Any tips on getting dd to keep NG tube in!

[DJAngel]

DD came home from hospital with an ng tube after being ill with pneumonia. She is almost 5 but has learning disability.. she hates the feel of it, can't leave it alone. At night she has pulled it out. Had nurses round 3 times to put it back in which is very traumatic for her.. ( and us!)

Any tips to try and stop her pulling it out gratefully received as looking like it will be in for about 6 weeks.. Nightmare. DH says he'll learn how to put it back in but I'm bit scared of that.. even so will still take 3 of us to hold her down and get it in.

Hi
When my DD had a NG in we had to put mittens on her so she could'nt grab at the tube it worked for a little while, which gave us enough time to distract her away from it.x

Distraction?

We had to bandage dd2's hands at first. Then I would clip it to her hair behind her ear with hairclips.

Or try slipping her hands into mitts when she's asleep.

Learn to put it back in yourself- it takes moments to do it yourself and is much less stressful than a stranger in uniform doing it. It is very easy. Wrap her in a large towel with her hands by her sides while you do it, and give her a big hug afterwards.

glad it will be a short term thing for you both!

We were also taught how to replace it ourselves, wrapping him up like a mummy in a towel, eventually he decided he didnt like getting it replaced so left it alone. Very hard though xx ~ Also glad it is only short term for your sake.

I agree with others it is easier to learn how to do it yourself if you can. How often is it used? Some people only put the tube in while it is being used, would this be an option?

Thanks for messages, I crept in and put socks on her hands at 11.30 last night and popped her arms in her sleeping bag. It worked.. She made some noise taking the socks off at 3am and 6 am and we got to her before she got to the tube! So thank you!

We're giving feeds, fluids and drugs down it as dd won't drink at the moment! She's started eating a bit though so feed will begin to reduce eventually. We need to get the fluids in coz she's got impacted bowel and so we're on a tough movicol programme. Bit grim for her bless her.. It feels like we're giving stuff down it every 5 minutes!

Dh says he'll learn, but maybe I could too. Just worried about it going down the wrong way!

Its actually quite hard to get it in the wrong place, and you always test by withdrawing fluid from the stomach and testing on ph paper.

I'd give it a try.

My daughter was NG fed from birth to 11months. She often pulled her tube out - up to 5 times a day. I found very strong tape worked, and also tucking the end of the tube down the back of her neck inside her clothes. I did learn to reinsert the tube after being initially very reluctant. It wasn't as bad as it looks and my DD got so used to me doing it she didn't struggle or protest at all!!

Hi, My little boy had an NG tube for 5 years ( a long time I know but couldn't have a PEG due to anatomical issues). He pulled his tube out a grand total of 2 times in 5 years!!

There are a few things you can do:

Definitely learn how to do it yourself.

Don't use duoderm with tegaderm if her skin can handle a stronger tape. duoderm comes off very easily.

Please bare with me it's a bit tricky to explain. If you don't understand PM e and I'll give you my number - be easier to explain.

If you can, use brown plaster ( also less obvious visually). Cut a fairly long piece with a blunt arrow shape to one side. Put this arrow bit as close to her nose as possible and tape the tube right across her cheek.

Then take the end of the tube and pass it behind her neck and tape it to the opposite shoulder of the nostril the tube is in. I.e if it's in left nostril, tape to right shoulder.Before you tape it have her turn her head towards the shoulder you're going to tape it to ( this makes sure it doesn't pull and won't restrict her movement)

Doing this it keeps the tube out of the line of vision. Hospitals and nursing staff tend to use a little bit of duoderm etc and the tube is left hanging from the child's face which is extremely irritating - you would pull it too if it was you.

Hope this helps xxxx

Thanks so much for messages. We are at the end of our tether tbh. We can't get her to stay still enough to put any of the taping advice into practice! It's impossible.. She is so strong and now very suspicious if you get near her. It's not so much that she can see it but that she thinks it's s bogey I'm sure. She's always liked to have a root around her nose and she seems to feel it all the time and try to get it out.

I can't get near her nose to adjust any of the tape or anything.. You basically have to attack her and pin her down kicking and screaming to do anything.. Last night I sat up in her room from 12 to 4 awake and then fell asleep.. When I woke up the tube was out.. and her arms were taped up with socks on!!

I've put another post about the movicol as this now remains the major reason for requiring the tube.. I'm so drained with it all.. Not sure how sustainable it is to have to put the tube in everyday for weeks.. She's beginning to hate us,and look scared every time the doorbell rings!

HI Again,

If you can learn to put it in yourself would it be an option just to pass the tube, give the movicol and then take it out again?

Definitely not pleaseant but at least you wouldn't have tyo be taping her ars up etc for prolonged periods of time. You ight find that you are having to put it in more ties when trying to keep it in all the time anyway if she just keeps pulling it out.

Haveing an NG tube is not pleasant. I passed one on myself so that I would understand what Luuk was feeling and it is not nice, so it is undersatndable that kiddies want to pull them out.

xx

Hi shaz298 what is the name and brand of the stronger tape you use? My son also gets his NG tube out several times a day. Maybe this will help.

You can get arm gaitors or make some yourself. basically she wount be able to bend her elbows. not nice but hopefully it will be out soon