TubieTalk: Transitioning from Naso to Gastro
Nasogastric Feeding Tubes (NG-Tube) are thin rubber tubes inserted through the nose to deliver enteral nutrition or administer medications. The tube is specifically designed to pass through your nasal cavity into your throat and down through your esophagus into your stomach. NG-Tubes are used for limited periods of time (short-term) and provide an adequate solution for patients. Depending on you or your child medical condition, your healthcare provider may recommend transitioning from a Nasogastric Tube to a Gastrostomy Tube which is a more “long-term” solution.
A Gastrostomy Tube (G-Tube) will be surgically placed in your or your childs abdomen to allow direct access to the stomach for feeding, hydration, and medicine. G-Tubes provide a long-term solution for individuals who are unable consume food by mouth. G-Tubes provide a comfortable and flexible approach to the enteral feeding world.
This month, TubieTalk collaborated with the tube feeding community to receive first-hand advice, helpful resources, words of encouragement, and overcame challenges on transitioning from Nasogastric to Gastrostomy Tubes. Thank you to everyone who contributed to our tubie topic! If you would like to stay updated on TubieTalk topics, click here.
Meet Hannelore!
“Get advice from someone who knows a lot about it, like a parent/caregiver of a tubie or a tubie! In the end, I am really happy with my tube now, because it is a lot less visible and just more comfortable to have.”
First-hand Advice from Tubie Moms
“Transition as soon as the doctor gives you the option. Even if you think the tube will only be temporary, it’s worth getting away from the NG tube. My daughter’s placement surgery was over before I even finished drinking my pumpkin spice latte that I got when they wheeled her back.” - Olivia
“Recovery from the surgery itself (we had an open g-tube surgery) was really, really difficult and there was a lot no one told us ahead of time. Our son was 19 months old at the time of surgery, and had to go about 36 hours without food. The nurses told us he could eat anything orally but just couldn’t use the tube - absolutely not helpful when our son was 100% tube fed. So not only was he in pain, he was absolutely starving. I wasn’t prepared for this and would have handled it differently had we known ahead of time.” -B.M.
“It’s a surgery, but it’s nothing to be scared of. It makes your quality of life increases so much!”- Olivia
“When you are in the hospital (likely a 3-4 day stay) for g-tube surgery, please have 1 family member (non-spouse) there to help you. It’s a brutal recovery and having someone to get food, more clothes, etc. while you and your spouse are scared and emotional will make a big difference.”-B.M.
“Don’t be afraid to push back on doctors and nurses. If something doesn’t make sense or doesn’t feel right, it may not be right.”-B.M.
Words of Encouragement
“Your kiddo’s tummy will be sore for the first little bit, so they might throw up more than usual. It’s temporary! Hold tight, and everything will be ok.” - Tubie Mom, Olivia
“The recovery of the placement is different and longer than expected! The hospital did not prepare me enough for it, but other tubies did! In the beginning, everything seemed overwhelming and new, but you will get the hang of it!” -Hannelore
“Y’all, there are no challenges, and if there are, you won’t notice. The G-tube is one of the biggest blessings. I can’t sing enough praises for the G-tube.” - Tubie Mom, Olivia
“I had some complications over the years with infection but now with my mic-key button, everything is going very smoothly! I take care of my wound site myself and my doctor is proud of how well it looks.”- Hannelore
“Be brave!! You are not alone, even though it may feel like it. Finding the right support groups helps a lot when you look around and feel like no one understands.” -Tubie Mom, B.M.
“The recovery of the placement is different and longer than expected! The hospital did not prepare me enough for it, but other tubies did! In the beginning, everything seemed overwhelming and new, but you will get the hang of it!” -Hannelore
More Helpful Tubie Transition Resources!
Connecting with others within the Tube feeding community and utilizing outside resources will help make a smooth transition for you and/or your Tubie. See below for some more helpful resources for transitioning to a G-Tube: