Caring for your gastrostomy tube

Information about gastrostomy tube drainage

Figure 1. Gastrostomy drainage tube

A gastrostomy drainage tube is a tube that is placed in the stomach to drain stomach acids and fluids (see Figure 1). This helps relieve nausea and vomiting associated with intestinal obstruction. This will make you feel more comfortable.

Gastrostomy tubes come in different types. Depending on the type of tube, it may have different connections. Your nurse will tell you about the type of gastrostomy tube you have. Your nurse will also give you the following supplies to take home:

• 1 package of gauze pads 4 x 4 inches (10 x 10 cm);
• 1 spool of adhesive, 1 inch (2.5 cm) wide;
• 1 syringe with a volume of 60 ml for rinsing;
• 2 drainage bags;
• 2 gastrostomy tube plugs;
• 1 Cath-Secure® patch;
• 1 Polyderm™ dressing.

Your doctor may also prescribe pain medicine to relieve discomfort around the gastrostomy tube insertion site.

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What nutritionists say

Qualified nutritionists advise using drainage drinks when losing weight only as directed by a doctor. It is important to conduct a medical examination that will confirm the presence of excess fluid in the body and the absence of contraindications. Otherwise, they will cause dehydration and other dangerous complications.

Taking drainage drinks at home should be combined with a healthy diet. This is not about a strict diet, but about a healthy, balanced diet that does not contain high-calorie foods.

The duration of use of drainage drinks when losing weight should not exceed 7 days. Otherwise, beneficial substances and necessary fluid will be washed out of the body.

Experts also advise physical activity while taking drainage drinks. When muscles work, the flow of lymph is normalized, then stagnant processes disappear faster, and the liquid is evenly distributed throughout the body.

Marina Maksimova, nutritionist

According to a nutrition specialist, drainage drinks when losing weight can be harmful to health if consumed incorrectly. The first thing to do is consult a doctor. After all, if the patient does not have excess fluid in the body, then such drinking will only worsen his condition.

The doctor also advises not to forget about contraindications (kidney disease, gall bladder, peptic ulcer, etc.). Drinking drinks that remove fluid may aggravate the condition. Pregnant and lactating women should definitely consult a gynecologist before such an experiment.

If a doctor has approved the use of drainage drinks at home, then you need to use them in courses. Indiscriminate use of drainage mixtures will not bring the desired effect.

The nutritionist claims that when losing weight, drinks should be combined with proper nutrition and exercise. It is important to exclude alcohol and salty foods from your diet.

Mikhail Gavrilov, nutritionist

An experienced doctor also advises starting to take drainage drinks at home after consulting a doctor. The components of ready-made and homemade products remove excess liquid and help quickly dispose of salts and toxins. However, they can get rid of water, which is not at all superfluous in the body. Then the person suffers from dehydration and lack of nutrients in the body. This is especially noticeable during the hot season, during grueling training or heavy physical work. Then the person feels dry mouth, weakness, dizziness, etc.

After using drainage mixtures, you really manage to get rid of several kilograms in the first days. But weight is lost due to the loss of fluid, not fat tissue. M. Gavrilov advises not to take drainage drinks as a diet pill. These mixtures need to be combined with proper nutrition and cardio exercise.

Margarita Koroleva, nutritionist

The specialist explains how to choose ready-made drainage drinks for use at home:

1. Study the label.
2. Read reviews about the product, regardless of its price and brand.
3. Do not buy drainage drinks from dubious online stores and resellers.
4. Check the quality certificate in the register of drugs and dietary supplements registered in Russia.
5. Before taking the drug, consult your doctor.

To achieve sustainable weight loss, adjust your diet and exercise regularly.

Caring for the skin around the gastrostomy tube insertion site

Examine your skin

Carefully inspect the skin around the gastrostomy tube insertion site every day. If you notice redness, swelling, or pus (thick, yellow, or white discharge), tell your healthcare provider.

Cleanse your skin

Cleanse your skin daily as directed below.

1. Remove the old dressing from around the gastrostomy tube. It is normal for the dressing to be stained with liquid or mucus. Dried blood and crusting around the gastrostomy tube insertion site are also normal.
2. Wash the skin around the tube insertion site with soap and water, removing fluids and crusts. Gently pat it dry.
3. Cover the insertion site with a 4 x 4 inch (10 x 10 cm) gauze pad or Polyderm foam dressing.
4. Bend the tube into a ring and secure it with regular tape or Cath-Secure tape.

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Contraindications

Among the contraindications for using drainage tea for weight loss are:

1. Childhood and adolescence;
2. The period of gestation and lactation;
3. Lack of body weight;
4. Disorders of the digestive tract and urinary system;
5. High ambient temperatures.

