Another Peg Tube Question:

Want to say hi!
I have been very fortunate and have not needed a PEG. So I can't answer your questions. But I wanted to say that I've read your long post about yourself in your personal history section. I find what you wrote very inspirational. I share most of your beliefs. Thank you for sharing your story. Rick.

Noellesmom said:

tube
By this point, you would think it would be healed, wouldn't you? I know Jim's certainly was. If you are not doing something to keep it from moving freely most of the time, that could be the problem.

When it wasn't in use, we kept Jim's held in place with a kind of stretchy netting the doctor's office provided: the home health people were amazed by it. I asked about it because it was a very hot summer and the HH folks told us to use an ace bandage type material and I was concerned about heat rash, itchiness and Jim's compliance in general.

The stretch netting was great. I'll try to find the name for it, Hondo.

Peg tube pointers
Here's what we do with hubby's peg.

After his shower, he lets it air dry. We then take a peroxide wipe (the kind in the large pop-up cannister). I double it over and put it under the disk, then move it around and side to side. We like this because it not only cleans the skin but the back side of the disk. We use trach tube gauze 4x4s. It's thicker, softer and precut up the middle. It comes 2 squares to the pack. We put the first gauze pad on from the bottom putting the gauze under the disk at the base of the tube. The next gauze pad goes on from the top and on the outside of the disk. We then put one strand of paper tape top and bottom.

Hubby has very sensitive skin and experienced a lot of the raw angry looking skin too. This keeps the disk from spinning and irrating the skin. Since we started using the method above, he seldoms has any irritation. He does still have drainage, sometimes a little blood if he has an episode of trying to expel mucus.

I think the material Noelsmom may be referring to is stockingette. It's a mesh sleeve that can be cut in any length. We never used it for the peg but did for the picc line.

Hope this helps. He has only had the peg since 5/30/12 so we are no experts. We just experimented until we found something that worked for us. Good luck!

Deb

Peg tube care
I have had similar experiences, the tube weeping a little blood and some sore of crud/gunk.

My RO nurse gave me some great tips on caring for the stoma. First, a little drainage is common. When we move or the tube moves, we stress the edges of the stoma and may crack the clot or whatever forms at the base of the tube.

I clean mine with gauze and saline, allowing it to air dry and then using a split gauze, I put it under the plates. I do have discomfort from time to time and my nurse recommended a product called 'calmoseptin', used for pressure sores.

I had been taping the tube to my skin and it was raw and irritated from the tape so she gave me a box of something called Spandage, a net bandage retainer which allows me to corral the tube without having to use any tape of any kind. I cut a piece that is about 12" long and slip it on like a T shirt. Net result, a relatively comfortable tube, no tape irritation, no issues with having to shave my stomach (hair in tape is so much fun)

I did ask about the seepage, I was concerned as it looked like pus, but was assured that it was fine, a little seepage is normal, keep it clean and don't forget to rotate the tube in the stoma to help it solidly form.

It sounds like your tube is just like mine and we have the same experience.

If it really concerns you, check with your dr, and perhaps not the GI. I consulted the GI when I first had troubles and they made no recommendations, when I brought my concerns to the RO nurse, she provided a great working solution.

Peter

D Lewis said:

Hi Hondo
I don't have a lot to add to the wisdom already written here, but I did want to say 'Hi.' It's always great to hear from you and to know you're still alive and kicking. My PEG tube was uncomfy and messy, but it was my friend. Hope yours heals a bit more. Thanks for all the support you've give me here.

Deb

Rotation and Bacitracin
I've found that when mine gets that way, a little rotation so that the pressure of the projections under the flange are at a different point and a little Bacitracin applied under the flange works wonders in a short period of time. Good luck.

since i have lost weight (26
since i have lost weight (26 pounds now) mine has a little drop of blood come out about one every other day. i think its loose now and moves around a little more. it does get sore on occasion. i asked the nurse and she said that it isnt uncommon.

PEG TUBE QUESTIONS
Hey Hondo, the skin around the entry to my PEG used to look red most of the time, and then I discovered Triamcinolone Acetonide Cream, 0.5%, after asking my doc, and a number of nurses for their suggestions, none of which worked. It had been prescribed for a skin problem that my daughter had, and she suggested that I try it. Well, by golly, it worked spiffily, and quickly de-reddened my skin. I also used to have a small amount of stuff that leaked around the tube at the enterance, for which I taped a 2 x 2 gauze pad around the tube, which worked well. I never had a bleeding problem. You might want to look into the button a bit before you opt for it, as I understand that it can have some maintenance problems associated with it too, but I could be wrong.

PATRICK

I started putting the sponge
I started putting the sponge pads back under the bumper and it has stopped all sign of any blood or seepage and tightened up around the tube even more.

Sounds like what my mom is dealing with?.... A pressure wound...
Hi Hondo,
My mom got her PEG in around July 18th. It was put in during her surgery, meaning she was laying down and her stomach wasn't protruding. She weighed only 113-114# when it was put in, and she gained her weight back quickly in the hospital and at home.
During this weight gain, her PEG tube was pushing on her outer skin, as well as the tissue leading into her stomach (this is the best way I can describe it). When we went back for her check-up (her treatment was done at OHSU, and we live in Bend, Oregon), the doctors' office loosened the tube by grabbing it with hemostats and pulling.
This relieved the pressure that was being put on her skin. Unfortunately the time the PEG tube was tight created a pressure wound. The exposed bloody tissue is the result of this pressure wound.
At our last visit (last week) the doctor's office tried to cauterize the tissue with silver nitrate, but it didn't work; the cauterized tissue just sloughed off. The doctors office said to put A&D ointment on the stoma after washing and drying the area daily, and to NOT cover it with gauze. The ointment will keep the gastric juices from reaching the skin/exposed tissue. If you put gauze on the area it can create a moist area, that's what our doctor told us.

Ever since the plastic "T" bar has been loosened, my mom's stoma has been less painful, but there is still tissue exposed. I am going to ask about getting it cauterized for real at our next appointment.

Hope this helps,
Sandra b