August 18, 2006

Good Morning,

Gabriel will not be going to the hospital today to receive the NG tube (feeding tube through the nostril). Gabriel has been vomiting and spitting up since Tuesday because of the chemo. With an NG tube, each vomit will bring the tube out. He has been having episodes 2-3 times daily with his nausea medicine. Considering the tube with be taped to his face and will bother him, Justin's curiosity, the mount of times he has vomited, the possibility of more sickness after receiving MTX at a higher dose next week and other thing the doctors and nurses believe he will need another type of feeding tube. Mainly because they will have to keep replacing his tube from it coming out and putting Gabriel through more discomfort (they do not put him to sleep for this procedure).

The feeding tube they have suggested is the G tube (gastrostomy tube). This tube requires surgery. It is placed into the stomach. This will require him to spend at least 3-4 days in the hospital. Risk of infection is higher with this type of tube; it can still be pulled out and get clogged. This tube is more of a long term tube than the NG tube. We still do not know how long he will need tube feeding. The doctors are hoping only a couple months, but it all depends on Gabriel.

This procedure will take place next week. Steve and I decided we did not want to put Gabriel through more than he needed. (They were going to give him the NG tube then do the G tube later.) I will send another email when I know the day of his surgery.

Please pray his surgery goes well, his recovery is good, less hospital days, help for our family with child care and transportation for Steve.

Angela
http://www.med.umich.edu/1libr/pa/pa_gastcare_hhg.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feeding_tube
http://www.cysticfibrosismedicine.com/htmldocs/CFText/feedpicgal.htm