Re: What warrants a g-tube? - Sheryl

[Guest guest]

Hi Sheryl,

The minute Dr H saw , she thought he needed a g-tube. He was

8.5months of age and weighed about 8#. There never seemed to be a question

in her mind as to whether " needed " a g-tube or not. She admitted him

into the hospital that day, and began running tests right away. His blood

tests showed that he was severely malnourished, and catabolic (meaning he

was consuming his own body to support his brain function).

I think this was further supported when she came to his hospital room that

night, and tried to feed him. Dr H couldn't believe how hard feeding him

was, and she was totally unsuccessful even though she said she could feed

" any " child!

At that stage feeding consisted of fighting with him for 30+ minutes

to get him to accept the bottle in his mouth. Then working for an hour to

get down 1-2oz of high calorie formula into him. was NEVER a good

oral eater!!

I think she is more willing to wait on the tube as long as a child is

gaining weight, and is a good oral feeder. Even if that weight gain is slow.

Have you tried Periactin with Dalia yet?? Increasing the calories in her

formula? Adding things like PolyCose to her solids?? Feeding only " high

calorie " solids???

is now eating solids 3 times a day here, and I choose the highest

calories I can for the limited amount I can get into him.

Hope this helps.

Pat (g-ma to , RSS, 3 yrs old, 23.5# (10.7kg), 32.8 " (83.3cm),

G-Tube)

[Guest guest]

Does he eat " chewable " solids or only smooth foods. If smooth, what

do you find are the highest calorie?

I started adding olive oil to her food, so maybe that will help too.

Yes, she is on Periactin..on for 2 weeks or so and off for one and

it does seem to help some, at times.

I just sometimes question whether or not she should have a tube..so

far there is not one doctor who thinks so, but I'm just neurotic

sometimes....go figure, I'm a woman. :-)

Sheryl

> Hi Sheryl,

>

> The minute Dr H saw , she thought he needed a g-tube. He was

> 8.5months of age and weighed about 8#. There never seemed to be a

question

> in her mind as to whether " needed " a g-tube or not. She

admitted him

> into the hospital that day, and began running tests right away.

His blood

> tests showed that he was severely malnourished, and catabolic

(meaning he

> was consuming his own body to support his brain function).

>

> I think this was further supported when she came to his hospital

room that

> night, and tried to feed him. Dr H couldn't believe how hard

feeding him

> was, and she was totally unsuccessful even though she said she

could feed

> " any " child!

>

> At that stage feeding consisted of fighting with him for

30+ minutes

> to get him to accept the bottle in his mouth. Then working for an

hour to

> get down 1-2oz of high calorie formula into him. was NEVER

a good

> oral eater!!

>

> I think she is more willing to wait on the tube as long as a child

is

> gaining weight, and is a good oral feeder. Even if that weight

gain is slow.

>

> Have you tried Periactin with Dalia yet?? Increasing the calories

in her

> formula? Adding things like PolyCose to her solids?? Feeding

only " high

> calorie " solids???

>

> is now eating solids 3 times a day here, and I choose the

highest

> calories I can for the limited amount I can get into him.

>

> Hope this helps.

> Pat (g-ma to , RSS, 3 yrs old, 23.5# (10.7kg), 32.8 "

(83.3cm),

> G-Tube)