TAKE GOOD WOUND CARE STEPS WITH YOUR PEG

luv4lacrosse
luv4lacrosse Member Posts: 1,410 Member
in Head and Neck Cancer #1
I was supposed to have my PEG removed on the 21st of this month. I ended up having it removed this past Tuesday morning. Monday night I was made a direct admit into the hospital for a very serious and aggressive staph infection. I had always changed the dressing daily and thought I took good care of it. The docs say staph is every where, and you cannot always keep it out or away from your PEG.

IF YOU NOTICE ANY PAIN AT THE SITE, SWELLING, REDNESS AND THE SITE IS ALMOST HOT TO THE TOUCH, CALL YOUR MD IMMEDIATELY.

I was lucky, a 2 day stay in the hospital with 1.5 million units of Vancomyacin every 8 hours and was ok to go home on oral Bactrim.

We all have enough going on without this developing.

Take care all of you

Best

Mike

Comments

  • ratface
    ratface Member Posts: 1,337 Member
    #2
    "IF YOU NOTICE ANY PAIN AT
    "IF YOU NOTICE ANY PAIN AT THE SITE, SWELLING, REDNESS AND THE SITE IS ALMOST HOT TO THE TOUCH, CALL YOUR MD IMMEDIATELY."

    Other than hot to the touch that pretty much described my PEG site on an everyday basis. Good advice Mike, glad you're OK. Glad my PEG is out!
  • Kent Cass
    Kent Cass Member Posts: 1,898 Member
    #3
    ratface said:

    "IF YOU NOTICE ANY PAIN AT
    "IF YOU NOTICE ANY PAIN AT THE SITE, SWELLING, REDNESS AND THE SITE IS ALMOST HOT TO THE TOUCH, CALL YOUR MD IMMEDIATELY."

    Other than hot to the touch that pretty much described my PEG site on an everyday basis. Good advice Mike, glad you're OK. Glad my PEG is out!

    PEG
    Mike
    Remember awhile back someone else had some similar problems with the PEG area, so your addition is key warning for everyone that it does happen. Had my PEG for over 15-months, and didn't have any problems, but could be I was just lucky. During treatment I changed the dressing every day, and washed the area with Peroxide; however, down the road I typically would only change it every 3-4 days, and was working in a factory environment for over a year with the PEG.

    And yeah, oh yeah, ratface, I too am glad I've got only a second belly-button. Still, the PEG was a Godsend for me. Biggest hassle I had with the PEG was getting the new belly-button to seal shut- ended up having to put Skin Temp II pads in it for a couple weeks, as prescribed by my Wound Care Surgeon.

    kcass
  • adventurebob
    adventurebob Member Posts: 691
    #4
    ow
    Hey Mike,
    Sorry to hear about your hassle with the tube site. Happy to hear you're now in the 2nd BB Club. I guess you must be eating pretty well then? How's your taste? All mine seems to have come back over the last week. The return of the joy in eating came at just the right time. It has really lifted my spirits. I hope you have been experiencing the same.

    Bob
  • terryscarlett
    terryscarlett Member Posts: 143
    #5
    staph
    Wanted to ask some questions I hope you don't mind.My husband still has his tube and is eating pretty good so far. Thinking of getting his removed pretty soon.
    My question is did you get staph from having it removed? or did you already have it before it was removed?
  • luv4lacrosse
    luv4lacrosse Member Posts: 1,410 Member
    #6
    adventurebob said:

    ow
    Hey Mike,
    Sorry to hear about your hassle with the tube site. Happy to hear you're now in the 2nd BB Club. I guess you must be eating pretty well then? How's your taste? All mine seems to have come back over the last week. The return of the joy in eating came at just the right time. It has really lifted my spirits. I hope you have been experiencing the same.

    Bob

    EATING
    Hi Bob, yes I am glad the tube is out. Taste is there, but not 100%. Seems like things taste good for a while, then the taste tapers off. Still cannot eat any meat or poultry. I can eat pastas with sauce, cereal and milk, oatmeal ETC. I can even eat a Taco Bell "Taco Supreme" as the sour cream helps it to slide down.

    I use a 900 calorie protien shake in the morning, then a banana at mid morning w/ a Boost.

    Usually supplement everything I eat with a Boost or Ensure typr product.

    I would not say I take much pleasure in eating yet as it still seems to be more of a chore. I am sure one of these days I will make the jump from chore to pleasure.

    All the best!!

    Mike
  • luv4lacrosse
    luv4lacrosse Member Posts: 1,410 Member
    #7
    terryscarlett said:

    staph
    Wanted to ask some questions I hope you don't mind.My husband still has his tube and is eating pretty good so far. Thinking of getting his removed pretty soon.
    My question is did you get staph from having it removed? or did you already have it before it was removed?

    STAPH
    I had the infection while the tube was still in. My strain of Staph was MSRA. Nothing to mess around with.

    Mike
  • buzz99
    buzz99 Member Posts: 404
    #8
    Peg site infection
    Wow! Your experience, Mike, really underscores the need to keep the site clean. As a nurse, I never encountered a peg infection in any of my patients. I am the one who cleans and inspects Buzz's Peg site. We are hoping to get the Peg out in April when it is due to be changed. Buzz does not really enjoy eating but has found 1 thing he does like: Quaker Oat Squares in milk! Everything other than liquids has been quickly rejected. But I keep trying! Karen
  • wifeforlife
    wifeforlife Member Posts: 189
    #9
    buzz99 said:

    Peg site infection
    Wow! Your experience, Mike, really underscores the need to keep the site clean. As a nurse, I never encountered a peg infection in any of my patients. I am the one who cleans and inspects Buzz's Peg site. We are hoping to get the Peg out in April when it is due to be changed. Buzz does not really enjoy eating but has found 1 thing he does like: Quaker Oat Squares in milk! Everything other than liquids has been quickly rejected. But I keep trying! Karen

    Gravy
    Gravy was my husband's first and favorite friend! :)
  • terryscarlett
    terryscarlett Member Posts: 143
    #10
    luv4lacrosse said:

    STAPH
    I had the infection while the tube was still in. My strain of Staph was MSRA. Nothing to mess around with.

    Mike

    staph
    What symptoms did you have? Davids has a terrible odor I can smell whenh I get around him, that I never smelled before. No redness or swelling as of right now. He has no appetite and says he has nausea all the time. Does any of this sound like what you had?

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