Went to Gastro-Doc today, who installed my great 20FR PEG in December 2008, for some granulation weeding (flesh growing out around the PEG stoma), which he did with the usual silver nitrate sticks (I could be doing that at home if they'd just let me have the sticks <grinz>). A little bit of pain, but he used a topical anesthetic (Lidocaine), so it was tolerable.

He's only had one other long-term PEG'er, who needed that done every other week. Said he put replaced the usual PEG with one that was 'low profile' and the granulation quit, so we'll try that if mine becomes a long-term problem.

I showed him where Dr Haakenslash had been silver nitrating my free flap, but that doesn't hurt because there aren't any nerves.

Pete, nice to see you posting. Hope you are doing ok. Next time you see the PEG doc ask him if he has something like a small clamp for it. Most people havent heard of this before. I got one from my HBO nurse. Its a tiny plastic clamp like what you would see in wood or metal shop. It keeps the PEG tube from accidently getting uncorked and having an embarrasing moment of leakage.

I have the GOOD PEG and it came with the clamp and two ports, one small and one large! Same clamp as the kind I have on a Super Siphon hose in my garage! $2 for the clamp.

http://www.ezsiphon.com/Default.htm

If your PEG tube has all that stuff then you are all set. The clamps sure came in handy for me to keep from having any embarrassing moments.

They make it a lot less messy just doing the routine stuf. I can even tell by the noise the food pump makes if I forget to open the clamp when I hook up and start it!