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Many medical conditions, diseases, disorders, and people of all ages require the use of feeding tubes

Many patients with feeding tubes have no visible illness. Many conditions that require a tube are due to a malfunctioning organ, or the complete failure of ones digestive system. While many of us profess our deep love for these tubes, it is not an ideal situation. While yes they give is life and important sustaining nutrition, we do not love the way of life which has been thrust upon us.

I don't know one person with a feeding tube who is extremely grateful they have one, but I also don't know one person who wishes they didn't need it. It is a hard life adjusting to low, or no, oral consumption. Watching everyone…

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Articles of Interest

What to Know About Feeding Tube Placement

Generally speaking, there are two types of feeding tubes – those that are inserted through the nose and those that are inserted directly into the abdomen. Within those two broad categories are five types of feeding tubes...

Choosing the Right Tube for You

The choice of tube depends in part on whether the tube is needed on a short-term or long-term basis. Short-term tubes include the naso-gastric (NG) and naso-jejunal (NJ) tubes, which go through the nose and end either in the stomach (NG) or small bowel (NJ). Tubes intended for more long-term use include the gastrostomy tube (PEG, G-tube), gastro-jejunostomy tubes (PEG-J or G-J tubes), and jejunostomy tubes (PEJ, J-tube).

Deciding On a G-Tube For Your Preemie

G tubes. They didn’t exist 50 years ago. Think of all the babies they’ve helped go from failure to thrive to thriving. That’s the case for my son. It was a difficult decision to make but I’m glad we did.

Feeding Tubes Pros and Cons

Feeding tube which serves as the last resort of nutrition for babies and elderly, can expose the concerned individual to several risks. The following article provides information about the various pros and cons of using a feeding tube.

Gastrostomy Tubes and Quality of Life: Is the Glass Half Empty or Half Full?

Placing a feeding gastrostomy (G) tube in the neurologically impaired can be an emotionally charged decision for the patient, caregiver, and physician alike. Since the first descriptions of percutaneous endoscopic G tube placement in 1980 in children, there has been significant research on techniques, applications, nutritional effects, and morbidity and mortality.

How I Keep My Son's G-Tube Site Healthy

The G-tube site is a constant topic online, and I have heard from many families over the years that the skin is usually red or that there is leakage around the tube site.

I Don't Care If You Stare at My Feeding Tube

For many of us who are chronically ill, we come to learn people will always stare. And trust me, they do that a lot. I don't think they mean to do it on purpose; it's just human nature. But it always turns out to be really annoying for those of us who are sick.

I Don’t Care If You Stare at My Feeding Tube

People always tell me they are embarrassed about showing their tube. Personally, I don’t find it to be a big deal, but I know many are scared of being judged by others because they have one.

Riding The Tube

She got plumper by the week after her gastrostomy (g-tube) was fitted and her quality of life improved immensely. How could I hate something that had given her all that?

The Decline of Tube Feeding for Dementia Patients

“It’s getting much less controversial” to decline a tube and rely on hand feeding, said Dr. Susan Mitchell, a geriatrician and senior scientist at the Harvard-affiliated Hebrew SeniorLife Institute for Aging Research. “This is becoming the prevailing wisdom.”

The Ins & Outs of Gastrostomy Tubes

Decent review. What is a gastrostomy tube. Indication for tubes. Types of tubes. G-tube placement. Post-operative care. Daily care. Complications/Common ...

Things to Consider When Your Preemie Needs a Feeding Tube

Things to consider when your preemie needs a feeding tube.

To Tube or Not to Tube

For many families and physicians providing nutrition, including enteral nutrition, using a PEG tube symbolizes compassion, love, and care. This is because eating represents one of the most basic of human needs. For some, not providing nutrition with a PEG tube is morally and ethically wrong. Withholding PEG tube placement can be perceived as assisted suicide or murder. Some physicians also fear legal, ethical, or religious misconduct should they decide against tube feeding.

What it’s Like to be a Mom to a Tubie

It is hard to see tubes coming out of your child day in and day out. It is a constant reminder they are not like other kids. Some tubie kids are undiagnosed. They have a list of conditions, but docs are still looking for the overarching diagnosis. This is very hard on parents.

