| | Joined: Sep 2011 Posts: 2 Member | OP  Member
Joined: Sep 2011 Posts: 2 | My mother has a PEG tube as the result of a cancerous tumor that was removed from her throat about 30 years ago. She experiences frequent diarrhea as a result. Imodium seems to help but then she has a problem with constipation. Is there a way to solve this problem?
Thanks,
BobL | | | | | Joined: Jul 2007 Posts: 939 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | | "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts)
Joined: Jul 2007 Posts: 939 | Bob,
What method of delivery and what kind of "food" does she use with the PEG tube. Often its a matter of slowing down the flow rate of food that is going into the tube and also, perhaps changing the supplement.
You will here from a couple of experts here before too long..if not, I will give you a link to their posts.
Deb
Deb..caregiver to husband, age 63 at diagnosis, former smoker who quit in 1997.
DIAGNOSIS: 6/26/07 SCC right tonsil/BOT T4N0M0
TREATMENT START: 8/9/07 cisplatin/taxol X 7..IMRT twice daily X 31.5.
TREATMENT END: 10/1/07
PEG OUT: 1/08
PORT OUT: 4/09
FOLLOWUP: Now only annual exams. ALL CLEAR!
Passed away 1/7/17 RIP Bill
| | | | | Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 10,507 Likes: 6 Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 10,507 Likes: 6 | Hi bob, welcome to OCF! I have used both a PEG tube and J/G tube for almost 4 years combined. Ive experienced my fair share of ups and downs with each type.
Your mothers problems go to not the tube but the formula she is using. If you check the can there probably isnt any fiber in it. Does your mother take any pain meds? The pain meds cause constipation but the formula without fiber will alot of times cause diarrea. Best thing to do is add fiber like benefiber to her formula. If she is using a pump then slow things down and add some extra water too.
Please give me more details as to your mothers type of formula and how she takes her formula. I will then be able to help you better.
ChristineSCC 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  | | | | | Joined: Mar 2008 Posts: 3,082 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Mar 2008 Posts: 3,082 | Hi Bob
In two and half years of living ONLY on a G tube, I've never had diarrhea. My formula is Jevity 1.5 which claims to have mastered the trick of having the insoluble fiber we need made soluble enough to be suspended. Once it hits the stomach, it reacts with the digestive tract to fall out of suspension.
I do know that if you mix wine with jevity 1.5, it does suddenly go from a liquid to a semi-congealed solid.
You may want to also consider the benefits of a blenderized diet. My dinners each night are real food, pulverized by a Vitamix 5200 to a texture that slides down the tube. Not soups like many recipies, but regular meals with vegetables, tofu, beans, etc.
Something is definitely wrong here and shame on her doctors for letting this happen so long.
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: Sep 2011 Posts: 2 Member | | OP Member
Joined: Sep 2011 Posts: 2 | Deb,
Thanks to you and all of the others who have replied. The forumula which my mother is using is Osmolyte. She used to use Jevity (I think it was 1.5), but the doctor switched her to Osmolyte when the diarrhea started. I'll mention the suggestions (slowing down the feeding rate and adding fiber) that I've received to her.
Thanks again,
Bob | | | | | Joined: Jul 2011 Posts: 48 Contributing Member (25+ posts) | | Contributing Member (25+ posts)
Joined: Jul 2011 Posts: 48 | bob, I have been useing jevity 1.5 for a month. I start out at a 75 setting, 77 when i go to bed and then when I wake up at night to the potty i increase to 87 or more depending on how much is left in the bag. then i pour the left over down the tube so i get the full amount. usualy about 5-7 oz. I have diarea ounce in a while. then I take one imodim and it stops. I also take regalin 30 min. three times a day. it helps move the formula through the digestive tract. Hope this helps. Pat
dx mucoideperdermoid stage 1 .9cm tumor removed from
lower left tongue 5-3-11 rad 5-31-11 till 8-10-11 three weeks off in june 9 days in hospital healing mouth from radiation burns. 33 days of radiation.wife is caregiver
peg tube july 7-11 age 59 male.
| | | | | Joined: Jun 2009 Posts: 71 Supporting Member (50+ posts) | | Supporting Member (50+ posts)
Joined: Jun 2009 Posts: 71 | Wow. I am real sorry to hear about her discomfort. I have been using a PEG tube for 3.5 years. I started with jevity 1.5 but have moved to a nutritionist. She does custom formulas of real foods and supplements to keep me going. She bases her programs off of blood work. My recommendation is to find a Nutritionist. I have found them to be the best at food management, far better than any of my doctors. Best of luck to your mom.
11/1999 SCC tongue - surgery
1/2000 Met(s) in lymph nodes - modRND
2/2000-4/2000 RT ~6 weeks
end of 2006 SCC tongue - surgery
1/2008 SCC BOT - surgery / PEG installed
2/2008 chemo & RT
4/2008 last time I consumed solid food by mouth
| | | | | Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 10,507 Likes: 6 Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 10,507 Likes: 6 | Bob, the usual tricks to making the formula more easily tolerated is to slow down the rate, add water and benefiber. I ended up being hospitalized for a couple weeks from excessive diarrhea. Once my nutritionist slowed the rate down to 40 on my feeding pump, I was fine. All kinds of doctors and experts were baffled at my persistent diarrhea. Give your mom a few days of very slow feeding rate like 40 plus adding an extra can or 2 of water should do the trick. Then gradually up the speed every couple days until she is back to her normal pace. There are hundreds of different prescription feeding formulas on the market. Sometimes it takes a few tries before a patient gets the one that works best for them.
Another couple of pointers is to always have your mother sitting up or on an incline when she is doing a feeding. If she does her feedings overnight then make sure the head of her bed is raised and she sleeps propped up by at least 2 pillows. She should sit still for at least 30 minutes after the feeding has finished.
I hope your mom begins to feel better soon.
ChristineSCC 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 | | |
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