. Very frustrating due to CCC paper bureaucracy and parking etc. Local gastro doc offices are great but I can't use them.

Bottom line: if your PEG plops out: pop it back in and then get an emergency appointment asap.


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
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 10,507
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OUCH!!!! Bet that hurt like heck!!! Good thing you are so good with your PEG! Now you will have a nice new one without any problems.


Christine
SCC 6/15/07 L chk & by L molar both Stag I, age44
2x cispltn-35 IMRT end 9/27/07
-65 lbs in 2 mo, no caregvr
Clear PET 1/08
4/4/08 recur L chk Stag I
surg 4/16/08 clr marg
215 HBO dives
3/09 teeth out, trismus
7/2/09 recur, Stg IV
8/24/09 trach, ND, mandiblctmy
3wks medicly inducd coma
2 mo xtended hospital stay, ICU & burn unit
PICC line IV antibx 8 mo
10/4/10, 2/14/11 reconst surg
OC 3x in 3 years
very happy to be alive smile
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 3,082
Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
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Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)

Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 3,082
Christine

Yes, I made this appointment in advance even though it's not been 5 months so that when TSA tugs on it on my way to San Antonio cancer walk to hear you talk, it stays in. Going to go to 4 month replacement schedule now.
Charm


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
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 10,507
Likes: 8
Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services
Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
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Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services
Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)

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Posts: 10,507
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Good thing you already had this scheduled! My J/G tube has stitches to hold it in. I cant imagine putting that back in. I know how uncomfortable it is when I get it changed and thats with using lidocaine. I just had mine changed a couple weeks ago. Cant wait to compare TSA stories with you in San Antonio! Only a couple weeks left!

Good luck tomorrow!!!


Christine
SCC 6/15/07 L chk & by L molar both Stag I, age44
2x cispltn-35 IMRT end 9/27/07
-65 lbs in 2 mo, no caregvr
Clear PET 1/08
4/4/08 recur L chk Stag I
surg 4/16/08 clr marg
215 HBO dives
3/09 teeth out, trismus
7/2/09 recur, Stg IV
8/24/09 trach, ND, mandiblctmy
3wks medicly inducd coma
2 mo xtended hospital stay, ICU & burn unit
PICC line IV antibx 8 mo
10/4/10, 2/14/11 reconst surg
OC 3x in 3 years
very happy to be alive smile
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 138
Senior Member (100+ posts)
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Senior Member (100+ posts)

Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 138
Wow, Charm, you are very brave. My surgeon who put my G-tube in told me if it ever popped out to push it back in but then go immediately to the ER. It never happened but I can't imagine waiting from Saturday 'til Monday to have someone fix it.


BOT-SCC Partial glossectomy 7/16/09.
Stage IV, Rt ND 10/2/09.
Teeth out 11/5/09.
Port/peg in, 11/20/09.
7 wks rad & chemo, end 1/22/10
lung, colon biopsies 1/9/11 - both cancer
colon resect surg 1/10/11
Folfox + Avastin - discontinued 6/11
lung surgery 3/13/12, 5/1/12
mets to liver and bones
passed away 9/4/13
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 30
Contributing Member (25+ posts)
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Contributing Member (25+ posts)

Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 30
J tubes have to be replaced??!!?? Oh God no. I hate my life.

Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 10,507
Likes: 8
Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services
Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
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Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services
Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)

Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 10,507
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There are many different types of feeding tubes. The most common one is the PEG tube (percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy). This one will usually last for a couple years before it wears out. The type I have is a J/G tube (Gastro-jejunal) which for me wears out every 2 to 3 months. To replace it is no big deal, its out patient surgery which takes a whole 10 to 20 minutes. The doc uses lidocaine to numb the area then simply swaps it out and adds a stitch inside to keep it in place. I am awake for the whole thing and its normally not usually very painful, just a little uncomfortable. Afterwards it does not hurt at all. Having a feeding tube of any kind replaced is much easier than the original placement.


Christine
SCC 6/15/07 L chk & by L molar both Stag I, age44
2x cispltn-35 IMRT end 9/27/07
-65 lbs in 2 mo, no caregvr
Clear PET 1/08
4/4/08 recur L chk Stag I
surg 4/16/08 clr marg
215 HBO dives
3/09 teeth out, trismus
7/2/09 recur, Stg IV
8/24/09 trach, ND, mandiblctmy
3wks medicly inducd coma
2 mo xtended hospital stay, ICU & burn unit
PICC line IV antibx 8 mo
10/4/10, 2/14/11 reconst surg
OC 3x in 3 years
very happy to be alive smile

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