PEG FEEDING

Replies

By KenM

Re: PEG FEEDING
Tue 16 Sep 2008 18:20

Hi Kate
There really is nothing to be afraid of.
My wife has now been peg fed for three years, and it is so much easier for both of us.
You'll be shown what to do and you will have a 24hr care line number, so you can get help and advice anytime.
Just one word of warning-don't let the dietitian dictate the feeding regime unless it's suits you---you fit it into your lifestyle not change your life to fit the feeding.
Good luck, and I'm sure when you get it all sorted your life will be much easier.
Cheers Ken

By Tricia

Re: PEG FEEDING
Tue 16 Sep 2008 18:25

Hello Kate

I think I would be feeling the same way when faced with something as major as that as it will be a huge change in your daily routines.

I don't have first hand experience of peg feeding but my daughter had to do peg feeding training in the summer holidays when she was a play leader on a playscheme for disabled children. She too was apreheinsive about this as it was a total new expereince, She came home after the training and was very surprised at how easy it was to do and she fed the young person with the peg feeding every day through out the playscheme and had no problems. She is now working as a support worker for a residential unit and does peg feeding as a matter of routine.

I am sure you will get adequate training and hope that you are able to take to it like a duck takes to water....... talking about water there is plenty of water around just now it has never stopped drizzling all day here today

By Kat78

Re: PEG FEEDING
Tue 16 Sep 2008 19:16

Hi Kate

Mum was fitted with a peg after she had an op for her hernia. At first it was flushed to make sure all was well, then food was started to be put through slowly at first and then later increased.

The only problem we noticed was that this caused an upset tummy, but were advised that this is due to the stomach working on it directly and because the brain doesn't do the usual function in that it goes in your mouth, chew and digest, instead the body processes it differently. Once food has gone through and disconnected the tube should then have water put through it and I know with mum they put quite a lot in as only means of getting fluid into her body.

The other thing, especially in the hospital,is to make sure they follow up the after care as specified on after care sheet. The nurses should cleanse it at least once a day and then rotation of 360. They also should regularly flush it. With Mum they said they would be back to give her her fluid/flush as they forgot the equipment, make sure they come back as they get side tracked with other patients, you get used to when and how much, becomes another thing in your daily routine.

For mum she used to prefer it going through the night, dependent on number of bags and flow.

Can I ask if this will be permenant or have they refered Ian to Speach & Language (S.A.L.T)? only reason I ask is Mum was very ill and didn't have "food" for quite some time and the swallow weakened, but we did excersises with Mum and her swallow has improved, but not 100% she's currently on a soft diet.

PEG is more discreet too, with a nasal gastric tube people can see it more clearly, least peg is easly hidden.

I'm sure you will do fine and will help Ian too to get all nutrients he needs etc

Good luck

By glynne

Re: PEG FEEDING
Tue 16 Sep 2008 23:04

katew

This was posted some time ago it may help with what you have got now. Hope it does.

www.carers.org

By Gingatossa

Re: PEG FEEDING
Wed 17 Sep 2008 19:50

Hi Katew

My daughter has been GT fed for over a decade now........it is very easy to do once you get the hang of it!! Life will be much easier in many ways too!!

Good luck with it _xXx