anyone have a feeding tube?

I got mine put in during my surgery- i'm 7 weeks post op now- and it has caused me constant pain and annoyance! I went in last weds to have it taken out and they said they would like to check my protein levels first. so they did some blood work and i have yet to hear from anyone about it.

well, a couple days ago i started to smell this horrible metallic like smell coming from the skin around the tube. it has never smelled or bled and now its doing both. it is an absolutely nauseating smell.i'm not sure what would cause this other than infection...and i'm really worried about it :(

now that i'm allowed to eat solid foods i feel sick ALL THE TIME. everytime i eat anything whether its water or apple sauce or chicken- anything at all- i feel so sick i throw up within 20 mins. I dunno what to do. i've tried talking to my dr. about it and they don't seem to be concerned. maybe i should tell them about my newest problem with the smell coming from my feeding tube.

has anyone else encountered any of these issues? any help or advice would be great. thanks in advance!

Please call OWLO right now about the drain. It is common practice with them to have the feeding tube and yes its a real pain in the rear but tthe smell and such should be checked out. The nausea is very common in new patients, slow down when you eat. Eating with a baby spoon helped me to slow down take small bites and eased teh nausea feeling also listen to your body after each bite you will soon learn your clue for when enough is enough, Especially that early out one bite can mean the diff between ok and OH NO run to the bathroom. It does get easier.

thank you so much! i appreciate your help!

Ok maybe this is a stupid question, but why is it common practice for them to give a feeding tube? This has never been mentioned to me by my doctor or any of his staff! Its kinda freaking me out a little!

i 2nd this question out of curiousity.. hope you dont mind us askin girl! :)

hope your feeling better! <3

The norm for keith is if he thnks you will have a problem he will insert a feeding tube.NOT Every patient gets one....it is told to you when you go to your pre  op appointment that one could be inserted.

Ok this is from my understanding about guestioning my own feeding tube from OWLO. Dr. keith Places it while you are having surgery (though I have hheard of other doctors doing it as well) when you have RNY so that IF there is complications and you have trouble eating and getting nutrition after surgery then you have it in place so that you can get nutrition and are not required to be opened up again to place one. Less different surgeries and while they are a pain and can pull if you don't have them taped up so they dont hang and pull he does it as a precaution only.  I had the flu about 4 weeks out and couldnt keep anything down but due to the g-tube going into the old part of my stomach I was able to get the nutrition I needed to stay healthy even though traditionally I couldnt keep food down.  I do believe it is more common the heavier you are to start with as the morbidly obese you are the greater chance there is of complications though like i said other than the flu I would have never used mine. It actually helped me to know that he was thinking ahead to make sure I wouldn't go through the trauma of a second surgery if there had been complications.

Well that answers that question, but now I have a couple more! LOL Where exactly does the feeding tube come out of you?  How long does it stay in? How do they remove it once they decide you dont need it , or does it stay in forever kind of like a port?

It comes out of you slightly above the waistline on your left side. Mine hung out about 8 inches. Once it is placed it has to stay in for at least 6 weeks so that it has time to heal from the inside out. There is stitches holding it in place which can pull if you dont keep it taped up. Persoanllyy I found it a nusiance but not a big issue to deal with. But do keep it taped up as it does pull more if you leave it hanging.  Around your 6 week check up if all is healing well and you are eating well they will snip the stitches and the tube slides out. Some say they feel some pain for me there was only a weird sliding feeling and some pressure. It does drain at that time some but They gauzed me over and even that was unneccessary in just a few days. So no it does not stay in permently.  Now it does require some care while it is in you have to clean around the outside of the tube as it can ooze soem and that is normal also you are given a special syringe ( imagine a needles flavor injector) and you remove the plug in the tube and flush with water daily. It really does sound worse than it is. i was ready to get it out with but I can tell you when I was so sick I was glad to have it.  

hellooooooooooo!
first I am Not a doctor but I have had a feeding tube..... and I am a patient of keiths....
the smell is from it being in you...the bleeding is from the skin shrinking and cause the skin to tear.
WITH that being said...CALL TeRESA dr keiths nurse and tell her...
As for the tummy problems it might mean you have ADvanced to soon go back to the last stage for awhile...Plus young lady applesauce has sugar in it...called fruitose even if its no sugar added I have never tried it nor do I plan tooo.The urgh to throw up is a from of dumping sounds like you are taking to big of sips..and ya got to chew chew chew your food. I didnt try chicken for about 2 to 3 months out. Alot of folks cant do chicken cause its grainy.
BTW I had my feeding tube ie toy  for 8 weeks..only used it once and never again...
If you dont get calls back from the office CALL THEM and then ask to speak to Barry and complain....or I will call for ya..they HATE  when I call
good luck