So you're new to feeding tubes - maybe you or your little on just had one placed, or you're researching before your surgery - and you need to know what you'll need once you transition home.  

Here's a list of things to get before you leave the hospital!  {Click HERE for a free printable!}

ORDERS:

1. Feed rates, HOW FAST to increase, HOW OFTEN to feed and GOALS.  Initial rates often come from the GI or Surgery Team.  The hospital nutritionist can help determine calorie/water goals.  Often times the GI Team takes over feeding orders once you leave the hospital.  TIP:  Gather your information and choose ONE person on your team to call the shots when it comes to feeding goals.  
2. Post Op Concerns:  
   1. When to resume "normal" activity including baths
   2. Dressing changes
   3. Stitch removal, etc.
3. Meds:  
   1. If you have added/changed meds you'll want written orders on how to administer them, including post-surgery pain medicines!  
   2. If continuing old meds after feeding tube placement now is a great time to ask if any adjustments for weight need to be made.
4. General Tube Care:  
   1. HOW to check the water in a balloon button and HOW OFTEN (usually weekly)
   2. What to do if the tube comes out (ask for a "red rubber" tube to keep the stoma open until you can get to the emergency room if they do not want you to put in a new tube yourself)

RXs:  A new feeding tube may be your introduction to working with a durable medical equipment (DME) company.  If your hospital system has their own company and you are in their service area it may be easiest for you to choose that company for your feeding tube equipment and nutrition as the hospital can coordinate your supplies for you.  Often times, they will be able to have your equipment in your hands before you leave the hospital.  If not, you may need to tell them which company you would like to work with.  In either case, make sure you get RX's for these items and have them on the way to your home BEFORE you get there!  

1. FOOD!  Make sure to get RXs for any formulas, pedialyte, etc. that you will be using!
2. Medications:  Refill any old medicines and get copies of any new RXs
3. Replacement G-Tube.  Most insurance providers allow for 1 new tube every 3 months.  Make sure you get one to keep at home!  
4. Extension tubing.  Many insurance providers allow for 1 new extension per week.  If you have an AMT GJ you will need extensions for both the "G" and "J" port as they are different!
5. Feeding Pump.  We love the Infinity because it is small, lightweight, does NOT require you to hang the food bag on a pole, and can handle blended diets.  Infinity Pumps and Joey Pumps should also come with a small backpack.  All pumps should come with chargers and IV pole clamps.
6. Feeding bags for your pump.  You should receive 1 bag per day.  Ask the hospital if they have an extra bag or two for you if you will be waiting for supplies!  See Also: Benefits of Using Coolers for G-Tube Feeds
7. Syringes:  We recommend rinsing and saving syringes used during your hospital stay to build up your stash at home!  Syringes are a huge part of Tubie Life!
   1. 60ml syringes for "bolus" feeds, venting, and pushing water
   2. Small oral syringes for medications (we liked 1ml, 5ml, and 10ml)
   3. The syringe needed to check water on your specific G-Tube:  the hospital may be able to send you home with a handful of them!
   4. "Christmas Tree" adapters.  You probably won't need these often, but they are nice to keep on hand!
8. IV Pole.  You'll want one of these for home, even if you don't use it for every feed.
9. Dressings, etc:  Get an RX and get these in your monthly DME shipments!
   1. 2x2 split gauze
   2. Tape, duoderm/tegaderm
   3. Barrier cream for tube site - we love calmoseptine!  ILEX is also a good choice, although it is really goopy!  
   4. Long swab applicators (q-tips).  The long handle is handy for cleaning tube sites.
   5. Surgilast Dressing is handy to support the weight of new tubes
   6. Surgilube packets for tube changes
   7. Adhesive remover
10. Farrell Bags, if using to vent during continuous feeds

FOLLOW UP APPOINTMENTS:

1. If at all possible, make follow-up appointments before you leave the hospital.  This includes your follow-up with the Surgery Team, your GI, Nutritionist, Primary Care Providers and/or Feeding Therapists.  It is easier to make these appointments before you are home trying to adjust to your new schedule!

{Click HERE for a free printable!}
Good luck on your journey!
Your Team Russcher Family


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Hi Team Russcher fans!  

