G Tube Questions/seepage

BeagleDad
BeagleDad Member Posts: 108 Member
in Head and Neck Cancer #1

I hope someone here can help mewith some issues I am having with my G tube.  Had mine inserted just 8 days ago.  Have been in contact with the surgeon.  I have enclosed a picture to show you what type mine is. My issue is concerning "seepage".  Doc said seepage is fairly normal and I can expect that for the life of the insertion.  OK, I can accept that.  He also said to keep it wiped and not to let it settle on my skin so it does not irritate.  Already I am noticing some redness around this area that I assume to be from the seepage.
I'd be glad to throw on some neosporin or other salve, but when I reach down to apply it, that opens up the floodgates and more seepage occurs, and then I dry it, and the cycle repeats as I go again to apply the oointment.  
If any of you have experienced such things, how did you address the seeage/skin irritation issue?  What strategies have you emloyed to keep it dry and skin soft?  I will have this thing for another 2 months so this is going to be an important issue for me.  

Thank you

Don  (Beageldad)

 

   G Tube Type

Comments

  • Logan51
    Logan51 Member Posts: 468 Member
    edited December 2020 #2
    Don

    I've been FT-dependent for over 16 months without any issues, and had one for 17 months 11 years ago during and after tx. Go to my Expressions page, and you will see the base that touches the skin is different than mine- your's is oval and mine is round and bigger. 

    1)  What is the seepage- blood or what you are putting in your tube? If it's what you're putting in your tube, then it is not snug against the stomach wall and/or you are putting too much Jevity, e.g., into your FT/feeding. The Olney Foundation says no more than 2 cartons of Jevity/feeding.

    2) I just washed w/soap and water, but mine does not look to be nearly as tight against stomach skin as your's does. The gauze, which I do not use, might be making it look tighter than it really is. I only used gauze for a couple days, then none so the area could breathe, so to speak, and get air. The redness I have had is minor, and I used a prescription ointment on it- typically where granulation had been. AND, there are 5 little plastic knobs attached to mine that touches the skin- same as the one I had 11+ years ago. Part of the redness issue may be on acccount of the FT your Surgeon chose to use.

    Get back with the answers to the above questions, please.

  • BeagleDad
    BeagleDad Member Posts: 108 Member
    #3
    Logan51 said:

    Don

    I've been FT-dependent for over 16 months without any issues, and had one for 17 months 11 years ago during and after tx. Go to my Expressions page, and you will see the base that touches the skin is different than mine- your's is oval and mine is round and bigger. 

    1)  What is the seepage- blood or what you are putting in your tube? If it's what you're putting in your tube, then it is not snug against the stomach wall and/or you are putting too much Jevity, e.g., into your FT/feeding. The Olney Foundation says no more than 2 cartons of Jevity/feeding.

    2) I just washed w/soap and water, but mine does not look to be nearly as tight against stomach skin as your's does. The gauze, which I do not use, might be making it look tighter than it really is. I only used gauze for a couple days, then none so the area could breathe, so to speak, and get air. The redness I have had is minor, and I used a prescription ointment on it- typically where granulation had been. AND, there are 5 little plastic knobs attached to mine that touches the skin- same as the one I had 11+ years ago. Part of the redness issue may be on acccount of the FT your Surgeon chose to use.

    Get back with the answers to the above questions, please.

    1)  My seepage is reddish in color (But not blood) and I have sent pix to the doc with descriptions twice..each time he responded that it is normal.  Just to not let it stay there.  As for snug....my wife and I think just the opposite..that it is TOO snug, kind of pinching in fact. So as soon as I go to look at it, i press on it and it creates an opening for stuff to seep out.   Again, Doc said not an issue but we may try to get in to see him next week for in person review, just to be sure.  With regard to feedings..and here you may have a point...I am NOT using it for food, though; I am eatin orally.  I expect to be using the tube during radiation in Jan/Feb.  I know that I have been "eating" too much and perhaps overfilling my belly since it shrank from surgery and not eating, but I am also trying to maintain weight and drink plenty of water.  And although I can agree that too much input might facilitate the seepage, this morning when I woke up it had seeped a good bit and I had not put anthing in my stomach for several hours prior.  This was when it "got to me".  It makes sense after I drink down my shakes or eat some actual food.  And I have been ..my shakes are 2 bottles of ensure, a few dollops of ice cream, and a banana.  So very likely I am filling the belly a tad high.  Plus it feels SOOOOO good to finally eat again I am trying to munch on anything I can fit into my pie hole.  

    2)  I have been making sure to wash with antibacterial soap,dry it, and am now applying neosporin around the area and still using the gauze to catch the seepage.  Just today my wife and I decided to "let it breathe" by not covering with a shirt right away ..but this is the cold time of year so I need to cover up with something after a bit.  :)  My biggest issue is I want to be proactive..be much easier to prevent infections or serious rashes prior to them becoming actual health issues.

    I appreciate your questions and input and look froward to any further advice/information you may offer.  Thank you and have a terrific Christmas!

    Don (Beagledad)

  • Logan51
    Logan51 Member Posts: 468 Member
    edited December 2020 #4
    Don

    I said if the seepage is what you're putting in the tube then it's not snug against the stomach wall- your actual stomach inside you, Don. And I agree: by the picture it does look like it is too tight/snug against your skin. 

    Why do you not think it is blood if the seepage is red, or reddish? If the fit is good on the outside, and on the inside of your stomach wall, then nothing from your eating/drinking should be seeping out. But, in the space between your stomach and skin there is blood- though by now it should have clotted. Seems very likely to me that the Surgeon did not do a good job of fitting it, and possibly on both. What fits against your stomach wall is like the one on my Expressions page and there's not much room for leakage if the gap between the skin and wall is good. Is it possible something you are doing is changing the length of that gap? I always wondered about very deep/heavy coughs, or if one tries to tuck the tummy in (or something like that). ALSO, if the gap distance is short it could be affecting the seals on both your stomach wall and outer skin- which makes the most sense.

    Waking up with seepage might not be remarkable, being horizontal and all. Again, though, the issue is what the actual seepage is, I guess.

    Again, I have never had a seepage problem. And quite frankly, I think your Dr./Surgeon is bonkers for saying it is common what you are dealing with. I never have, and I've now got a 3-year FT history in my past and present. The Olney Foundation specializes in FTs, and you might want to try and contact them or a GI specialist. Olney might have someone, or a reference to, that you could call. 

    And Merry Christmas to you and your's, Don. Keep me updated.

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