Stitches keep PEG in place instead of rubber seal - common?

Purplemountain
Purplemountain Member Posts: 119
in Head and Neck Cancer #1

I have a feeding tube.  However, instead of a rubber button holding the tube in place on the outside of the stomach, I have stitches that hold the tube to the skin.  The problem I have with this recently is that when the stomach wants food, it growls and spasms.  The tube get pulls inward then pushes outward like a tug of war.  The stitches are sharp and act like a saw blade when that happens (painful but manageable). 

Is it common not to have a rubber stopper outside and instead stitches held tube in place? 

Can I still get the round rubber stopper at this point?

Any suggestion on preventing the tube being pulled and pushed when the stomach is hungry?  This occurs every two hours throughout the day and night time.

Gained weight from 104 lbs to 125 lbs.  Bolus feed by blending chicken breasts, nuts, powders, green, potatos...but no calorie milk.  The milk gives me phlegm and mucous. 

PM

Comments

  • kevinr51
    kevinr51 Member Posts: 14 Member
    #2
    PEG

    I just got my PEG tube installed and it has a slip on t=bar that allows me to adjust how tight it is against my stomach

    should be able to use something like that

     

    kevin

  • Steve5
    Steve5 Member Posts: 147
    #3
    Stitches taken out
    I had a PEG put in and 10 days later the stitches were cut, absorbed into the stomach to come out I the stool, I have the plastic ring that keeps it in place and clean under the ring in the shower - then dry it good, early on they can give you some cream similar to the kind you use for babies for diaper rash to protect your skin under the ring. Did they say anything about having the stitches cut at some point?

    Steve
  • phrannie51
    phrannie51 Member Posts: 4,716
    #4
    You're the first I've heard of

    who has stiches holding your tube....but I've only been here for less than 2 years.  Stitches sound temporary to me.....how long can a person have stiches in, anyway.  It sounds like it's working tho, since you've gained 21 lbs.    Ask your Dr. how long the stitches can stay in.....I don't know how they'd install a bumper without starting over with a new one.

    p

  • debbiejeanne
    debbiejeanne Member Posts: 3,102 Member
    #5
    PM, i only had stitches

    PM, i only had stitches holding my tube in place, no stopper.  don't want to scare you but the stitches ripped thru the skin twice and the tube had to be reinserted, twice!  the last time it happened, the docs couldn't get the tube back in tho so they just left it out and i've been fine, but i did still lose weight.  I continued to lose weight for about 2 months but then started to gain so ended up ok.  i hope you don't have the problem I had but if you do and it comes out, ask them to use a tube with the stopper instead so it doesn't come out again.  Good luck and Merry Christmas. 

    God bless you,

    dj

  • Purplemountain
    Purplemountain Member Posts: 119
    #6
    Steve5 said:

    Stitches taken out
    I had a PEG put in and 10 days later the stitches were cut, absorbed into the stomach to come out I the stool, I have the plastic ring that keeps it in place and clean under the ring in the shower - then dry it good, early on they can give you some cream similar to the kind you use for babies for diaper rash to protect your skin under the ring. Did they say anything about having the stitches cut at some point?

    Steve

    Stitches

    The mentioned the stitches will be taken out when it is time to take out the feeding tube.

  • Purplemountain
    Purplemountain Member Posts: 119
    #7
    kevinr51 said:

    PEG

    I just got my PEG tube installed and it has a slip on t=bar that allows me to adjust how tight it is against my stomach

    should be able to use something like that

     

    kevin

    Tbar

    Where can I get one?

  • Purplemountain
    Purplemountain Member Posts: 119
    #8
    debbiejeanne said:

    PM, i only had stitches

    PM, i only had stitches holding my tube in place, no stopper.  don't want to scare you but the stitches ripped thru the skin twice and the tube had to be reinserted, twice!  the last time it happened, the docs couldn't get the tube back in tho so they just left it out and i've been fine, but i did still lose weight.  I continued to lose weight for about 2 months but then started to gain so ended up ok.  i hope you don't have the problem I had but if you do and it comes out, ask them to use a tube with the stopper instead so it doesn't come out again.  Good luck and Merry Christmas. 

    God bless you,

    dj

    Merry Christmas

    I bought a pouch to hold the feeding tube as it wraps around my abdomen so that seems to help keep the tube in place.  Are there any stopper out there that I can get?

     

    Thank you dj.

  • PJ47
    PJ47 Member Posts: 376
    #9
    Try a company like Walgreens Infusion

    Walgreens Infusion is a co. in my area that supplies tube items, or try calling the hospital or MD office and ask them where to obtain the rubber stopper.   Good luck and keep eating.  

     

    PJ

  • Dav1965
    Dav1965 Member Posts: 132
    #10
    PJ47 said:

    Try a company like Walgreens Infusion

    Walgreens Infusion is a co. in my area that supplies tube items, or try calling the hospital or MD office and ask them where to obtain the rubber stopper.   Good luck and keep eating.  

     

    PJ

    I had stitches

    I had stitches the first time and was walking across the bedroom without my shirt on and it just went splat. It fell out and we had to go to the emergency room to get another one. That one did not have stitches and stayed in place until it was time to come out. Good Luck

  • TracyLynn72
    TracyLynn72 Member Posts: 839
    #11
    I had stitches

    that held it in place but there were little rubber "feet" that they attached to under the plastic disk (the tube went through the disk).  They took the stitches out 10 days after I got the tube and after they were removed, I could rotate the tube and disk and it felt much better.  The feet, however, ended up digging into my skin and I have scars from them. 

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