Hi everyone today was my appt with the oncologist. Very uneventful, very frustrating. Referred to radiation specialist at City of Hope. Another day of hurry up and wait. I do have a question about G-tubes. Mine really hurts/burns periodically at least once or twice a day. I've asked the Dr.waiting on the referral to the GI doctor. It almost feels like its to tight?

Ask the gastro doc to loosen it.

Make sure you keep it clean. Sometimes they will leak a little. After showering daily, swab a small amount of neosporin or silver sulfadine (prescription) cream around the site and keep covered with a drain sponge.

Christine is the master of PEG info. I defer to her... burning to me sounds like you might have a bit of an infection though so do have it looked at. hugs.

I get the burning, had an infection, that made the skin raw, and the stomach acids seep out a little at night when I'm on my side sleeping. As suggested, washing, drying, I use peroxicide sometimes after, then cream either Bactrim, neosporin, or anti fungal, depending on infection the doctor prescribed, turn the tube to another position, and gauze under, over button, which helps, but I'm not 100% following through.

Irritated with the insurance companies, radiation specialist denied...guess ill be making phone calls on Monday. Tired of the politics..

Insurance, premiums, denials, lack of payment, the planning, future coverage, hurry up and wait, is sometimes worse than the treatment. Whatever it is, keep on top of it. Appeal, read your benefits packages cause no one else will, and if you don't, you might not get what your entitled to.

Good luck.

I would only add to what both PaulB and Christine have said about a possible leak. We have just dealt with a similar situation. John went and saw a stoma-therapist who recommended putting a barrier cream like Pro Shield to stop the stomach acid from burning the skin. John also got antibiotics from his GP which cleared up the infection. Now five times a day he does a saline soak, then he lets it air dry for a few minutes (the intervention radiologist even suggested using a hair drier to dry it -- apparently dryness is the key). He then puts a bit of anti-biotic cream followed by the barrier cream and the dressing. In only four days it went from burning, raw and bleeding to properly healed skin. The intervention radiologist saw him today and was pleased. Hope this helps.

Good info Gloria, Since I had the antibiotic infusions for pneumonia in October, I have not had a problem. Difficult to distinguish, one doctor said it was fungal, another bacterial, maybe it was both?

In John's case, the stoma (insertion point) became bigger than the tube. This caused quite a bit of leaking of the stomach contents -- hence the infection and the burning sensation. The intervention radiologist confirmed that if the stoma is kept dry and clean, it will grow back to its original size and the leaking will stop.

2nd surgery scheduled for Dec 17th. Haven't even finished recovering from the first...Not enjoying being me....yet still feel blessed in general.