Tube Talk
Thank you to everyone who
sent material for the "Tube Talk" column. 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 MC-28, Albany Medical
Center, Albany, NY 12208; or E-mail
MetzgeL@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.
I have had a problem
with the tube pressure causing top dripping or the tube to open and spill out my
stomach contents. I tried one of the Velcro pouches with a strap but found it to
be one of the most uncomfortable things I have ever worn; also, it did not stop
drips.
So I came up with
a
solution that works for me, using gravity. I use a pair of 1-inch lanyard clips
and an elasticized shoelace. One clip fits perfectly around the tube just below
the opening and the other goes on the shoestring, which I wear as a necklace.
Then I clip the two clips together. This holds the tube higher,
near my shirt neckline, and since the top is higher than my stomach, it does not
drip. A secondary benefit is that the tube is now much easier to reach for my
five feedings a day.
Besides the comfort, I really appreciate the low cost and convenience. You can find the parts you need for this almost anywhere.
—Floyd T. Greenman
Chatsworth, CA
fgreenman@socal.rr.com
Calendula Cream for Granulation Tissue
We have a fifteen-month-old daughter on HEN who has very sensitive skin. We’ve had multiple problems with inflammation and granulation tissue around her button, and we finally found that calendula cream works like a charm. We periodically apply it as a preventative measure, as well as at the first sign of any redness, and the redness clears up the same day. We get ours from California Baby (www.californiababy.com) but local health food stores also usually carry it.
—Dawn Detweiler
Goshen, IN
dawndetweiler@hotmail.com
We have heard from some consumers that they’ve been using Biopatch™, from Johnson & Johnson, with good results. Biopatch is an antimicrobial dressing with chlorhexidine gluconate.
Oley Foundation’s medical and research director, Dr. Howard, generally suggests for her patients a less snug G-tube (i.e., the G-tube standing up 1 cm when the patient is lying down) and Bag Balm® to keep the exit site as comfortable as possible.