Lizzie 2 weeks post-op! - Feeding Tube Update!
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Lizzie Leist
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Lizzie Leist
Hey everyone ! We are just over 2 weeks of Lizzie having her feeding tube and so far she is doing great! Before, most of Lizzies nutrition has been blended and given via a bottle with "snack" like solid feeds here and there (think purees and minced foods).
Lizzie is working on oral coordination and endurance. Because the bottle required so much oral endurance, we felt it was hindering the progress that could be possible with her solid feeds.
Also with her lack of coordination, she would swallow copious amounts of air with the bottle (no matter all the tips, tricks, bottles, angles, medications, and then after eating "tricks" as well) This would cause severe abdominal pain, bloating, and discomfort (on top of her already difficult GI issues and slow motility)
Since getting her tube, we have been able to do a few things!
- Give medications directly through the tube so she is getting the full and correct dose!
- Get her adequate hydration (this also helps with her motility and BM's!)
- "Vent" her belly (literally just attach an empty tube and let an extra air out of her belly - GAME CHANGER)
- And of course get her food into her belly without having to use a bottle!
We are excited to start ramping up her solid intake again now that we have taken a few of these challenges away/have lessened them!
We are still learning what works best for Liz, how to administer certain things, timing, flow rate, and how to use her pump.
We are also using a formula blend right now through her tube until the site heals all the way (we don't want to risk clogging it with a homemade blend before it has healed properly.)
We go to get her tube changed out in September and after that, we will be in the clear for her getting her homemade meals through her tube!
Lizzie is working on oral coordination and endurance. Because the bottle required so much oral endurance, we felt it was hindering the progress that could be possible with her solid feeds.
Also with her lack of coordination, she would swallow copious amounts of air with the bottle (no matter all the tips, tricks, bottles, angles, medications, and then after eating "tricks" as well) This would cause severe abdominal pain, bloating, and discomfort (on top of her already difficult GI issues and slow motility)
Since getting her tube, we have been able to do a few things!
- Give medications directly through the tube so she is getting the full and correct dose!
- Get her adequate hydration (this also helps with her motility and BM's!)
- "Vent" her belly (literally just attach an empty tube and let an extra air out of her belly - GAME CHANGER)
- And of course get her food into her belly without having to use a bottle!
We are excited to start ramping up her solid intake again now that we have taken a few of these challenges away/have lessened them!
We are still learning what works best for Liz, how to administer certain things, timing, flow rate, and how to use her pump.
We are also using a formula blend right now through her tube until the site heals all the way (we don't want to risk clogging it with a homemade blend before it has healed properly.)
We go to get her tube changed out in September and after that, we will be in the clear for her getting her homemade meals through her tube!
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