One of the most common questions we get in our shop is "How do I pick a g-tube pad thickness?"  

When making your pad selection, you'll want to pay attention to the space between the button and stoma, and the desired absorbency.

​Space Between the Button and Stoma

This is probably the most important thing to consider when choosing a pad thickness.  To help you decide you can use split gauze (2x2's) to help you measure.

Our THIN G-tube pads are made of two layers of fabric - a cotton print "topper" and a layer of soft flannel, or in some cases two layers of print flannel (no cotton topper).  THIN pads are comparable to one layer of split gauze.

Our THICK G-tube pads consist of three layers of fabric - a cotton topper and two layers of flannel, or three layers of print flannel with no topper.  THICK pads are comparable to two layers of split gauze.

Our EMBROIDERED circle g-tube pads are available in XTRA THICK!  These pads have a cotton topper, two layers of flannel and one layer of fleece.  They are comparable to three layers of gauze.

​Desired Absorbency

The second thing to consider when choosing a pad thickness is your desired absorbency.  Like adding layers of split gauze, the added layers of flannel in our THICK and XTRA THICK G-Tube Pads increase the absorbency of the pads.  

We hope this quick comparison helps answer your G-Tube pad questions. 

Thank you for stopping by!

​Team Russcher

When you look through our website and our shop on Etsy you'll see that the majority of our items are Custom Made.  

What's the big deal about Custom Made?  

Well... We'll tell you :)

Custom made allows us to make the Gtube Belt you've ordered fit like a glove.  We allow you to order the exact length you need (with a little Room to Grow if needed).  We allow you to customize your width too!  For Adult belts, this option is found right on the order form in our Etsy shop.  For all others - send us a message! Trying to cover separate G and J tubes?  We can do that.  Is your tube off-center due to your anatomy?  We have you covered. We love being able to fit every tubie!

Custom made let's you pick your favorite print!  We confess: we have a huge fabric stash. Much larger than what is listed on our order forms.  And it changes all the time!  If you don't find exactly what you are looking for on our listings we are happy to try to find that PERFECT print that will make your Tubie (or yourself!) smile each and every time they see it.  We want your feeding tube accessories to be FUNCTIONAL AND FUN to use.  Custom orders allow us to do that!

Custom made allows you to order 20 Gtube pads and specify exactly what prints you want.  10 of one print and 10 of another?  You've got it.  4 sets of 5?  Sure!  20 different pads so you are sure to have one for every possible mood (or outfit).  WHY NOT!?  You can't do that with most ready-to-ship shops.  And you for sure can't get them in different thicknesses too!  

I LOVE getting to know you!  I do!  I love when you include a small part of your story in a private message or in your order notes.  I love knowing your sweet baby's name, what challenges she might be facing, what victories she's had!  And I love putting together the PERFECT Gtube Gear Set just for her.  I was a Tubie Mom.  I get it.  And I'm rooting for you.

But Custom Made items do have their drawbacks.  

I have to get great input from you, the customer, to make sure your items arrive exactly as you've envisioned them.  For items like coolers and belts gathering this information is usually quite simple:  you only need to select your choices from the drop-down menus as you place your order.  For other items, like our 12 pack Value G-Tube Pad Sets, you may also need to give me some print guidelines outside of the ordering menus (this is done in the "Message to Seller" sections during checkout).  Ready-to-ship items definitely win for ease-of-ordering because sizes and patterns are determined for you.

And the big one - TIME.  Custom Orders take time to create!  Currently, custom orders are shipping between 2 and 3 weeks from the time of order in the order they are received.  We do realize that things come up in the Special Needs world - new surgeries, new medical equipment, new feeding regimens - and you don't always have 2-3 weeks to wait.  We've been there.  To make sure we can process these immediate needs as fast as possible without getting behind on other orders we're happy to be able to offer a "Rush Order" option in our Etsy Shop (and soon here on teamrusscher.com).  Essentially, the Rush Order fee allows you to skip the line and get your order within a week!  You can learn more about this great option HERE.   

So there you have it - all the reasons why we love providing you with the highest quality custom made Gtube Gear.  Thank you so much for allowing us to be a small part of your feeding tube journey.

-MR