Feeding Tube Awareness- Part 3

The current tubie- (and his "belly button" - www.bellybuttonsandbelts.com)
This is a g-tube (short for gastronomy tube). Specifically, it's a mic-key button. Technically, between the NG and this tube, he had a PEG tube, but that's often a temporary tube right after the tube is placed. The PEG is probably 4-6" long, and is a soft silicone tube that hangs from the body. Adults sometimes have PEG's, but most children have "buttons", because they're less likely to be snagged.
This picture was him sleeping, i couldn't get one of him standing still (a surprise, of course).

He's connected to his overnight feeding from about 8:30-5:30. it runs on a little pump at a rate of about an 1.5 oz/hour. The body normally slows down the gut at night, so it can rest. Little Micah doesn't have that luxury. We run it pretty slow for that reason.

One thing i haven't addressed is the "why" of the tube, other than initially (aspiration). He outgrew his aspiration at about 6 months. But, believe it or not, he lost the innate feeding reflexes, not to mention the desire. At about 6 mo, he was cleared for baby food consistency, which is less likely to be aspirated. At 11 months or so, he was cleared for liquid. The long and the short of it is that he's not that interested. His stomach is so small, and his tube feedings so frequent that he has very little idea of hunger (minus the pre-surgery stuff). He also has issues moving food around in his mouth, probably a problem related to the lymphatic malformation or the surgeries to treat it. On top of that, his mouth doesn't open much. Again, probably the LM, surgery, and the fact he's never had to use it. Here's an example of his dilemma. We'll call it, Micah vs. the Dum Dum.


Hopefully tomorrow will be part 4.. We'll see it i get to it... Might be a little late. Hoping to add a little tubie humor, and a little of tubie ettiquette.