I am an adult. I just had to switch from a Mickey button to a Foley style G tube. Any suggestions on how to keep the new style secured and tight against my stomach besides tape? I work with babies and children and I don't want them to feel the end of the Foley.
Why did you give up your mickey. i am an adult and still have my mickey.
With great regret. I had my Mickey about a year and loved it as I am very active, but had constant problems with severe abrasion to my site, lots of drainage etc.. so, the surgeon decided to move the mickey to another site. Same thing happened. I also have dystonia which means that my abdominial muscles spasm. I am a pediatric physical therapist so I am in many positions and very active. I felt that I tried everything that I could try. I do not like the return to the foley, but it is already less painful. Adjust, adjust adjust.
Look for a product called "cath-secure". It is made to hold all types of tubes, foley cath's, PEG tubes ect.
Also, Tegaderm is pretty good, though labor-intensive. The nice thing about tegaderm is that it holds well, but is very easy to remove.
I have tried abdominal binders, acebandages(wide) when i go out for a special occasion. i have tried a less expensive type of "spanx" products for women. Kohls has a nice line. there is one to cover your entire abdomen. I get a size larger. I also use the tube holders, It is called the CATH SECURE multipurpose medical tube holder. for all types of medical tubings. Made by M.C. Johnson I get it from my durable supplier, which is now Apria. Glad to help anytime.
I know you said no tape, but I was just wondering if you have tried using paper tape with a skin protectant prior? I have to use skin protectant wipes and then I use paper tape rather than silk or others that are harder on the skin. I go over the area with two wipes. Let the first one dry completely and then do a second layer with another wipe. This seems to protect my skin enough from the tape.
I hope you get it figured out. I know what you mean about kids. I have a three year old and he is constantly bumping up against my tubes.
Good luck,
Jen
Jen,
A few suggestions for securing your tube are listed on the Oley web site in the Tube Feeding Tips page (http://www.oley.org/tubetalks.html). Scroll down to the "Helpful Products / Adaptive Devices" section.
If you find something helpful that's not listed there, please send me an email (dahlr@mail.amc.edu) so I can list it for other members to see.
Roslyn Dahl
Oley Staff
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