Tube Talk

Thanks to everyone who sent material for the "Tube Talk" column. We’ve had an abundance of responses lately and don’t have room to publish them all in this issue. (We promise to publish as many as we can in upcoming issues.) Anyone who is interested in participating can send their tips, questions and thoughts about tube feeding to: Tube Talk, c/o The Oley Foundation, 214 Hun Memorial A-28, Albany Medical Center, Albany, NY 12208; or E-mail DahlR@mail.amc.edu. Information shared in this column represents the experience of that individual and should not imply endorsement by the Oley Foundation. The Foundation strongly encourages readers to discuss any suggestions with their physician and/or wound care nurse before making any changes in their care.

More On Granulation Tissue

In the Tube Talk column in May/June LifelineLetter, Ann DeBarbieri had a good suggestion for discouraging the granulation tissue formation around the G-tube. I wanted to tell her and the rest of the Oley members about a product that my daughter uses. It is called Sof-wick I.V. sponge, made by Johnson and Johnson. It is a sterile 2" x 2" six-ply pad with a split half way down the middle. We have found these to fit perfectly around the stem of the G-tube. They are very soft and absorbent. If we need to apply medicinal creams to the area these are helpful to keep the meds on the skin and not the clothes. Also if the tube is leaking they will help to absorb that too. One last thing we use them for is when there is a crust formed on the skin around the tube. I wet the pad with warm water and apply it for about 10 minutes and the crust is dissolved with no trauma to the area.

- Tracy Cox

[Editor’s Note: If you have any questions, or if your tube continues to leak, call your physician/ET nurse.]

Motility Disorder and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

My daughter has had a G-J tube since we discovered that she has no stomach motility two years ago. She also suffers from chronic fatigue syndrome and has severe allergies. I am wondering if anyone else has both motility issues and chronic fatigue syndrome? Did they seem to happen at the same time? I’d love to hear from anyone who has experienced these issues.

- Mary Fontenot
6378 Shady Brook Ln, #1226
Dallas, TX 75206
mufont@airmail.net