help with securing peg tube

boardwalkgirl

I had my peg tube and port inserted yesterday. The port seems to be fine, a little sore but really no pain. I had a lot of discomfort from the feeding tube last night but it seems to be getting better today. Of course the fact that I vomited shortly afterwards probably didnt help anything. The home health nurse came last night and gave instructions on the care and how to feed myself with it. She said she recommends not taping it but just letting it hang. That just does not seem comfortable to me but the tape is causing my skin to break out already. Any one have any other suggestions on how they have done theirs? Thanks in advance for any help.

Ingrid K

make yourself a shoelace necklace
Hi there, here is a quick fix for the dangling tube problem. Get yourself 2 brand new shoelaces. Long enough to make a piece about 36" long. loop one end through the small valve of the PEG tube and then tie it around your neck and secure into a knot, leaving it long enough to take off and on over your head easily. I even kept mine on in the shower, then got smart and got 2 more shoelaces and made a second backup "necklace". hope that helps. Good luck with your treatments.

phrannie51

If you can wear a bra still....
(I couldn't wear my bra most of the time, cuz my port paraphinallia was in the way)....you can tuck it in there. For weeks I looped it down and up and used my underwear to hold it. I don't like it dangling either, it's a good way to get it caught on something....not to mention, I traveled the whole neighborhood one night with it dangling below my shirt. Nobody asked about it, but I was embarrassed none the less....LOL. You can loop it, and just tape the tube itself and tuck into your pants. Ingrid sent me a perfect pin to stick it to my shirt, but I have no idea where you'd get one of those.

I had trouble for about 3 days after they put my tube in....not as easy-peasy as it was advertised to be, the cramping was incredible....then it just disappeared with no more trouble since. If you need new lessons on using it when the time comes, don't hesitate to call Home Health again...I got shown a little too early in the game, and had to take a quick course again.

p

CivilMatt

to tape or not to tape
boardwalkgirl,

I also had a rash from the (different) types of tape I used to secure the dangling PEG tube. I had to go dig through a drawer to find the final one I used and it reads “Durapore” by 3M on the inner label. There is such a variety of tapes I am sure you can find one that works. If not, someone on here was just writing about using a certain tape the other day.

I always felt secured beat out dangling for safety, comfort and convenience. Any time it was dangling it would either be hanging out of my shirt or stuck between my legs, neither was good. I did buy a bunch of XL tee shirts to help make room for my snaky friend.

The shoelaces solution has a lot of merit. It is easy and convenient.

The only time I let it dangle was during showers so I could wash all around it plus wash the tape area. I ended up with sticky tape residue on my belly at times (messy me).

One more thing, it may weep around the insert point, no biggy just keep it clean and sterilized.

Good luck,

Matt

yensid683

Securing your peg
I too had challenges at first in securing my peg tube, using various types of tape to both hold a dressing in place and to keep the free end secure. I had mentioned the problem I was having to my oncologist and one of the nursing staff gave me a package of a product called 'MTSpandage'. It is made by Medi-Tech out of Brooklyn NY and is literally a web/net tube that you wear like a cut off tail of a tee shirt.

I struggled for ways to keep the tube out of the way and to heal the incision, and this stuff is GREAT! www.medi-techintl.com. Absolute life saver!

Greend

CivilMatt said:

to tape or not to tape
boardwalkgirl,

I also had a rash from the (different) types of tape I used to secure the dangling PEG tube. I had to go dig through a drawer to find the final one I used and it reads “Durapore” by 3M on the inner label. There is such a variety of tapes I am sure you can find one that works. If not, someone on here was just writing about using a certain tape the other day.

I always felt secured beat out dangling for safety, comfort and convenience. Any time it was dangling it would either be hanging out of my shirt or stuck between my legs, neither was good. I did buy a bunch of XL tee shirts to help make room for my snaky friend.

The shoelaces solution has a lot of merit. It is easy and convenient.

The only time I let it dangle was during showers so I could wash all around it plus wash the tape area. I ended up with sticky tape residue on my belly at times (messy me).

One more thing, it may weep around the insert point, no biggy just keep it clean and sterilized.

