Feeding Tubes Are A Gross Blessing

Macayla has had a good week, although her feeding tube has given her some fits. It has been bleeding like crazy because of granulation. We cauterized it with silver nitrate. (These are sticks, which look like long matches and have a chemically reactive tip. The tip "burns" the extra tissue that forms around the tube so it can fall away.) Don't worry, we give her pain meds and apply lidocaine to the area first. But even with those on board, she still hurt. After we treated it, she kept bleeding off and on until last night. It also is time to change out the tube. I hope to change it this morning before she eats and see if the actual track is clear or not. This is the problem. I don't know if I can do this without puking! Changing it is not the problem, but looking down into the open track and applying silver nitrate is. Ugggggh!

I thank God for her feeding tube as it obviously keeps her alive, but it can still give me the willies!