CancerCompass message board discussion started by TheDaughter on 3/18/2008 http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,22124,0.htm Thu, 04 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT Thu, 04 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://backend.userland.com/rss RSS.NET: http://www.rssdotnet.com/ Hello again,My father who was diagnosed with stage iv esophageal cancer with mets to the liver March 12th just had a feeding tube put in today.  The doctor wants to prevent him from losing anymore weight before he begins chemo next Monday.  Does anyone have any suggestions or advice on what works the best with the feeding tube, we meet with the nutritionist tomorrow and I want to be ready with any and all questions I should ask.  Also, does anyone know if insurance (Medicare) pays for the Ensure or whatever you use with the feeding tube.Any advice or suggestions are really appreciated.Despite this being such a shock and nightmare reading everyone's positive support and encouragement on this board has brought about a sense of calmness (if even for the moment) that I can never thank you all for.  Everynight when I pray that my father will find the strength to tame the Beast I include a prayer for you all as well.  The suffering from this monster is unbearable.....Tracy  TheDaughter Tue, 18 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT We used a few different products for the feeding tube depending on his nutritional needs. They have varying amounts of protein, etc. in the different formulas. They will prescribe the correct formula for him, and in our case it was delivered by a medical supply company and was covered by Blue Cross. All you should have to concern yourself with is how to use the pump (we started bolus which is just pouring it in the tube, and it was too much too fast so he would vomit it back up). The pump can be set to feed it into the tube at a slower steady rate (we used ours overnight while he slept to supplement food intake. They will also teach you how to flush the tube to keep it clean and running smoothly (soda water works well if clogged). If they do not prescribe pump and you have problems, ask about it.  We got going over Christmas holidays so I dont know if the lack of pump to start was an oversight (they didn't deliver our food for days either, till I read VNA the riot act). The nutritionist who worked with the gastroenterologist who diagnosed Pat and did his tube didn't want to be bothered with us because she was too busy with her Christmas plans to care about the guy with EC. She kept trying to push us off on the radiation doctors nutritionist, who also was no help. It was an awful start. Hope this helps. tongrenhealer Wed, 19 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT My father underwent a Transhiatal Esophagectomy Feb. 14.  He has had the J-Tube since that day.  When dad came home from the hospital he was taking in 5 cans of Nestles Nutrent.  Each can is 250 calories.  I have to hook him up when he goes to bed at night.  During the day he is on a soft diet with six mini meals a day.  A lot of high calorie nutrition drinks and soft diet meals we prepare.  Medicare has paid for the Kangaroo pump, the nutrent and the supplies needed.  Dad's doctor has had me weigh dad at the end of each week.  If he gains weight or maintains his weight I reduce the number of cans at night by 1.  After 27 days since his surgery dad is at 2 cans of Nestle each night.  I also have to change the dressing around the J-Tube twice daily, that is not a big deal.  Dad had had no pain from the J-Tube.  Without it dad would not be doing as well as he is.  I hope this helps.  You and your family are in our prayers.Steve M Barkley Wed, 19 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT Hi, i have had my pegtube for a year now and what i found out was to start light with your boost etc.and put fresh fruit ,vegg. In .keeping it a nice smooth liqiud i found that changing the color helped me to get through the beginning .medicade will not pay for food.Good luck get a good blender    glennS Thu, 20 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT My husband has had a g- tube in place for the past 18 months.Before leaving the hospital his nutritionist ordered some canned foods plus the overnight pump and syringes for bolus feeding.All covered 100% by medicare .The food is called olmolite and jevity. The amount of calories he is required to take in per day is based upon his weight and height again worked out by the nutritionist. He also drinks insure  on a day he is out and unable to do a tube feed this is not covered by insurance or medicare.. Hope this is of some help to you.  Joanieo joanieo Fri, 21 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT One thing that will really make a difference is how to use the tube and what to put through it will be the location of the tube. If its a Gtube it goes in to the stomach.  Feeds are much quicker with this type food, as you can put things in at a speed simular to eating. If its a J tube it goes in to the intestines and the "food" must be put in very slowly. If its done too quickly it just pushes it through and the patient will not get the nutrients from it. 2cats Sat, 22 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT Thank you to everyone who so honestly and thoughtfully responded.  Have any of you had experience with stomach bloating?  My father is now having that and the feeding tube is leaking quite a bit at the inciscion site.  He had ct scans, mri or xrays today - tech thinks it is "air pockets" not fluid build up in his stomach.....It seems there is one challenge after another...which leads to more questions.Thank you for all of your advice, insights and kind words.  I keep you each in my prayers.Tracy TheDaughter Tue, 25 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT  On 3/19/2008 Barkley wrote:My father underwent a Transhiatal Esophagectomy Feb. 14.  He has had the J-Tube since that day.  When dad came home from the hospital he was taking in 5 cans of Nestles Nutrent.  Each can is 250 calories.  I have to hook him up when he goes to bed at night.  During the day he is on a soft diet with six mini meals a day.  A lot of high calorie nutrition drinks and soft diet meals we prepare.  Medicare has paid for the Kangaroo pump, the nutrent and the supplies needed.  Dad's doctor has had me weigh dad at the end of each week.  If he gains weight or maintains his weight I reduce the number of cans at night by 1.  After 27 days since his surgery dad is at 2 cans of Nestle each night.  I also have to change the dressing around the J-Tube twice daily, that is not a big deal.  Dad had had no pain from the J-Tube.  Without it dad would not be doing as well as he is.  I hope this helps.  You and your family are in our prayers.Steve Mhi steve i had the same surgery on may 21st. i still am on the j tube and yesterday it came out and had to have it put in and restitched. did your dad have trouble swallowing after his surgery? i am still not able to eat many solids, i had my throat stretched twice already, can your dad eat regular foods now?  that was the most painful surgery i will never forget that pain, also i had a paralized vocal chord for 8 weeks. i also had my gallbladder and hiatial hernia repaired. any info would help me steve thanks lynee Fri, 29 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT