Tube Feeding-Button or PEG tube

[Hamleysmum]

DS is 3, and currently has a PEG tube. He's booked in to have it converted to a button, but surgeon wants to discuss it first, he thinks we might find sticking with the tube easier. Please can anyone tell me what their experience is, and is there anything different/better-or not- about button v's tube. Is there any reason that a tube has to be converted to a button, or can tube stay indefinitely? It's been in 2 years already. Thanks.

Both of mine have PEG/J but are not mobile I prefer the PEG/J as they stay put.Go to the tube feeding thread--they are all daft but know a lot

The g-tube has been in for two years? Wow! My DD had hers in for nine months and got a nasty infection in it. We had the Micky button operation and didn't look back. No more worries of her snagging the tube etc. The button is very easy to maintain. You test the balloon inflation before you insert the button, for leaks. The button goes in very easily with aqua gel and then you inflate the balloon with a syringe of water into the side port. We always checked balloon inflation once a week. If the water started to look cloudy, the button was changed. Very easy. I would definitely go with the Micky Button. HTH!

Ds has a peg and it is easy to manage without any dangly tubes getting in the way.

As sally says its a case of checking the water in the balloon at regular intervals, which is non invasive. ds's medication turns the water orange!
I do most of ds's button changes myself - its not hard and although Ds isn't keen on it being changed, some calpol, the numbing gel and the promise of a little treat from mums secret cupboard (usually footie cards or a comic) works wonders!

DD had a PEG for 2 yrs (as that was how long the consultant said it could be in for). So when it was coming up to 2 yrs old I asked about changing it for a Mic-key button. He then said the PEG could stay in for up to 5 yrs!!!!

However, we went ahead and had it changed anyway. The PEG was maintenance free really,(held in by a bar so no balloon maintenance) but I lived in constant fear of it being 'yanked' out and having to race to hospital to get it replaced.(we live 20 miles from nearest hospital & 50 miles from nearest Regional centre if DD needed general anaesthetic) Also, we had some 'near misses' with blocking it with one of DD's reflux meds, which can set like cement in the tube!!!

The Mic-key needs more maintenance, but only needs changing every 3-4 months, which is easy enough to do, and we have been given a kit (which we carry around) containing everything we would need to replace it in an emergency (should it be pulled out). We change the water in the balloon that holds it in every week - which only takes a minute. The advantage of a button is that you don't have anything dangling when not connected t a feed.

We have never had any infections with either type.

Thanks for all the replies. It's the tube dangling down, and getting caught which is the main problem at the moment, we hoped a button would be better. TBH I think it's the risk of the anaesthetic which is concerning surgeon, DS has very poor lungs. I'll post more on the tube feeding support thread.Thanks.

As an extra point if mine have any other surgery the gastro surgeon takes the opportunity to change the PEG DD is having a colostomy Sept and it will be done then.
DS has had his PEJ for nearly 4 years