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G-Tubes (I know it's been brought up before)

DixieNormous330DixieNormous330 member
in Special Needs

So it's going to happen for my 2yr old DD. Talk to me about them.

 

This is something I want but now it's real and I'm second thinking everything. It also makes all of DD's issues that much more "real" than they already are. And brings to light some very harsh realities such as, she might not ever feed herself and rely on the g-tube forever. Hypothetical, sure. But it's much more of a prevalent thought now.

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Re: G-Tubes (I know it's been brought up before)

  • adge1119adge1119

    2 words: love-it

     

    i know that sounds strange but i don't know what we'd do without it.  it was the one thing that petrified me from the beginning. my son got his just before he turned 3.  he is significantly disabled and his oral intake declined to the point where he was not taking in enough calories or to stay hydrated.  what made it much easier for us (me) is that we knew when it was time and accepted it.  no more struggling to give him medicines, no more worrying about how much he's eaten and how many diapers he's had.  don't get me wrong, the g-tube still takes getting used to (i still haven't changed one on my own yet) and i do feel defeated when he doesn't eat much by mouth during the day (he gets an overnight feed) but it really is peace of mind (for us).

     

    everyone's situation with it will be somewhat different.  we have had great success with his.  it is a mic-key button (he got that right away, no PEG).  two months prior we had an NG and that was much more terrifying to me but we managed to travel to walt disney world with it without any problems.  we have had very little issues with granulation tissue.  we do now experience some vomiting but we have learned to space out when we start his pump after he's eaten in the evening.

    also check out the feeding tube awareness foundation on facebook and their website.  it's really helped me! 

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  • DixieNormous330DixieNormous330 member

    Thanks, adge.

     

    I know that in the long run this will be great for teaching her how to eat and how to feed herself without the worry of "is she getting enough?!" but it's still hard. I totally thought I was more ready for this than I am.

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  • preggersINschool25preggersINschool25 member
    I'm in the g'tube limbo too. For us I'm just waiting for WHEN it is time. I don't think its a matter of IF anymore.


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  • zoeyandsummersmomzoeyandsummersmom member
    imageadge1119:

    2 words: love-it

     

    i know that sounds strange but i don't know what we'd do without it.  it was the one thing that petrified me from the beginning. my son got his just before he turned 3.  he is significantly disabled and his oral intake declined to the point where he was not taking in enough calories or to stay hydrated.  what made it much easier for us (me) is that we knew when it was time and accepted it.  no more struggling to give him medicines, no more worrying about how much he's eaten and how many diapers he's had.  don't get me wrong, the g-tube still takes getting used to (i still haven't changed one on my own yet) and i do feel defeated when he doesn't eat much by mouth during the day (he gets an overnight feed) but it really is peace of mind (for us).

     

    everyone's situation with it will be somewhat different.  we have had great success with his.  it is a mic-key button (he got that right away, no PEG).  two months prior we had an NG and that was much more terrifying to me but we managed to travel to walt disney world with it without any problems.  we have had very little issues with granulation tissue.  we do now experience some vomiting but we have learned to space out when we start his pump after he's eaten in the evening.

    also check out the feeding tube awareness foundation on facebook and their website.  it's really helped me! 

     

    Huge ditto. I bolus feed everywhere. I have even done it at one of Bobby Flays restaurants. 

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  • [Deleted User][Deleted User] member

    I totally understand your feelings, as I had them myself.

    My son only needed his for a year and now eats just fine orally.  

    If you are going to get a g-tube, please don't let the doctors tell you that you can only feed your child formula through it.  That is BS.  Would you feed a child without a g-tube only formula?

    Check out blenderizeddiet.net for more information. 

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