All I Want for Christmas is My . . . G-tube?

11/29/10


We have been working with Cade on feeding for quite some time now, and it doesn't appear that he is making any substantial progress.  He will now accept the bottle in his mouth and even take a few sucks/swallows; however, he usually starts coughing and/or gagging when he does swallow.  At this point, we don't know how much is due to the oral aversion and how much is due to the nasal gastric tube which sits at the back of his throat.  Every time he swallows, he can feel the tube and it initiates a gag reflex.  I have come to terms with the fact that he most likely needs a g-tube.  Of course, I wish that he could just eat, but that doesn't seem to be in the cards for us at this time.  Mostly, I just want him to be comfortable.  I feel like we have put forth a lot of effort in getting him to eat and trying to avoid having to get a g-tube placed.  We meet with the GI doctor in two weeks.  I wish it were sooner.  I am just ready to know if that is what they think he needs and if so, when it will happen.  He is just so uncomfortable, and it breaks my heart every time he gags on the tube.  We are hoping that after he gets the ng tube out of his nose that he will make better progress with eating.  I am so frustrated with all of the feeding challenges that both babies have that at times, I just want to throw up my hands and say, "Give them both g-tubes.  We'll let them learn to eat when they are 5 or maybe never!"  After I take some deep breaths, I remember that I am just so thankful that they are here with me, and I will deal with whatever challenges come our way.  With all of the issues of prematurity, we are fortunate to only be dealing with these issues as difficult as they are.  I know that Cade's Christmas wish is to have the ng tube out of his nose.  We'll just have to wait and see what the GI doctor thinks.