NEED HELP: Any one with knowelage about feeding tubes.
 

I have a clog in my tube, only been about 30 minutes of it starting.
Any good tips to help it unclog?
I really don't want to have to go to the ER to get it unclogged or have a new one put in.

Blazed-Kitty,

This is not my area but you might find this video helpful. NurseKris might see this and chime in as well.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tKVDvVVCPlQ


If you can't get it an after hours clinic may be an option aside from the ER. You have a home care nurse who comes don't you? You could give the agency a call.

:hug:

It sounds crazy but meat tenderizer works really well! The other thing that I have found works is pouring some Coke or Pepsi down the tube. Just be careful not to use too much because you don't want the carbonation to upset your GI tract. If you use the cola route make sure you flush it really well because you don't want that just chilling in your tube gunking it up! Good luck and let us know how it goes!

The coke never seems to work for me. How do you use the meat tenderizer though? Like we bought some but we dont know how much to use we dont know what to do with it

To be honest we didn't measure as carefully as we should have. But I usually used 1-2 teaspoons with 50 ml of warm water. I found it easiest to mix this is a bowl or cup and then suck it up into a syringe. While you are pushing it through it sometimes helps to almost massage the tube to try and break up the clog. Warm water is key here but don't make it too hot.

I'll keep my fingers crossed and let us know how it goes!

Thanks so much for the replies. I did have to go to the ER to get a new one. But we were prescribe those enzyme things for any other trouble I could have with the tube.

I'm sorry you had to go to the ER but that is great they gave you a script for the panc enzymes. They are definitely the best way to go!