4 PM – Just got home from work and the hospital.  They called Lorraine and she called me on the way home, they were ready to put in the feeding tube.  I did call Dr. Reddy’s office this morning and talked to Jean, his nurse.  She said Dr. Reddy ordered a G-J-Tube for him and explained that it would go into the jejunum.  I told her that Dr. Reddy explained to us years ago that he couldn’t put the tube into his stomach but instead put it in the jejunum, so isn’t that where it has been all this years?  She got a little frustrated with me and said that the opening is to Mikie’s stomach, not the jejunum, but she did admit that she did not have his records.  Back to the radiology department – Dr. Chuck (Heaten) gave me a very detailed explanation of what they were asked to do, and I asked him if it was possible that the button tube Mikie has could have been placed directly into the jejunum.  He said it was possible, and that they would know in a little while.  They were planning on placing a G-J tube that would have a long tube (22”-24”) going into the jejunum and also an access port into the stomach (the G tube part), so that the stomach could be pumped as needed (which is what they are doing right now with the NG tube), so that Mikie will not have problems with reflux and stuff like that.  Well, we were waiting in the waiting room and in about 30 minutes Dr. Chuck came to let us know what they did.  Guess what, I was right. The tube does go directly into the jejunum. There was no need to put in a G-J tube because the G port would not be able to access the contents of the stomach.  So they put in a J tube that went 22” or so into the jejunum. I still don’t see why, since the whole purpose was to stop the tube from leaking, and they could have done that with the Mickey Tube that I brought them from home, or a similar one just a bit larger.  Dr. Chuck told me the balloon on the old one was barely inflated, so it was no wonder it leaked.  Mikie has gone without food since Monday because they wouldn’t listen to dad.  From the time he entered the hospital we have insisted that his tube went into the jejunum, and that his food would have to be given slowly.  We would look around for the pump but they would say that they already fed him.  We found out they were bolus feeding him all at once.  If I have a complaint about the hospital it is that they don’t listen.  Sometimes they must think they know it all and what we have to offer is meaningless.

Just a funny tidbit – as they were wheeling Mikie to radiology, bed and all, Dr. Bynoe was walking by and took notice.  I spoke up and said hello, and he asked where they were taking Mikie.  I told him that we were going to get a new feeding tube and he nodded his approval.  I think he was concerned there might be a problem that he had not heard about. I was amused.