I am hoping someone here can help me.
My husband had a PEG tube put in Friday and he has been taking in feedings very well. The thing that we are wondering if it is normal is food/liquid keeps coming up through the tube. Many times we can pop the end open and the contents of the tube will settle back in his stomach. But things are continually coming through his tube, just in walking around or even doing nothing...is this normal?
I am constantly flushing the tube with a bit of water for fear some of the stuff coming up in the tube will get stuck to the sides of the tube.

Thanks

Several things may contribute to this. First you are doing the right thing to rinse it out, if stuff dries in there, it is really tough to clean it out. If he feels pressure after eating, this could be from gas build up, and it could force food back into the tube. You can add a few drops of simethicone to the tube before feeding. Drug stores sell this as baby gas drops in a small bottle with an eye dropper. The other is rate of feeding, and what you are describing happens more to people who use a syringe and shoot in a bolus of liquid vs those that use a bag and drip system. Also sitting up during feeding and for some time afterwards is important. Lastly, it can relate to tube placement in the stomach, which you have no control over. Ask the docs what they think, but this is probably nothing to be concerned about.

Hi, Melissa, It is normal for some of the stomach fluids to back up into the tube- tho there shouldn't be alot. Does your hubby have the tube cap taped up higher on his chest that where the incision is? If his stomach is full and he is lying down, sometimes just rolling onto one side or the other will shift some of the fluids into the tube. He also might be putting too much into the tube at a feeding and getting too full. Remember all the water you are flushing with has to be absorbed too. It takes some getting used too. Don't panic- just keep experimenting and ask the Doc the next time you see him\her. Amy in the Ozarks

Melissa,
I am the caregiver to my wife Pat and she also has a PEG tube.

Based on my experience it is essential that you flush the PEG tube each day while he is still eating solid food by mouth. It's normal for food to come up the tube so you'll need to keep it flushed.

Second, they have an On/Off valve that goes into the end of the PEG tube which avoids the need to use the flapper valve on the end. Contact the doctor who put in his PEG tube and get one of the on/off valves. In Pat's case it was the Rad-Onc office that had these valves. Life will be much easier this way. You will avoid the leaks, not to mention the stomach acid. Good luck.
Walt