When They Cannot Eat

Few questions are more upsetting to families than this one. Providing nourishment is, from the first moments of life, an elemental way for humans to demonstrate love and care. Saying no to a feeding tube can feel tantamount to allowing a loved one to starve.

When Your Baby Won’t Eat

Our daughter started life on a feeding tube. Then we tried to wean her off it — and began to understand the complexity of how children relate to food.

Resources

10 Things I’ve Learned From Having a Child with a Feeding Tube

Some parents see G-tubes as unavoidable, for others it is a lifesaver, or an opportunity to not stress. I think each parent who has a g-tube fed child has a unique story about their child and how their lives and more importantly, the lives of their children, have changed because of the feeding tube.

A Day in the Life of a Tube Fed Wife

Many medical conditions, diseases, disorders, and people of all ages require the use of feeding tubes.

Feeding Matters

Feeding Matters is furthering advances in pediatric feeding disorders by accelerating identification, igniting research, and promoting collaborative care for children and families.

Feeding Raya

The story of as girl and her feeding tube.

Feeding Tube Awareness Fpundation

Feeding Tube Awareness was founded in 2010 to support parents of children who are tube-fed, while raising positive awareness of tube feeding as a lifesaving medical intervention. We are a 501(c)(3) charitable organization. Our organization is run 100% by exceptional parent volunteers who combine their personal experience and professional knowledge.

Feeding Tube Awareness Week

Feeding Tube Awareness Week® was created by the Feeding Tube Awareness Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, to increase awareness of feeding tubes and enteral feeding.

Feeding Underweight Children

This site is written by Sharon Yirilli, a registered dietitian and pediatric nutritionist who specializes in nutrition counseling for children and adolescents, and has dedicated her career to helping families make mealtimes more peaceful while improving the nutrition of the children.

J-tube

The feeding jejunostomy tube is a method of delivering feeds through jejunal access in the small bowel. It is used when there is a contraindication to the placement of a gastrostomy tube. Although it is a relatively simple procedure, it can be associated with complications like bowel obstruction and metabolic abnormalities.

NG tube

Nasogastric tubes are part of the standard of care in treating intestinal obstruction and can also be used to provide nutritional support. They are most common in surgical patients but are useful in any patient population where gastric decompression or nutritional support is necessary.

NoTube

We can help your child learn to eat without a feeding tube. With our clinically evaluated tube weaning method, you can teach your child to eat and increase the quality of your family's life.

The Oley Foundation

Founded in 1983 by Lyn Howard, MD and her patient, Clarence “Oley” Oldenburg, the Oley Foundation is a national, independent, non-profit 501(c)(3) organization that strives to enrich the lives of patients dependent on home intravenous nutrition (parenteral) and tube feeding (enteral) through education, advocacy, and networking.

My Tubey Books

Children's books for tube fed kids.

Feeding Tube (G-tube)

Feeding tubes are tubes inserted into the gastrointestinal tract to provide a patient with enteral nutrition or for decompression. Tubes come in a variety of sizes, lengths, and materials, depending on the longevity of the tube, placement method, and location.

Have G-Tube, Will Travel

This site will be primarily photos and perhaps a bit of information about being tube-fed. My goal is simple, to increase awareness about being tube-fed.

KidsHealth

Fortunately, a gastrostomy is a common procedure that takes only about 30 to 45 minutes. After spending 1 or 2 days in the hospital, kids who have had a gastrostomy can get back to their normal activities fairly quickly after the incision has healed.

MIC-KEY* button

The MIC-KEY button has an anti-reflux valve which is located inside the feeding port, which helps prevent stomach contents from leaking out of the tube once the closure cap is opened. Once the patient end of the extension set is connected to the MIC-KEY button the antireflux valve will open. This then allows you to administer feed, water, medications or allows you to aspirate from the stomach. The extension set can also be used for venting (also called decompression or burping).

PEG (Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy Tube)

Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) tubes serve as the favorable route of feeding and nutritional support in patients with a functional gastrointestinal (GI) system who require long-term enteral nutrition, usually beyond 4 weeks.