reply to regarding feeding tube

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

I think the advice to get a feeding tube if you don't need it is NOT good

advice. Whenever you open up the body to the outside in any way, you

increase your chances of contracting infections.

If or when you might need a tube, you'd get one of two kinds--the first is a

NG (nasogastric tube) which gets inserted through your nostril down into the

stomach and that requires no anesthesia at all. The other possibility is

called a PEG (percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy) tube. That one is

surgically implanted through the skin of the abdomen into a small incision

to the stomach. It is a very minor surgery done under local anesthetic (you

are not put to sleep) and only takes about 20 minutes from start to finish.

It is not a risky nor uncomfortable surgery and often is done in the

hospital room or a treatment room because it does not require an operating

room.

So, you can see that neither type of tube insertion is very complicated or

dangerous in any way. My advice would be to forego the tube unless it

becomes necessary. There is no good reason to get one 'just in case'.

Dolores Carron, Registered Dietitian and PLSer in CT

wrote:

They also want me to think about getting a feeding tube put

>> in even though Im still eating and drinking fine.They said that

>> because my breathing has gone down there might be a problem with being

>> put under to insert the feeding tube.They said its better to do it now

>> before breathing gets worse.I wouldnt use it just have it for when I

>> need it.

>> My question is do any of you have feeding tubes and do they bother

>> you?I know someone said awhile back that PLSers dont get feeding tubes

>> and I think someone else said they did.