Peg feeding /G tube

[Ren2985]

Hi everyone. My dads been off the ventilator/trach for about 3 weeks and making slow, but steady progress. At some point on the ventilator he suffered a series of quick strokes. He currently still has a feeding tube in his nose. For the last 3 weeks when they have tried to give him soft foods, even ice chips, he is chocking on it. Each time. The drs say they can’t leave the nasal feeding tube in much longer and suggested a g-tube. This will require him to go under again, but they said he can get his nutrients a better way. My concern is that hes still experiencing some delirium so to go under again concerns me. I know it’s a quick procedure, but I’m still worried. Also, he keeps asking for food and to eat which breaks my heart. The doctors assured us that the g tube most likely won’t be permanent as they will continue to work on his eating. Has anyone had experience with this?

[FamilyHistorian]

Hi Ren

I don’t know anything about a G-tube but presume it’s something like a peg.

I was sedated and ventilated for nearly 2 months I also had a trachy

From mid December’19 to mid March’20 I had a feeding tube through my nose and it wasn’t removed until the day I left. I had a swallowing issue well I had to be taught to swallow again and to this end I had to do exercises with ice chips otherwise I was NBM

I couldn’t tolerate any form of food including three horrible sticky water. I did progress to sips of water and then squash. When I stepped down to the ward thy offered me a peg but my wife and I were not keen especially with the issues we having with my meds as they had to be ground down and pushed through my feed tube.

Hope this helps

[Ren2985 in reply to FamilyHistorian]

Thank you for sharing your experience. It’s such a hard decision for our family to make. But seeing your progression, makes us really consider a different option. Thank you

[LeopardGecko]

I don't know anything about a G-tube but my husband couldn't have a nasal feeding tube as his stomach couldn't cope with the 'food'. He had a TPN feed intravenously until he was able to eat enough after slowly moving up the swallowing scale. I'm just wondering if this could be an option for your dad if you are concerned about him going under again.

[Ren2985 in reply to LeopardGecko]

Thank you for the info! Could you please let me know what a TPN is?

[LeopardGecko in reply to Ren2985]

I don't know too much about it but it stands for Total Parenteral Nutrition. My husband needed a central line/PICC line which the feed was connected to. This then went straight to his veins and round his body.

He wasn't able to have a normal feeding tube as his stomach couldn't handle anything going in due to his condition so this was a specially made concoction tailored to his nutritional requirements. I get the impression that a normal feeding tube is preferential but my husband was fine with the TPN feed.

[Jaycamb]

Hi RenI had a NG feeding tube in my nose from November 2019 until September 2020, when I had a peg tube fitted. I couldn’t have it moved any sooner because of the scar tissue on my abdomen. I had to have a feeding tube due to sepsis manifesting as a nerve infection and causing necrotising facilitus on my face and throat (I have no soft palette now in my mouth) so eating and drinking is extremely difficult for me. I have only been eating very small amounts since July. They don’t know whether I’ll ever be able to get rid of the peg tube.

Although they don’t like to keep NG /NJ tubes in for too long, I did have them changed, which was done just by camera in my hospital bed. They can also do a rig through the abdomen which is usually done by radiology and the patient is awake I believe.

The peg tube is far better for my mental health as I was conscious of people staring with the tube dangling over my ear!! The peg tube is easy to manage although I must say I would love to eat ‘normally’ but that is only a dream at the moment.

In regards to your dad, I had to have surgery a few times whilst sedated in ICU, I coped really well and I guess I am fortunate as it did not cause any added delirium.

Hope this helps and that your dad gets better soon.

[Ren2985 in reply to Jaycamb]

Thank you so much for sharing. I’m hearing positives and negatives of the peg, but im hoping with speech therapy he comes around soon to swallowing. A lot of prayer, but we have to make a decision soon. So thank you for the info!