questions: recovery after G-tube procedure

[Guest guest]

Hi all,

At the recommendation of our very conservative ped gastro doc, Asher is scheduled for a g-tube next Tuesday. It's been a long year with no weight gain, then weight loss, and lack of appetite. The decision of going ahead with the G-tube was excruciating, but we've made it and now I'd like to know what recovery is like.

How painful is the recovery from the G-tube insertion, how long does it take, what do we expect? Any ideas, stories, are very welcome as this is quite new to me and my husband.

Thanks,

Anne R

[Guest guest]

Hi there

We had a very easy recovery when got his...it was about six months before he died. I dont' remember a lot so it must have been easy. I can tell you that the every day care of a gtube and the feedings are a piece of cake. I think Giage could do them! IN fact we are adopting again and specifically mentioned adopting a baby with a gtube b/c it really is NO big deal and most people would be closed to the idea. Let us know how he does. You do know about anesthesia precautions right? You can download and print the article off the UMDF site to take with you...I recommend taking the precautions even if he has done okay with it before...just my opinion though...

deb...mom to three great adopted kids... (07.04.96-05.26.03) with Mitochondrial Disease, Gaige age 5 with High Functioning Autism & dysfluency and Bliss age 2 with very very mild Cerebral Palsy.www.HeartLiftersGallery.com

[Guest guest]

Anne, My son Wyatt, age 5 today, amazing how time flies, had his g-

tube put in last month. Like you it was a difficult decision, but we

are so glad we did it. The surgery was pretty easy. We informed

the anesthesiologist of the possiblity that he may be MH so he

cleared his lines and planned for a different drug to put him

under. Then he went into surgery. We had a muscle biopsy,

esophogus biopsy and the tube placed. All of it from the time he

was put under until the time he woke up was about 1 1/2 hours. A

surgeon was with the gastro when they placed the tube. They went in

through his mouth to locate the spot where they wanted to place the

tube. Once they found the correct location the surgeon pressed on

Wyatt's stomach to make sure everything was okay. They then, this

sounds horrible but it was the surgeons exact words, punctured a

hole in his stomach. I try to think of it like having an ear

pierced otherwise it gives me the heebie jeebies. They then placed

the tube in. Wyatt woke up 20 minutes after surgery and we were

able to see him. He was given nubain to recover on. He is allergic

to quite a few pain killers. He was sent to his room and was awake

the rest of the day. His surgery was at 10 a.m. and he stayed up

that night until 9 p.m. They did give him tylenol after the nubain

wore off. I really didn't feel he needed it but they felt it was

better to give it to him then to all of a sudden have Wyatt in pain

and then not be able to get the pain under control. One thing we

learned from other parents, which was extremely helpful, was to make

sure to vent the tube after suregery. Basically what you do is open

the clasp on the tube and wrap a diaper around it so the fluids go

into the diaper. This helps to get all of the air out of the

stomach from being put under. This really made a huge difference in

Wyatt's recovery. I've had surgery and I know what that feeling is

like. There was a little blood in the diaper which was expected

since they had to make a hole. The next day Wyatt was completely

fine. The only reason why we had to stay in the hospital was to

make sure we understood how to work the tube and clean it. Also to

slowly increase his food intake. They are afraid if they eat too

much right away they may be able to seperate the tube from the

lining of the stomach. We were home first thing on the third

morning. It went really smoothly. I was hesitant about the whole

procedure because of the MH issues and the allergies to meds. We've

had surgery before where the recovery was suppose to be 3 days and

we ended up in for 7 because of all of the complications. This

really was a breeze. Hope this helps. Sorry it is so long. If you

have any other questions, please e-mail. Like I said we just had

this done a month ago so everything is fresh in my mind.

Geri-Anne and Wyatt, Complex I

>

Hi all,

>

> At the recommendation of our very conservative ped gastro doc,

Asher is

> scheduled for a g-tube next Tuesday. It's been a long year with no

weight gain,

> then weight loss, and lack of appetite. The decision of going

ahead with the

> G-tube was excruciating, but we've made it and now I'd like to

know what recovery

> is like.

>

> How painful is the recovery from the G-tube insertion, how long

does it take,

> what do we expect? Any ideas, stories, are very welcome as this is

quite new

> to me and my husband.

>

> Thanks,

> Anne R

[Guest guest]

got his g-tube at 9 months. Easy surgery – they kept him for a week to

make sure he was gaining weight at the rate they wanted, but could of

gone home the 1st day in my opinion. The only thing I wished I would

of done differently is how we took care of the tube

after it was placed. ’s surgeon told us to rotate the tube every

feeding. We have had nothing but trouble from his stoma since day one. There

are other kids in my support group who’s doctor’s told them to

leave it alone for the first 6 weeks (feed him with it, of course) but don’t

turn it or anything. Those kids have the best stomas with absolutely no

problems. (Maybe the others on the list can chime in here and tell us what has

worked for them.)

Good luck,

Sue Ann Bube

President, UMDF Indiana

questions:

recovery after G-tube procedure

Hi all,

At the recommendation of our very conservative ped gastro doc, Asher is

scheduled for a g-tube next Tuesday. It's been a long year with no weight gain,

then weight loss, and lack of appetite. The decision of going ahead with the

G-tube was excruciating, but we've made it and now I'd like to know what

recovery is like.

How painful is the recovery from the G-tube insertion, how long does it take,

what do we expect? Any ideas, stories, are very welcome as this is quite new to

me and my husband.

Thanks,

Anne R

Please

contact mito-owner with any problems or questions.

[Guest guest]

got his g-tube at 9 months. Easy surgery – they kept him for a week to

make sure he was gaining weight at the rate they wanted, but could of

gone home the 1st day in my opinion. The only thing I wished I would

of done differently is how we took care of the tube

after it was placed. ’s surgeon told us to rotate the tube every

feeding. We have had nothing but trouble from his stoma since day one. There

are other kids in my support group who’s doctor’s told them to

leave it alone for the first 6 weeks (feed him with it, of course) but don’t

turn it or anything. Those kids have the best stomas with absolutely no

problems. (Maybe the others on the list can chime in here and tell us what has

worked for them.)

Good luck,

Sue Ann Bube

President, UMDF Indiana

questions:

recovery after G-tube procedure

Hi all,

At the recommendation of our very conservative ped gastro doc, Asher is

scheduled for a g-tube next Tuesday. It's been a long year with no weight gain,

then weight loss, and lack of appetite. The decision of going ahead with the

G-tube was excruciating, but we've made it and now I'd like to know what

recovery is like.

How painful is the recovery from the G-tube insertion, how long does it take,

what do we expect? Any ideas, stories, are very welcome as this is quite new to

me and my husband.

Thanks,

Anne R

Please

contact mito-owner with any problems or questions.