Feeding Tube Placement And Pain

Hi all,

I was wondering if anyone has ever had anything like this happen. My father had a feeding tube placed via surgery on Saturday.  (PEG tube). It was done via surgery because the gastro doctor didn't want to take the chance of rupturing Dad's tumor by doing it via esophagus.

My father is still in the hospital..The question I have is...My father is having so much pain, he seems to think it's cramp like pain. Has anyone else had this problem?. We were told the feeding tube placement was a minor surgery and there usually isn't any problems...

I'm really concerned ....any response appreciated..

Thanks..

Angie

 

 

On 3/3/2008 angree wrote:

Hi all,

I was wondering if anyone has ever had anything like this happen. My father had a feeding tube placed via surgery on Saturday.  (PEG tube). It was done via surgery because the gastro doctor didn't want to take the chance of rupturing Dad's tumor by doing it via esophagus.

My father is still in the hospital..The question I have is...My father is having so much pain, he seems to think it's cramp like pain. Has anyone else had this problem?. We were told the feeding tube placement was a minor surgery and there usually isn't any problems...

I'm really concerned ....any response appreciated..

Thanks..

Angie

 

Hi,

My Husband experienced very similar pain after receiving his first feed tube in 6/06.

After several weeks of pain we found out his tube was "defective". This is very unusual to happen.

Your Dad might be having inital pain from the incision and the placement of the tube. It does take some "adjusting" to.

A word of advise. When the home health agency comes in to show you or your Mother how to care for the wound site and how to use the feed tube after your Dad comes home, ask as MANY questions as you want and have them show each of you how to flush the tube,do the feedings and how to care for the wound around the incision site. I stupidly listened thinking with my "medical experience" I could do this with no problem. Boy, was I WRONG!!!

Don't hesitate to ASK ANYTHING YOU DO NOT UNDERSTAND!! I know just the thought of performing this task is scarey, but with good communication with the nurse's it will ease alot of your fears and give you the confidence that YOU CAN DO THIS!!

I learned the hard way and didn't have the most compassionate nurse. Hate to see you go through what I did.

Best wish's to your Dad and to you.

TerryG 

 

My husband came home after tube insertion (in fact was scheduled for simulation to set up for radiation at another facility before he was even ready to leave surgical day care that day-and was supposed to go back to first facility for port insertion later in the day but I changed port date knowing he couldn't handle all that in a day). The tube insertion was quite painful at first. Kind of like being shot in the stomach was the description I got. But they are crucial to nutrition with this cancer, which gives you at least a shot at trying to beat this. My prayers are with you.

Thanks to you all who have replied on the board and in private...I am so glad to have found this bbard.  It looks like the main problem was simply that they didn't get my father out of bed soon enough after surgery...and there was a huge buildup of gas causing most of the pain...BUT, I do think he had the feeling of being shot in the stomache also....The surgeon did a really nice job, though, and everything looks good...

The feeding tube itself is going to be something for us to get used to and my mom was a bit overwhelmed at "feeding tube school".  But I think my sister and I have it down and Mom will feel better after Dad is home for a while and we're using it.  He's still in the hospital today, making sure the pain goes away and maybe its a good thing because he's been going for radiation BUT toda is his first large dose of chemo...and the doctor wanted to see how he will handle it before discharging him.

I was a little upset with the hospital care during the weekend...I really felt like they were all on strike.  The doctor wasn't happy either.  I do not mean to imply that all of the health care workers were not doing their jobs, but to be frank, I honestly don't think the hospital should even be open on the weekend if that is how it functions.  My Dad said the nurses were so nice to him though and he felt like he was being really well taken care of....Well all I can say is, it's a good thing they were nice to him...I felt that when we questioned anything they felt we were a bother...but, they better get used to it...cause we're gonna be a constant presence.

 

Angie,

Don't EVER let the Doctors or Nurse's intimidate you honey!!!!

Unfortunately my Husband has Stage IV with mets to liver,stomach and brain and has been in and out of the hospital since January.

I know the Nurse's dread when they see me!!! But, I don't care.I ask questions and so many times take care of my Husband when he's in the hospital as it's under staffed.

We've been on our "journey" as I call it for almost two years now together and I will do or say whatever it takes to anyone in the Health Care profession to ensure my Husband is given the best of care and treated with dignity and respect. When I see this isn't happening my Husband calls me "his little Southern bull dog"!!!

It's very sad in order for patients to get proper care in hospitals they must have an advocate to ensure this happens.

I even get the nurse for the patient in my Husbands room at times as they deserve the same treatment as my Husband. After all, each patient wether it is your loved one or a complete stranger is a HUMAN BEING.

Best wish's and speedy recovery!!!

Terry,

   Thanks for the reply. I really appreciate it.  I actually did have to step on a few toes...and boy how things changed, and as I said...SOME of the nurses were great, but others really shouldn't be nurses...When the family of a patient asks questions, they should understand that all we want is the best care for our loved ones.

Thankfully, they moved my dad down to the oncology unit and wow, what a difference...The nurses there are very caring, cheerful...and just what a patient needs to see.  They answer our questions thoroughly and with a smile. We are going to give them a definite thank you, and let the hospital adminstrator know that they are doing a good job.

I really hope things are going well for you and your husband, please keep in touch.   Thanks so much..

Angie