[tri-med] Re: G-Tube update

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Sheila Helleson"
> I don't have a button.  The sutures are into the tube and my skin -
> holding the tube in place, supposedly.

OK - Sheila sent me a picture. Now I understand whats going on.

You have a foley's, the ultimate in cheap, short feeding tubes.  Please, 
please, please make sure its short term. I wish doctors would NOT use them, 
but they still do.

There is no granulation and it looks like a snug fit. My guess is that the 
leakage is a little gastric acid being brought out with movement.

OK the stitch is not enough to keep it in place and it will feel more 
comfortable if you can anchor it better. Alex had one when he was a little 
tot and we used a H dressing. I will try and paint a word pictures but I 
will also send you a picture of Alex's dressing. You will need to use 
elastoplast, so get that duoderm or coloplast. (wish I could email you 
some). If you cant get your hands on those then use the Bandaid brand 
advanced healing plasters. You could put the elastoplast on your skin but 
its pretty harsh, the duoderm etc is just to protect your skin. You could 
also use the paper tape if you want, its just not strong enough and you will 
be changing it constantly. With the elastoplast once it goes on you probably 
wont need to change it before the tube comes out.

The H dressing. Cut a large piece of elastoplast and tape it across the 
tube, about 3 inches from where it comes out of your stomach, doubling it 
back on itself so that there are no sticky edges showing, but with a good 
piece either side of the tape. (here is a typed picture, the sticky up bit 
in the middle is the tube the longer bits on the side are the tape.
-------|--------

Now on your skin either side of the tube place duoderm or the advanced 
healing bandaids. These are to protect your skin. Cute two more pieces of 
elastoplast, these are going to anchor the tube to your skin. Place one end 
of the elastoplast on half the duoderm  then run it up parallel to the tube, 
catch the end of the piece of elastoplast that you now have across the tube 
and fold it back down on itself and attach the other end to the other side 
of the duoderm. Do the same to the other side.

You now have a H shape with the tube coming out the middle. It will provide 
a firm anchor, stop the tube pulling on the stitches and keep it far enough 
in the tract to make it comfortable.

From the picture yours is a yellowish colour? My guess is that its latex and 
that could well be causing the irritation, its an allergy. Get some silicone 
barrier, comes in a tube often as a hand protection. Clean the area around 
the tube well with soapy water, dry it well and then put the barrier cream 
around it and anywhere that the tube lays. Chances are you have a latex 
sensitivty and thats why the paper tape is irritating you. Tiny particles of 
latex are getting caught under the tape and causing the irritation, not the 
tape itself.

Just going to grab the photo of Alex's H dressing and emailing it to you off 
list. I promise, as much of a pain as the dressing is to understand it 
provides a comfiortable anchor for the tube and will reduce all that 
discomfort.

Life consists not in holding good cards but in playing those you hold well.
                                            -- Josh Billings

Keep Looking For Rainbows!!
   _--_|\
 /Karen \
 \ _.--._ /
          v Karen, Mum to Alex (14 years, T-18 Mosaic)
http://members.optushome.com.au/karens

                  Building ___ooOOoo__ Rainbows
                       www.trisomyonline.org
                  Families Helping Families On-line

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