Good luck,

Matt

3M paper tape
I let mine hang now. I too have had it showing and leaking in public before but that's life. Thankfully it just caused the wet spot on my shirt and jeans. I used to use paper tape to hold it in place and found the Johnson and Johnson brand did not seem to hold as well as the 3M and 3M did not cause any type of rash. You can buy it fairly cheap on the internet if needed. I do wear tee-shirts to kind of hold it in place and to prevent to many embarassing moments.

My first tube (inserted via surgery) was WAAAY too long and I examined the device and saw that I could shorten it and simply plug the doo hickie (where you insert the syringe) back on the end into the shortened tube. Every tube since then has had the port "welded" onto the tube so I haven't been able to do that since the original tube.

Ingrid K

CivilMatt said:

to tape or not to tape
boardwalkgirl,

I also had a rash from the (different) types of tape I used to secure the dangling PEG tube. I had to go dig through a drawer to find the final one I used and it reads “Durapore” by 3M on the inner label. There is such a variety of tapes I am sure you can find one that works. If not, someone on here was just writing about using a certain tape the other day.

I always felt secured beat out dangling for safety, comfort and convenience. Any time it was dangling it would either be hanging out of my shirt or stuck between my legs, neither was good. I did buy a bunch of XL tee shirts to help make room for my snaky friend.

The shoelaces solution has a lot of merit. It is easy and convenient.

The only time I let it dangle was during showers so I could wash all around it plus wash the tape area. I ended up with sticky tape residue on my belly at times (messy me).

One more thing, it may weep around the insert point, no biggy just keep it clean and sterilized.

Good luck,

Matt

the clip
Phrannie, forgot about that clip I sent you....you can may be find it at an office products store (Office Max, Office Depot).

It is actually a clip from an "ID Badge". I happened to have an extra one from my old days at AT&T, but I think you can still buy them.

Then you can just attach the clip to the tube and then one end can be clipped to your shirt.

nick770

StatLock
i use this product called statlock, it adheres to your skin and has a place you can snap the tube into and when you feed you can release the tube, i got one from my from my Dietecian *sp
but i can get more at medical supply stores
Bard StatLock Foley Stabilization Device is the official name

phrannie51

nick770 said:

StatLock
i use this product called statlock, it adheres to your skin and has a place you can snap the tube into and when you feed you can release the tube, i got one from my from my Dietecian *sp
but i can get more at medical supply stores
Bard StatLock Foley Stabilization Device is the official name

Nick....
I looked at them, and wonder...do you change it everyday, or every few days?

p

Hondo

Hi walkgirl

I just got my Peg tube in last week and learning fast about it. I use a jump drive clip on clip off and string around my neck to hold the Peg tube right where I want it to be, no more tape. As far as the soreness and pain it goes away in a few days. My caregiver Wife was talking to Denny’s Wife a few days ago and got a lot of ideas of food that she can make to go down the tube. I must say I been eating like a little pig lol. Wife has been using a Health Master Montel blinder it will turn anything into juice just add a little water.

Wishing you the best
Tim Hondo

boardwalkgirl

THANKS EVERYONE
thanks everyone for their suggestions. I will have to try some of them and see what works for me. Probably overdid it a little bit today but had a wonderful day with some friends who wanted us to go out and have a good meal before I start treatment on Monday. Visited a couple of wineries and then went and had a wonderful Italian meal. It was delicious and we had a great time so it was all worth it.

Pam M

I Used the ID Badge clip, too
picture of ID badge clips: http://www.google.com/url?url=http://www.walmart.com/ip/Oxford-ID-Badge-Clip-w-Snap-Strap-100-Clips-Straps-Box/14916534?ci_src=14110944&ci_sku=14916534&sourceid=1500000000000003142050&veh=cse&rct=j&sa=X&ei=hh3UT865KYyI8QT-tNmuAw&ved=0CMQBEPYCMAQ&q=id+badge+clip+walmart&usg=AFQjCNHbdFCxhXOjU2IfWlzCFxDnqiDLPA&cad=rja

Got mine from Walmart - multipack didn't cost much at all - they were near office supplies like push pins and paper clips. I attached it to my tube, and clipped it to my bra (to my shirt on a couple days). I also always wore an undershirt (tank tops or wifebeaters)tucked in, so my tube wasn't dangling. I developed problems with tape, so had to get creative.

