mic-key botton ?

[babysupermansmommy]

how often do you guys change your kids g-tubes? our docs say once a month...we just had to re submit a request fromt he doc saying we need two a month, one to change and one as a back up ......the insurance is arguing with us if we dont change it we end up in er because he has pulled it out in the middle of the night and the hole starts to close:mad:

[Jordansmom]

WOW, I was told every 3-6 months. Unless it starts to leak or something, and insurance would only pay every 6 months. Jordan has a G-J tube now, which has to be replaced at the hospital. As for pulling it out, we have a Foley catheter just to put in the hole until we can get to the E.R. (if it were to break or come out)

[cariaad]

Our ins/medacaid combo will provide one button every 2 months, so basically that is when i change it. I wait until the new one comes in so I always have a backup in case of a break. She hasnt had any breaks since we started doing it this way. When we waited 3-6 months (just checking the amount of water in the balloon monthly) they would frequently break. Meds that she takes tend to make them break down faster, altho I believe the company who makes them says this isnt a problem!

[bradensmom]

I only change Braden's when there is a problem. He just recently started getting the mickeys. He has always had pegs in the past. We have kept those for up to three years. Braden got his first mickey in October and I haven't had to change it yet.
Amy

[Jen3]

We get 1 a month and we always have a back up. We change about every 2-3 months. Once you start seeing the leaking yuckies around it that is when we change it. We are medicaid and they pay for it with no complaints!

[Alex's mom]

We started off with one back up mickey and we change once a month because insurance allows for it. We also have a foley catheter in case of emergency. Our supply company sends one a month and told us that if we had to use the back-up mickey to call and let them know and they would be able to send another because we should always have one available.

[Mom2TwinsPlus1]

We get 8 a year payed for by medicad. We were never told how often to change ours! Yep, long story her mickey was put in after her reg. g-tube on a random hospital visit from something else. The doc came in put it in and left, I had to find out about care and how to work it from a nurse! But I do know that we change it when Emma's no longer holds water in the ballon which is about once every 4 months

[lovemymak]

We get one per month. Because of the meds Keturah is on, the balloon tends to break down faster. One nice trick....if you have a hospitalization, and a good nurse, ask for a new tube for the bedside while you're there. They can add it all into the huge hospital bill, and insurance most times doesn't care, since you're admitted. I always get extras while Keturah is in-pt to stock up my home supply! ;)

[JWorthington]

We usually change about once every 4 months - or more frequently when the balloon bursts!!! Which is does, quite a lot!

xJx

[Leigha's mom]

They told me to change Leigha's when it comes out or something like that.. Leigha is on her 3 one since she was born in Nov 2.

[Leigha's mom]

She was born in Oct 2. Not Nov. she got her g-tube in Nov.

[kelgreen]

we also get 1 a month...but only change them when needed

[Leigha's mom]

I'm so glad that's all we have to change hers.

[jamie'smum]

we were told by the surgeon once every six months, that was about 5 months ago, so just startin to psyche myself up for the first change and hope that it doesnt go hideously wrong. (it's times like these that I miss the peg, lol) definitly needs changing soon though, as the valve doesnt work anymore so the damn thing leeks every time jamie pulls the top off. (he's the type that adores playing with his 'additions')
tracey xxx

[kelgreen]

I changed Bobby's button once before he came home from the hospital and I was amazed how easy it was...I was like "that's it?"!!!

First time I had to change it at home I got a little freaked cause it was an accident. We had gotten a new rocker chair and I was feeding him but I tucked the tube under him through the chair so he couldnt get at it and when he was finished feeding I had forgotten I did that and picked him up out of the chair...I hear a pop and realized what I did...It didn't phase Bobby at all but silly me...went to fit it back in and immediately realized I had to take the water out of the balloon first. I just ran and got a new kit. Had to put it in by myself. My heart was racing the entire time...just because I wasn't prepared....and I had his special ed teacher coming any second.

just thought I'd throw that in there LOL

[mom2trewife2vic]

We are on an as needed schedule. The extension set is changed weekly but cleaned daily and the button itself isn’t touched unless it stops working.
Is the pediatrician making this notation or gastro?