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3097890 tn?1341120846

G tube mic E feeding tube removal

Hi everyone. I'm 24 years old and was born with gastroschisis. I was placed on a feeding and fed through it most of my life till i turned 18 and was cut off from SSI. So for the next 6 years My feeding tube wasn't in use. I'm able to eat but underweight probably, or atleast on the very thin side ( 100lbs about, and 5 ' 7).
Well back in December of last year i slipped on some ice on the way home and the tube came out. I wasn't able to find it and didn't have another replacement. I'd always been told it would just close up and figured that since I hadn't been using it I'd just let it close up. Well it started leaking and I eventually got an apointment ( after playing phone and apointment tag with different docs) about 2 months ago. He stitched it up and used sodium nitrate to burn it so it would heal, but it hasn't. It still leaks pretty heavily with every meal and with anything I drink.
The surgeon that stitched it up seems to just think that re stitching it will work, even though it hasn't been.
It's starting to get annoying and get to me.The stomache acid has burned all around the area of the hole to the point where my skin is raw and sometimes it even bleeds.
I've read online that I might need surgery but I don't know what to say to the doc. The tube was originally placed when I was 12 so I had it for a very long time, and it dosen't seem to be healing. Leaks so bad I have to change the paper towel I have covering it frequently and it stains my shirts rather quickly.
Wouldn't my actual stomache need to be stitched up as well? Isn't that stomache acid irritating the insides aswell where it's not supposed to get too?
He stitched a gauze ontop last time and it's getting kind of smelly and nasty looking.
Not sure what to do. No insurance so any surgery will be expensive probably. Sorta miss being on SSI, I seem to just get shuffled from doc to doc and no one answers my questions.
I always wanted to not have a feeding tube anymore, but I didn't know I'd have to deal with this.
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3097890 tn?1341120846
Well the doctor kept stitching it tighter and tighter for a few weeks but this last time he said he can't do anymore. cut the last stitches and told me to come back only if it gets worse and i have to live with it the way it is, it's healing slowly.
but i still leak very frequently. i've pretty much got to lay/ sit down all day and keep a wash cloth on it. still burns too..
Helpful - 0
3097890 tn?1341120846
Yeah he just re stitched it again. It still leaks. I guess he said he's going to  ask someone what to do.
Appointment again in 2 weeks. Till then i have to keep using a paper towel to try and keep up with it when i eat/ drink and put burn cream on the skin contsantly around it.
Helpful - 0
3097890 tn?1341120846
my family has been helping with the costs. which has helped a lot.
Tomorrow is my next apointment with the surgeon.
Still leaking and raw skin. But living with it. Hopefully tomorrow he does something more than just try to stich it tighter closed.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
When I was without insurance I discovered that many teaching Hospitals have healthcare available to those with chronic conditions on a sliding scale (sometimes free depending on your income) so my best suggestion would be to find your closest University Hospital and contact the Hospital's financial aide department and see if they have a program you can apply to and if not if they know where you can go.

It might be a bit of a drive (I had to drive over 90 miles to be seen by specialists for my conditions) but it is much better than suffering without care.

You can also try to contact your local news station (or newspaper) and explain to them what you are going through and that you need help in finding care... a specialist in your area might see the report or article and contact you to offer help.

I know of a few people who have had J-Peg, M-key, JG and other tubes removed and had issues when the tract itself was not dealt with or a fistula had formed and I hope that you are able to find the relief you desperately need soon.
Helpful - 0
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