You can also get some material that's like a tube top that you can shimmy into - several folks got them from doc or drugstore - I didn't see it at the drugstore - I got some from a fabric shop, but didn't use it. I tried the self-sticking bandages that are like ace wraps that stick to themselves - horrible idea.

patricke

DANGLING TUBE
Hi boardwalkgirl, welcome to PEG WORLD. I can't imigine, in my wildest dreams, curzin around with my PEG tube unsecured, which would certainly make me feel very insecured. I've been a peger for a lot of years,and I have found that Nexcare (Durapore, by 3M - it's all so convoluted) cloth tape has been a true friend to me and my tube, because it holds my tube securely, and it is easy on my skin (never had a problem). I tape it verticaly at a slant using two pieces; one high, and one midway. Best wishes in finding the system that works best for you.

PATRICK

boardwalkgirl

This morning I have quite a
This morning I have quite a bit of swelling around the peg tube and some bloody discharge on the gauze. Slept 6 hours so when I woke up I was hurting pretty good since I hadn't had any pain meds for a while. Called the home health nurse just to make sure it is normal for all of this to happen. She is calling back later today to see if it is better or worse. I haven't tried to rotate the tube yet today, was hoping the swelling would go down a little before I tried that. Hoping this feels better tomorrow as I start chemo and radiation tomorrow. Prayers would be greatly appreciated as I am really most concerned about the nausea and vomiting.I am one of those people who when they start vomiting, I just don't stop. I have prescriptions for ondansetron, prochlorperazine and dexamethasone already filled and ready. One question, do most of you eat before you go in for chemo and if so, what do you find works best? I was planning on taking some snack items with me as they tell me I will be there most of the day. Any suggestions for good things to take?

phrannie51

boardwalkgirl said:

This morning I have quite a
This morning I have quite a bit of swelling around the peg tube and some bloody discharge on the gauze. Slept 6 hours so when I woke up I was hurting pretty good since I hadn't had any pain meds for a while. Called the home health nurse just to make sure it is normal for all of this to happen. She is calling back later today to see if it is better or worse. I haven't tried to rotate the tube yet today, was hoping the swelling would go down a little before I tried that. Hoping this feels better tomorrow as I start chemo and radiation tomorrow. Prayers would be greatly appreciated as I am really most concerned about the nausea and vomiting.I am one of those people who when they start vomiting, I just don't stop. I have prescriptions for ondansetron, prochlorperazine and dexamethasone already filled and ready. One question, do most of you eat before you go in for chemo and if so, what do you find works best? I was planning on taking some snack items with me as they tell me I will be there most of the day. Any suggestions for good things to take?

Swelling and a little bloody discharge
are normal for several days after the tube is placed. On my third or fouth day, the swelling made turning it more difficult because my skin was right up against the bumper, but I turned it anyway. Having a tube made me just plain made me nervous at first...this extra appendage that was in the way, that I didn't need yet, that was hanging out of my body...it gave me the creeps...LOL. Now it's my little buddy. For some of us it takes a few days for the darn thing to quit hurting.

I always drink an Ensure or a Instank Breakfast VHC and a glass of milk before chemo, and many people take a lunch (I get kicked out for rads, and have to come back to finish my chemo, so never have taken a lunch). Since you haven't started rads yet, take anything that you like for snacks (you still have taste buds ). But you do want something on your tummy. They'll give you lots of anti-nausea drugs with the chemo so you'll hold it down, and you'll need the energy.

p

nick770

phrannie51 said:

Nick....
I looked at them, and wonder...do you change it everyday, or every few days?

p

5-6 days
I can go 5-6 days with the stat lock in place it may depend on each person individually but that is my average

nick770

phrannie51 said:

Nick....
I looked at them, and wonder...do you change it everyday, or every few days?

p

I can send you one if you
I can send you one if you want to try it out