Jonathan had his feeding button changed today.
Doctor Janice Wong {the Registrar} checked Jonathan's button first and said there was no need to change the size. Moreover, she said that it was probably time to change cos the silicon button would have started breaking after being used for more than a year.
She was pretty gentle except that the button was quite difficult to pull out after being in there for more than a year.
She inserted the small rod into the button hole where I fit the feeding tube in. She tried pulling out the first time but it didn't work. You know...when you try to pry something out, it doesn't come out, then the stomach flesh just kind of stretch with it? That's what happened.
I helped her press the flesh down and she twisted and turn and within a minute, the whole button was out {the mushroom part all covered in dark gooey stuff}. She covered the stomach hole with gauze cos blood was oozing out. She said it's ok cos the granulation tissue will bleed a little. Then she took the new button, put lots of gel on it and with the same rod again, straightened the button and inserted into Jonathan's stomach within a few seconds.
Jon was very good. He didn't struggle much. I let him listen to his wheel tape and a nurse held his legs. He said it was painful but half hour later he said he was ok.
He was so hungry! I got up at 6am to feed him. They allowed me to give him water around 11am before we changed the button. After everything over it was already 11.30am and we could give him some milk.
There's still a little bleeding. It's the stomach tissue but it's subsiding.
We are so proud of him.
Well...I've always wanted to show what the BARD button is really like. Too bad I don't have a clean one but this would do... :). A brand new one is clear silicon. Don't be affected by the sight...haha. I cleaned it up before taking pictures.
This is the actual button {above}.Size: 1.7cm {measured at the Shaft}. The mushroom looking part stays in the stomach. The bottom {that looks like the inverted "T"} sits nicely on the tummy. Because Jonathan didn't really grow too fat, we didn't have to change to a longer button.