PEGS for the Pudgy?

Kent Cass said:

I Second That
Scambuster's advice might be perfect- pop the top off the tube and let gavity take it's course= drainage, and maybe escaping of gas. Worth a try.

As for the dried pus- crust-like stuff will always be in the area around the tube's entry into the skin, or at least it has been with me. I just use a toothpick to clear it, then apply peroxide. I differ from Scambuster in that- Drs. I have advise peroxide over alcohol, or anything else.

kcass

Alcohol? Ouch!
Alcohol is probably going to be VERY painful and also unnecessary.

Hydrogen Peroxide is a good starter for wound care (not for excessive bleeding or cramping, however), but Pam and others might want to consider other agents if their use of the PEG tube goes beyond a couple of months.

Some of the possibilities include iodine swabs, the aforementioned Betadine, anti-fungal agents, and, believe it or not, diaper rash treatments.

All of that depends upon the severity of the wound and the length of time with the tube.

The bleeding and the cramping, I maintain, have nothing to do with that.

"Burping" the tube, as scam suggests, works better in my experience as a way to redirect any vomit from coming back up. It turns out that your PEG tube has more than one good use: if you are feeling ill, open up the tube, over the sink, and let her rip. It will empty your stomach of content pretty much, and thus will also perhaps alleviate the nausea. I speak from experience in that regard.

With respect to the cramping, I am not so sure. But it is worth a try.

With respect to ratface's comments, it sounds as though he is either much more meticulous or has a much different experience than I have. I DO have a much stronger smell sense. I thought upon leaving the hospital, as I smelled tar and who knows what else to a degree I had not before, that this would pass. I figured it was because I didn't smoke anymore, or because I was just leaving a most pristine, sterile environment. This was not the case. To make the point: early on after surgery and during treatment, I attended a soocer game. I had to pay to get in, and so went to the little table where the prim and proper ladies were awaiting me. I smelled the faint whiff of liquor and advised my wife later that one of them was a day drinker.

This amazed me, but I diverge.

With my tube, I have been advised of late (I am a rather long-term user) that I should tape it up so that it cannot hang down and, over time, pull down on skin and cause additonal 'wounding' and even bleeding (not your problem right now, Pam). To date, I have not done so and have not had problems in that regard.

It may indeed be that RF and I have different sorts of tubes. Kent and I, it seems, have had similar experiences and medical advice.

Take care,

Joe