Today I thought I would spend a bit of time interviewing my two sons about their feeding tubes. I affectionately refer to them at Linus (younger son) and Charlie Brown (older son).
Me: Linus, how are you feeling today?
Linus: Good.
Me: So, it's been a little over 2 weeks since your surgery to put in your feeding tube. How is your feeding tube site feeling?
Linus: Good. It is starting to feel like a part of my body ... sometimes.
Me: What is your favorite part about having a feeding tube?
Linus: I don't have to worry about how much I eat. I am happy I don't have to eat a certain amount each day. I can eat how much I want and stop when I want.
Me: What is your least favorite part of having a feeding tube?
Linus: NIGHTIME FEEDS!
Me: What did you feel or think when you heard you would be having a feeding tube?
Linus: I thought it may be very painful.
Me: Were you right or wrong?
Linus: Well when I woke up from surgery it kind of hurt a little bit but then it got better. But it didn't hurt like I thought it would.
Me: I know a lot of parents want to know and a lot of kids who are going to get tubes might like to know, what does it feel like for food to go into your tummy through your feeding tube?
Linus: Mostly I feel nothing. But if the food is cold my throat gets cold.
Me: What do you think of your cool tubie pads?
Linus: I think they are fun but sometimes they sting a little big when I put them on (this is because he is having a tubie issue that the pads are actually fixing, but we aren't fully healed with the complication yet).
Me; Are you glad your doctor wanted you to have a feeding tube?
Linus: Sort of.
Me: Do you think it will help you? How?
Linus: Mm hmm. I really think it's going to give me more energy.
Me: Is there anything you want to tell kids that are going to have to get a tube that might help them?
Linus: They put you to sleep so you can't feel it. I don't think it hurts bad, but let your Mom know and the nurse will bring you pain medicine.
Now we will move on to our older son, Charlie Brown. He has had his feeding tube almost 2 years, so his perspective might be a bit different, thus I will be asking him the same questions.
Me: Good morning, Charlie. How are you feeling today?
CB: I am feeling good.
Me: So, it's been almost 2 years since your surgery to put in your feeding tube. How is your feeding tube site feeling?
CB: It feels like there isn't a feeding tube site.
Me: What is your favorite part about having a feeding tube?
CB: It takes the medicine for me.
Me: What is your least favorite part of having a feeding tube?
CB: When I get a tube change.
Me: What did you feel or think when you heard you would be having a feeding tube?
CB: (pretends he faints) Crying and begging.
Me: How has that feeling changed?
CB: Now I would cry and beg to HAVE a feeding tube because I feel better. It's like a part of me, like my hair, my eyeball.
Me: I know a lot of parents want to know and a lot of kids who are going to get tubes might like to know, what does it feel like for food to go into your tummy through your feeding tube?
CB: It doesn't have a feeling.
Me: What do you think of your cool tubie pads?
CB: I don't care about tubie pads. I like them to be on, not off.
Me; Are you glad your doctor wanted you to have a feeding tube?
CB: Mm hmm.
Me: Do you think it has helped you? How?
CB: I think it has. It made me stronger.
Me: Is there anything you want to tell kids that are going to have to get a tube that might help them?
CB: Once you get used to it, it's like a part of your body. You get extra sleep because they put you to sleep to get the tube.
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