Hello folks,
Jamie is 15 months old now and he has been loosing weight for the last 2 months because of his severe reflux, although we're giving him high calorie supplements (maltodextrin and duocal). I suppose he might be in for tube feeding and I'd like to hear some opinions on this before we consent to anything we don't know about.
If he'll get a tube it'll have to be one that goes into his small intestine, not his stomach, that would just cause him to reflux even more. I read the information offered on the feeding/nutrition page, but it wasn't very forthcoming on the diffenences between j-tubes and nj-tubes. And what about any drawbacks?
Thanks for any posts!

Richard/Switzerland
husb. to Saskia
dad to Nora-Jane/4,5yrs. & Jamie/15mo/DS/Gerdling

The differences are basically one is temporary, inserted through the nose and one is surgically inserted and more permanent.

There are drawbacks to each. The NJ can cause irritation to the nose, sinuses, and esophagus if used long term. Some say nasal tubes can increase reflux episodes b/c they hold the LES opened slightly. They can also cause oral/feeding aversions b/c the child associates discomfort and negative things with their face/mouth. They can also be a little difficult to place as they have to be threaded down through the first part of the small intestine and it must be done via an x-ray monitor. If it gets pulled out or dislodged it means another trip to the hospital to get it put back in.

The drawback of the J-tube is surgery. It's surgically inserted through a hole in the abdomen. It then means dealing with a stoma and all that goes with that. Possible leakage, etc.

The biggest drawback to both is continuous feeds. The jejunum is not a storage device like the stomach is and can not handle large volumes of food. Feeding via any type of J-tube means feeding slowly over several hours a day. Shae's for example runs for 20 straight hours everyday.

Neither way is without it's drawbacks. The decision on which is required should be made based on how long they think he will need to be tube fed.

Best of luck!

Hi Roni,
thanks for your promt reply.
I just went to see Shea Lynne's website - what a heart-wrenching story!
I'm thinking about getting your book. It hasn't been translated into Dutch or German by any chance? You see, I'd like to give it my wife (she doesn't speak English), because she's the one who's mostly affected by the GERD roller coaster.
And, hey, THANK YOU for all the work you're doing. It's beeing greatly appreciated - even on the other side of the big pond!
Warm regards,
Richard/Switzerland