Hi, Mom has clogged feeding tube. It's because of poor flushing habits (caregiver--daughter--new to this). Can we pull the tube out at the belly site and clean it and flush it?
We potentially dont have nursing help until Monday unless we head to the ER???

TIA, Trish

Don't pull it out, it isn't easy going back in! Mine was pulled out on accident by an idiot nurse and then reinserted by an even bigger idiot Dr...due to my jaw being wired shut after my mandiblectomy I couldn't properly give them the piece of my mind they deserved. Anyway wasn't a pleasant experience for me and I don't recommend it for others

Eric

**********The J/G type of feeding tube is not one that is able to be removed and reinserted at home. It goes into the stomach and also into the intestines and has internal stitches.**********Do NOT pull this out!!!! This type of tube will NOT go back it. Try flushing it with warm water or even clear soda like sprite. You can even try just to push air thru. Keep working on it and if you cant get it then go to the ER. If anyone has pulled back on the syringe that could dislodge the balloon. Never EVER pull back to check for residual with this type of feeding tube. Most members use a PEG tube which is much different than the J/G tube.

PS... If your mother has a visiting nurse, then she would have 24/7 emergency care available. They always have someone on call. Same goes for the gastro docs, call someone to help you. Depending upon your mothers situation this could be a big emergency if she is not able to take enough in by mouth.

I just saw your duplicate post which has more info. DO NOT attempt to pull this out. If it is the J/G type of tube then it has stitches inside to keep it in place. There is also a balloon. Keep working on it. If you cant get it then yes go ahead and use the other port but remember that it is smaller and will need to be flushed every few hours. The formula should also be watered down. This needs to be fixed right away!!! Tomorrow make some calls and if you cant get a professional to help then go to the ER. Its not a big deal to have this switched. Its only a local shot given and within about 20 minutes a new one will be in.

Thanks SO MUCH for the info. It's been 24 hours of clog now, going to try to fix, will call nursing care if I can't fix. Thanks!

Yep, good old fizzy pop works great.

would adolf's meat tenderizer help? i used that for ron's NG tube. I read it somewhere on one of the forums.

I have been cleaning mine out by putting hot water in the mouth of it and just rolling it between my fingers, the adding more water afterI dischchareg the water in it and addin more in the sink and tapping the tube against the bowl of the sink. So far it has remained as clean as the 1st use. That brings out pretty good sized chunks of whatever I have eaten. This mornin I inserted a clean thin stainless rod and moved it around too. It cleans it. After this I flush warm water thru it to my stomache.