Does anyone else have a Gastrostomy tube?

[JAVISI]

Dear Friends,
Does anyone else have a gastrostomy Tube? I miss food. I am fine until I smell food. I got one placed due to 2 bouts of bilateral pneumonia:( .
I came close to dying the last time!

Then when the tube was placed My stomach was nicked and gastric secretions seep into my abdomin. I developed sepsis so now I have a huge scar running down my6 stomach. I just feel frustrated. I hope that feeling goes away soon!

Dream Big, with Inner Peace to all, Javisi;) l

[Tootsie]

JAVISI! Welcome back! I have wondered how you have been. The last we knew, you had gone to stay with your sister for a period of time to relax and sort things out.

I have no experience with a gastrostomy tube but one of the women I worked with dealt with her husbands tube for a period of time. They used some kind of liquid nourishment that they purchased by the case. It sounds like you have healed from that experience and can look forward to the spring time and warmer weather. Cheerio.

[JAVISI]

Tootsie,
It is so nice to hear from you. A lot of changes have happened in my life since I last spoke to you. I have had bilateral pneumonia twice,sepsis after the g-tube placement. My son is in jail for a DUI, flight to avoid arrest, hitting a patrol car and injuring an officer. A lot to deal with!~

But I did leave my husband and am now divorced and living with my parents:D . I left and I never turned back and have had no regrets. The only thing that hurts is the pain that my children have felt. But they are grown and I know that they will get over it eventually!

Hope things are going well for you! Thanks for all the su7pport you have always given me!

Dreaming Big with hope for Inner Peace;)
Love, Javisi

[Tootsie]

Javisi,

I'm glad that you have eliminated that toxic, sepsis poisonous relationship with your husband and can now turn all your energy to the physical symptoms and challenges of your condition.

I can't recall just when you took your "leave of absence" from braintalk. Were you aware that army 68 94 had died last April? He was a regular contributor here. Cheerio.

[JAVISI]

Tootsie,
Thank you for always being such a positi9ve person, you have help[ed me out so many times!
I was sorry to hear that Army died. He also gave me great inspiration in a time when I was in great disapair!

I am so glad to be rid of nmy husband, Ex!!!! I am trying to stay as healthy as I can. Somedays it is still hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel.

How are things going with you? I hope well!
Thanks again for being such a good friend!,
Dream Big, Love Laurie:)

[clouds z]

this is the type of tube terri schiavo had?

id say apple cider vinegar with water is good for pnemonia but maybe they wouldnt let you have it

see the jethro kloss book back to eden

[JAVISI]

Cloud Z,
It is about the same thing that Terri had. It is a tube that was placed directly into my stomach. I do liquid feedings 4 times a day with water. I can not eat food, which is very hard at times. I may feel full but still crave tastes and textures. I try to leave the room when any one eats.

I kept developing pneumonia in both of my lungs due to food and liquids going into my lungs instead of in my stomach. The last time I had pneumonia, I almost died. So this has prevented pneumonia so far.

I have a hard time not drinking fluids, so I do sip carefully at times just to keep my mouth moist, but I make sure it has nothing in it such as sugars or starches ect. basically water. I choke so easily so I have to be alone and focus on drinking if I get distracted I choke. It is not much fun but at least so far it has been keeping me healthier!

Dream Big, with Inner Peace to All, Laurie:)

[Tootsie]

Laurie, would you be able to chew sugarless gum to keep your mouth moistened? I know registered nurses used to ask doctors if the patients with N/G tubes could have gum. No doubt it would be something that you could only use when others were around, in case you did swallow, or choke on the saliva.

Russell, army 68 94, died quietly in his sleep with Psycho, (his cat,) beside him. He had finally accepted Hospice Care, and had just begun receiving Meals on Wheels.
As someone noted, "he left footprints here." Cheerio.

[JAVISI]

Tootsie,
Yes Russell did leave his footprints here! I am so glad that he come to terms with death and did accept Hospice. I am glad he went peacefully. I will alaways remember him. He helped more people that he probably knew:) .

I do chew sugarless gum and suck on sugarless candy. It definatly helps some but with all of the meds I am taking my mouth is constantly dry. This illness has taken so much away from me but I am still alive and fighting to stay as healthy as I can. I is hard to hide my tube it is fairly large so it does not plug up. And so far I have staved away my problems with pneumonia. I never want to go through another bout of that. I couldn't walk from the hospital bed to the bathroom without oxygen and assistance.

It is hard to be the patient when you are so used to taking care of others but my last 2 hospital stays I was so sick I really didn't care! I am so glad to be able to correspond again. You have given me good advice and helped me in so many ways! Thank you for that from the bottom of my heart!

Dream Big, Javisi:D

[Tootsie]

Laurie,
Would mouth rinses of normal saline help the dryness in your mouth? Normal saline is one quarter teaspoon of salt in an 8 ounce glass. Perhaps doing that when you are on your feet, and using the gum and candy in between times might help throughout the day. Cheerio.

[JAVISI]

Tootsie,
I brush my teeth a lot due to the meds that I am on. They are bad for your teeth and gums. I use a alcohol free moth wash. It keeps my mouth moist and feeling fresh for quite a while. I also suck on small peices of ice but again I have to becareful so that I do not choke. That is such an awful feeling:eek: .

I think that I am coming to terms with it but it is still hard at times:( . If I can stay away from the aroma of food I do okay. I have learned from this that I used to heart not out of hunger but out of depression and boredom.

I will continue this forever if I need to if it prevents me from getting pneumonia;) .
Thanks for your sweetness, care and concern!
Dream Big, with hope for all Inner Peace, Laurie;)