Zevex feeding pump -- long -- Rachael

[Guest guest]

> Off list topic I know, but what is a Zevex? Does it beep every ten seconds

> like the kangaroo?

--

Actually, I have some g-tube feeding questions that sort of pull the Zevex

pump back onto topic. :0) I'll sprinkle them in.

Zevex makes a pump, the Enteralite, that we pursued after having a bad

experience with Kangaroo Pet pumps. Our problem wasn't simply the

irritating beeping (though that drove us nuts too!), but we had three Pets

fail in three weeks. This sent red flags up for us. The problems we had

may have been more indicative of poor maintenance of the home health

suppliers rental fleet, but it certainly didn't speak well of the Pets'

durability and so we started looking at other brands.

The Enteralite has a lot of benefits not available in the Pet or the Ross

Companion. One is that it doesn't beep every ten minutes. :0) I almost

NEVER get a nighttime alarm--at most once every 4 months?? It can pump at a

rate of 600cc/hr, whereas 400cc/hr is the top speed of the other brands.

Hoping to keep our daughter's stomach conditioned to the natural rate of an

oral eater, the ability to feed this fast seemed beneficial. This leads to

my first question:

--Does the high-fat formula require a slower feeding rate? Is tolerance

of a new, rich diet improved by reducing the rate at first and bringing it

up over time? Would it be reasonable to think we could get back up to

500-600cc/hr? Or does the reduced volume of keto meals make the point

irrelevant?

At the time we bought our Enteralite, our daughter was cruising furniture

and crawling. The Enteralite is absolutely portable and continues to feed

no matter what orientation it is in. This means she can wear it crawling

and it doesn't beep. If it tips over, it doesn't beep. She has a cute

little Dr. Suess pack from the local discount store...very tiny...that she'd

wear while playing and taking some of her meals. This was good because she

could continue weight bearing and improving bone health, even while eating.

Its light weight didn't disturb her balance. Enter seizure medications and

all this was nullified, but prior to them it was very important. There is

no way she could have worn the Pet and the humongous backpack it requires.

I love that I can throw the Zevex and formula into my purse (mom-sized,

granted!) if I want and not haul that extra cargo around! The only time we

get beeps are if I've kinked the tubing, but that is common across any

brand.

I can pre-prime the Zevex so all that needs to be done at school for lunch

is to plug in a press " on/run. " We had to prime the Pet right before

feeding so the drip chamber was happy, and I found the chambers to be quite

temperamental--something I didn't want to wish on her school aide! This

leads me to a second question:

--Does the Ross Carb Free formula have to be refrigerated between meals

or is it okay to leave at room temperature between hopping on the bus in the

morning at lunchtime? Is an insulated pack (without ice...not wishing to

make the pump sluggish) adequate?

The insurance balked at the price of the Zevex, but when we actually sat

down with the numbers, its cost was comparable. It didn't require the

mongo-backpack with the frame contraption, nor does it require a hefty

charger NOR the IV pole to hold the charger and feeding bag (instead, it has

a little wall transformer)... Minus all those accessories, the cost was

nearly the same. It has some great benefits, including a Nickel metal

hydride battery that is very accommodating. Unlike the NiCads in the other

pumps, it doesn't have to be fully discharged before it can be charged

again, blah blah... That feature alone makes it a dream!

We had two trouble-free years with the Zevex, until it was crushed during

return shipping from its annual bio-med " check-up. " It didn't like being

mangled, and as a result had to have a its head replaced, but the shipper

picked up the cost (ouch!). Things are happy again, and we continue to have

no problems.

More info on the Zevex can be found at www.zevex.com. Hope that helps!

Rose-Marie,

wife to Don,

mom to , (5 1/2 yrs, and delightfully portable, even while eating!)

and Becky (3 1/2 yrs)

North Bend, WA, USA

[Guest guest]

<<<Zevex makes a pump, the Enteralite, >>>

I don't know the answers to your questions, but thanks for the explanation!

Mom to CJ - 4 years old (Massive bilateral stroke, severe spastic quad CP,

seizures (five different types - uncontrolled), GE reflux, scoliosis, CVI,

mild heart ahhrythmia, allergies, severe mental retardation, g-tube, etc.)

and Faith Marie, 1 year.