Month: January 2016

Even though the hot summer days are long gone, staying hydrated is still important. Water is essential for life, no matter the season.

While many of us make the connection between tube feeding and nutrition, feeding tubes are also vital in keeping those who need them, properly hydrated. Just as your health care provider reviews a feeding schedule with you and your loved ones, he/she should also discuss water intake. (Please note that the below information regarding water is just a suggestion and actual volumes and administration times should be discussed with your healthcare provider.)

Flushing your tube with water at key moments throughout your day is one of the easiest ways to contribute to your daily required water intake. You are essentially killing two birds with one stone—cleaning your feeding tube while providing hydration. Here are some common times flushing with water is required:

• Before feeding
• After feeding
• Before medications
• Between medications (if administering multiple)
• After medications

If you are on continuous feeds, it is typical to pump one bag of water through your tube in between bags of formula.

In addition to these hydration opportunities, your physician and/or dietician should review other times to give water and how much to give if flushing alone will not meet your minimum daily requirements.

While keeping to a schedule is key to preventing dehydration, it’s bound to happen from time-to-time. According to Nationwide Children’s Hospital, you may be dehydrated if…

1. You feel thirsty
2. Urine is dark yellow in color
3. You are passing urine less than twice a day

Similar to taking medications, we recommend keeping track of water administration through journaling.

How do you make sure you get enough water? Please share on our Facebook page!

An emergency situation is something no one wants to think about. That said, if you find yourself faced with one of these issues, you can save yourself some stress with a little planning and preparation.

If you have to make a quick get-away, have these things packed up and ready to go, so you can get out of the door at a moment’s notice:

• Extra device if using a MIC-KEY* G tube
• Change of clothes
• Various syringes
• Extension set
• Medication (one-day supply)
• A can or two of formula
• Feeding bag, if using a pump
• List of basic instructions, feeding and medication schedule and emergency contact information
• Cleaning supplies like gauze, cotton-tipped applicators and wet wipes
• Medical tape
• Water: distilled or sterile for the balloon and drinking water for hydration and flushing
• Important personal care items, such as a toothbrush, toothpaste, etc.

Lastly, leave a note on top of the bag with any reminders or additional things you will need to grab before heading out, like a feeding pump or refrigerated items. Don’t forget to review the plan of action with your family!

Have you prepared yourself and your family for emergency situations? We hope you’ll share your plan on our Facebook page.

*Registered Trademark or Trademark of Halyard Health, Inc. or its affiliates.  ©2015 HYH.  All rights reserved.

The New Year is a time of renewed focus and ambition for many.

If you haven’t set a resolution this year, here are a few ideas for those in the tube-feeding community:

• Making time for self-care—important for both feeding tube consumers and caregivers!
• Creating an organization system for feeding tube and medical supplies that is maintainable.
• Transitioning from canned formula to home-blended meals, provided your doctor approves.
• Having the confidence to get out and about more with your feeding tube—from dining out to traveling.

Whether you chose one of these goals or have another in mind, here are our top 5 tips for accomplishing your resolution:

1. Choose one. While you may have a long list of things you want to achieve this year, pick the one you feel is most important and focus on it.
2. Write it down. Whether a journal or a digital document, put your goal in writing to make it more tangible.
3. Create a plan with action commitments. Now that you’ve written down your goal, think of how you will achieve it and write that down, too. Be sure to highlight milestones throughout your plan that require specific actions. For example, if your goal is to make time for self-care, milestones may range from taking 20 minutes each day to read your favorite book to scheduling a monthly night out with your best friends or significant other.
4. Find an accountability partner. Support from others plays a vital role in keeping us focused and motivated on achieving our goal. Find someone with whom you can share your resolution and can help cheer you on along the way.
5. Reward Yourself. While the feeling of accomplishment is a reward in and of itself, treating yourself with small rewards along the way can help with motivation. For example, if your goal is to make more food at home, perhaps you can treat yourself to a new blender or recipe book, once you have reached a certain milestone. You deserve it!

Whether you started 2016 with a resolution in mind or are considering making one, we hope these ideas will set you up for success.

Have you established a 2016 goal? We’d love to hear them on our Facebook page!