quote:

Originally posted by ANANTH:
Hello to all.
Last saturday night/sunday morning at around 0030 hours my peg tube decided to pack up one me and luckily I always keep spares at home in case of any such emergency. I had bought two pegs earlier in the year - on a normal peg yube and another called a low profile peg tube. That all was fine - Ihad the tube but no doctor as my treating doctor was out of station and was returning only on late sunday evening, which meant I would be without any kind of aid to take medication or even have water.
Between my wife Sonya, both my sons, Varun and Arjun and I we went from hospital to hospital and did not find one gastro who could do this three minute procedure. Finally I was so tired and fed up - that I decided to call it quits and went back home to wait for my doctor to get back. I was very thirsty and need to hydrate myself so I took the old peg that had popped itself out and jammed it back into my stomach (I do not recommend this to any one) and managed to "drink" the water I so badly required. The blood was flowing really free and I cleaned the wound first with a towel and then with a lot of betadine and savlon. I then used a lot of gauze and closed shut the socket. I was feeling good for a while with no pain.

My doctor arrived as on schedule and when he heard what had happened, I do not think he even waited to freshen himself after his long drive and rushed to my home and inserted the peg - the new kind also known as the low profile tube. It manafactured by Kimberly and is a boon for all those on pegs (not the temperory types though). I actually now feel good as its tompletely flat against my stomach with no tube dangling around. Whenever I need to use it - I just open the peg opening and screw on the tube for "eating' or "drinking" and then remove it for the time I dont need it. Its almost as if there is nothing on my stomach and at least now I can wear certain clothing which I could not earlier due to the tube. For all those who want to check it out can do so thru google seacrh. Just type gastro products by kimberly and bang you are there. The tube costs about US$ 155/- -a little more then the conventional one - but what the heck. After having spent so much money a few dollars more is not going to hurt very much and especially if it puts one at complete ease - both in terms of satisfaction and utility.
A lesson learnt - never ever try getting a gastro in India on a saturday night as they are all either partying or are sleeping and do not want to be disturbed regardless if the patient is dying and is in desperate need. I guess its the GREENBUCKS effect - where your coffee costs more then other places- but a place where one is willing to pay extra. These doctors love their expensive coffee and of course we pay for it. A small minor procedure like mine would not have fetched them even a small mug of coffee and hence it was not worth their while. However, again I do not say all doctors are alike as my treating Doctor, Ajay Bhalla, is one of the most dedicated doctors I have seen and always rushes to see patients who are not even under his care regardless of the time - night or day. More then often he does not even charge anything for his visit or help. I am sure there are more like them but I still have to come across one.
Well - all take care,
regards to all,
Ananth

PS : I do not recommend one tries and jam in his/her peg tube that has popped out as you may not enter it into the socket where it was. My socket pathway was clearly defined having been on the peg for eight years and could take a chance - but please do not try this on your own.