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Feeding Tube Awareness and Education

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03/05/2025

Let’s talk venting and draining G-tubes!

If someone has a G-tube or a GJ tube, that means that their feeding tube gives them access to their stomach.

G-tubes or the G portion of a GJ tube- can also used for venting and draining stomach contents. Venting and draining can help with symptoms of bloating (releasing extra air), nausea and stomach contents. Venting the feeding tube is typically done with a syringe, and draining a feeding tube can be done by either connecting a drainage bag to the extension of the tube and letting gravity do the work, or manually using a syringe to pull out the stomach contents.

Typically you are instructed by your doctor or gastroenterologist as to when the right time to vent or drain would be, and if that is appropriate given your situation.

For example - In my particular situation, I am receiving all of my nutrition through the J portion of my GJ tube, bypassing my stomach (the problem area). I am highly encouraged to vent and drain from the G portion as needed for symptom relief, as well as engaging in what is called “pleasure/comfort feeding”.

Pleasure feeding is engaging in eating/drinking to have a sense of normalcy in social settings or whenever I want! This allows me to engage in eating certain things of my choice that I will be able to drain the contents of after eating- so I won’t have to experience severe pain, nausea, vomiting.. etc

As much as I wish I could eat and drink without getting extremely sick and dealing with severe side effects, I am so grateful that I am able to engage and enjoy social situations surrounding food without having to pay for it. This may be NEW news and bring even more of an understanding to my own family and friends circle!

Yes, this takes a little bit of planning and you have to be fairly cautious on the choices of food, as not everything drains easily from the stomach and you may have to work at it manually with a syringe. Depending on the quantity of what you’ve eaten or drink, it may take a little while to drain, but otherwise it can be fairly quick and simple. I carry around extra syringes in all of my purses and backpacks so that I’m prepared on the go - as I don’t always remember or have a drainage bag on me.

As always, if anyone has any questions, please do not hesitate to send me a direct message or comment below. Hoping to make some more informative posts with real demonstrations, tips and tricks in the very near future. 💓

01/17/2024

•Feeding Tube Care•

It can be so overwhelming knowing what products to use when first getting a feeding tube. When I first got my GJ tube I asked around the community and found I was getting SO many different suggestions which confused me even further. Everyone has their preferences in products but I found the simpler I kept it the easier it was.

To this day my surgeon compliments my tube site and I want to share my favourite products for feeding tube care!

• Saline- I use this on q-tips or gauze to clean around my tube site daily! Make sure to dry the site well after or let air dry.

• Calmoseptine Ointment- This is one of the BEST ointments that can be used as a barrier cream around the stoma. It's very thick so a little goes a long way! I suggest applying on a q-tip around the site and apply a split gauze to avoid the cream getting all over clothing.

• Silver Nitrate- Granulation tissue is very common with tubes and can be very painful and irritating. I DO NOT recommend using these if you have not been given instruction by your doctor/surgeon or have not been shown how to use them. If you're having constant issues with granulation tissue silver nitrate is commonly used to burn the tissue/kill it. You can get silver nitrate sticks over the counter at most pharmacies, but they usually have to order them in unless your doctor/surgeon gives you some or writes you a script. There are also other options available for treating granulation tissue such as an ointment called Granulotion, or you can make a concoction yourself at home using Alum (found in the spice aisle) and mix with a small amount of Calmoseptine ointment and apply around the site.

• Split Gauze- Highly recommend non-woven 2x2 split gauze. Split gauze holds around the tube site much better than cutting plain gauze down the middle. Highly recommend DuSoft brand-available in many different sizes. Non woven is much better than the stringy non-sterile generic cotton gauze!

• Q-Tips- I go through q-tips like crazy for cleaning around my tube site and applying creams. Super inexpensive as well.

As always, if you have any feeding tube questions don’t hesitate to send me a direct message! ♥️

10/31/2023

Yesterday was my 28th Birthday!

As we all know, birthday cakes are a huge part of the celebration. But as someone that is feeding tube dependent, this can be huge challenge for family or friends throwing a party. When someone has condition limiting food that they can eat, or not able to eat at all, a typical birthday cake may not be an option.

Most years, I've still had a birthday cake, regardless of being feeding tube dependent, because at the time was doing much better health wise and able to eat small amounts by mouth- despite symptoms. This year was much different as my health has declined significantly.

In this case my parents were trying to come up with a creative, non-edible birthday cake. Little did I know, as I told them I had no issue with a cake being there for everyone else coming to my birthday party.

As everyone gathered around to sing for me, I had no expectations that I would be blowing out any candles on a cake; and much to my surprise my parents came out with a homemade, non-edible "log cake" It took a minute to make sense of what they had created for me, and it was truly the best thing. I was completely blown away by the creativity, thought and effort that went into this.

When it really comes down to it, birthdays aren't even about the cake, but about the effort that goes into making your someone feel special on their day... and I felt VERY special. 💗

Sharing this for anyone who is living through the same situation, looking for a creative idea to make your loved ones birthday a special one without cake!

08/08/2023

Beautiful Reminder:

It's much easier said than done to push away the shame that some of us feel when we're using medical equipment. Between feeling judged by people around you, or the emotions that comes with coming to terms with having to use aids you never thought you'd need, it's a lot to deal with. Whether it helps you stay alive, or if it makes living easier for you, you deserve that help. Your body deserves that help.

You have nothing to be ashamed of. 💗

06/25/2023

Introduction and Education on Nasal and Abdominal Feeding Tubes!

Feeding tubes can be used to:

Provide nutrition and hydration: Tube feeding allows for needed nutrients to support the body.
Provide medication: Needed drugs, including many pills and tablets can be given through a feeding tube.

Decompressing the stomach (venting): Some feeding tubes can be used to remove air in the stomach.

Removing stomach contents (draining):
Undigested food sitting in the stomach can cause nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, and bloating.

DESCRIPTION OF EACH TYPE OF FEEDING TUBE:

Nasogastric tubes:
NG tubes are inserted in the nose and end in the stomach. They are typically used for 1-6 months and can be replaced at home. Bolus or continuous feeding can be used.

Nasoduodenal:
ND tubes are also inserted in the nose and end just past the stomach, in the duodenum. They are typically used for 1-6 months and must be placed in IR. Slow overnight or continuous feeding must be used.

Nasojejunal:
NJ tubes are also inserted in the nose and end past the duodenum, in the jejunum. They are typically used for 1-6 months and must be placed in IR. Continuous or overnight feeding must be used.

Gastrostomy:
G tubes are placed through the abdominal wall into the stomach. They can be placed three different ways:
•Via endoscopic guidance
•Radiological guidance
or through surgical methods

Both 'dangler tubes and low profile buttons are options for these tubes, however guidelines differ between hospitals.
As the stomach can stretch, gastric feeding methods can include both bolus feeding and pump/continuous feeds. There is also options to feed using blended/real food blends rather than enteral formula.

Gastrojejunostomy:
GJ tubes are placed in the stomach, and have an extension that sits in the jejenum. This allows both gastric & jejenal access. In most cases, the jejenal port is used for feeding, while the gastric port can be used for drainage

GJ Tubes can be placed surgically, endoscopically (PEG-J) or in interventional radiology to allow correct placement of the jejenal extension. With jejenal feeding, continuous pump feeding is the preferred method as the intestines do not stretch like the stomach. GJ tubes may not be suitable for some if frequent "flipping" or displacement of the J extension occurs. Both dangler tubes and low profile buttons are available, however GJ tubes cannot be replaced at home/without guidance.

Jejunostomy:
J tubes are placed through the abdominal wall directly into the jejenum
J tubes are used for enteral feeding only, and cannot be vented. Most J-Tubes are placed surgically, but can be done endoscopically.
As with jejenal feeding, continuous pump feeding is preferred. Blended feeds are also contraindicated as your jejenum does not have stomach acid required to break these down. most commonly, peptide feeds are used.

04/30/2023

Do I love my feeding tube?
No, not at all.

Has it improved my quality of life?
100%! There is NO comparison to the state I was in prior to receiving my feeding tube.

I am beyond grateful for it, because it has given me the chance to live life again while receive proper nutrition. Feeding tubes are NOT a worst case scenario, they are a tool to improve nutrition and quality of life!

At the time, my feeding tube felt like the beginning of the end. But now I know that it was actually just the beginning of LIVING.

03/03/2023

Welcome to the Feeding Tube Awareness and Education page!

As a little introductory, my name is Amy and I am 27 years old. I suffer from a connective tissue disorder called Ehlers Danlos syndrome that comes with a lot of comorbidities, and unfortunately severely effecting my G.I tract. I’ve been on a feeding tube for a number of years now and have also had a variety of different types of feeding tubes. I’ve had my GJ tube for almost 2 years now, but it definitely comes with its challenges.

My goal for this page was to create a space of awareness and education for anyone that is new to the feeding tube world, as well as long term feeding tube users. I’ve heard far too many stories of people who have not been properly supported, or educated on how to care for their feeding tubes- whether it’s their own, their child’s, spouses, parents, siblings etc. It’s unfortunate that there seems to be such a lack of guidance through such a big life transition. I understand how scary and new it feels when either you or a loved one comes home with a feeding tube. I want to be able to provide a better understanding on not only the anatomy of the feeding tubes themselves and how they work but highly recommended products, accessories,creative hacks and more. All things that I’ve learned over the years!

I am very excited to be starting this page and can’t wait to help guide anyone who comes across it! I am hoping to start posting on a frequent to regular basis, but that may not happen for another week or two as I am also going through a lot of medical issues, struggles and procedures. I’m sure everyone in this group will be more than understanding about that. ♥️

I also want anyone who comes across this page to know that they are more than welcome to message me through messenger on this page, if you have any direct questions,need advice or guidance!

-Xoxo

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