It is impossible to violate the rules for taking drainage drinks, since they have a strong diuretic effect. Excess moisture removed will lead to serious damage that will take a long time to restore.

Don't forget about allergic reactions. If you already have a proven allergy to any substance, you should take new medications with caution. It is possible that an ingredient will trigger an immune response in the body.

Caring for the drainage bag

Emptying the drainage bag

Empty the drainage bag when it is ⅓ to ½ full full or approximately every 8 hours, whichever comes first.

Cleaning and replacing the drainage bag

Clean the drainage bag once a day if you eat soft foods. If you are not eating, clean the bag every 3-4 days.

To empty the bag:

1. Mix 1 part white vinegar with 3 parts cold water.
2. Soak the bag in this solution for 10-15 minutes.
3. Let it dry.

When you clean and dry the bag and your gastrostomy tube is plugged (no fluid comes out), you may feel nauseous and have some discomfort. If you feel discomfort, connect another bag.

Change the bag once a week.

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Drainage drinks at home

Pharmacy copies are sold ready-made; you just need to brew them and drink them.
However, many are of the opinion that for health and beauty, these healthy drinks should be made with your own hands. Drainage tea for weight loss at home is very easy to make - just follow the classic recipe.

Honey drink

A drainage drink for weight loss based on honey is the most popular in terms of frequency of use. Preparing honey drainage is a very easy process, besides, honey is very healing and saturates with microelements. Thanks to honey, the body actively gets rid of harmful toxins and blood cells are rejuvenated.

Cooking diagram:

1. Prepare a glass of water at room temperature in advance;
2. Dissolve one spoon of honey in water;
3. Add lemon juice to the resulting mixture in a dosage of one teaspoon.

The resulting composition can be used three times a day, half an hour before main meals. If you take birch infusion instead of water, the effectiveness of the drink will increase significantly. The infusion is easy to prepare - pour a glass of boiling water over a handful of birch leaves. After 15 minutes the infusion is ready.

Do not forget that if there are pathological reactions of the body to honey and its products, it is prohibited to use such a drink.

Berry drink

Even if you don’t know what drainage tea is and how to prepare it from berries, you can easily learn it. The main ingredients are berries, most often currants and strawberries. However, if it is possible to use lingonberries, blueberries or raspberries, then you can use them too.

Look at the same topic: What is the lemonade diet and how to lose weight on it?

Cooking diagram:

1. Take a tablespoon of dried berries and a handful of leaves of the selected berry;
2. Pour a glass of boiling water and simmer over low heat for 15 - 20 minutes;
3. Place the resulting broth under a warm towel and leave for about three hours;
4. Strain the drink before drinking;
5. Drink half a glass of the drink half an hour after meals.

This drainage tea for weight loss will be beneficial not only in eliminating extra pounds. It is also a whole complex of useful substances necessary for the human body.

Parsley

This vitamin herb has an excellent diuretic effect. It can be used not only as a means of losing weight, but also for edema of various etiologies. You need to use the parsley drink strictly according to the scheme - three times a day before main meals for one week.

It’s easy to prepare this drainage tea for swelling. Just finely chop a bunch of parsley and pour a glass of boiling water over it. After 15 minutes the tea is ready, you need to strain and cool slightly. Take as you would other similar remedies.

Flushing the gastrostomy tube

Your doctor may give you instructions on how to flush your gastrostomy tube. In this case, follow the instructions below.

• Flush your gastrostomy tube at least once a day. You may need to flush it more often if: it becomes clogged with stomach acid or mucus.
• you feel nauseous;
• you feel full and it doesn't go away when you sit down.

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Options for ready-made solutions in the pharmacy

The most popular pharmaceutical preparation with a draining effect is Turboslim Drainage based on cherry stem extract. The product also contains an extract from cassia, fennel, artichoke and other components that cleanse the body and promote weight loss at home. And thanks to guarana, the body's tone is maintained at a normal level.

From one bottle of Turboslim you can get 5 liters of drink, which you need to drink throughout the day. The course lasts from 5 to 10 days.

The second drug that is often used for weight loss is Effilin. It has a drainage effect and normalizes digestion. The composition contains black radish extract, which stimulates the production of digestive juice. Artichoke promotes the formation and flow of bile. With regular use, the drink relieves bloating and heaviness in the stomach.

Both drinks are dietary supplements, so you should use them when losing weight at home only after consulting a doctor. The fact is that they have a pronounced diuretic and laxative effect. This means that weight is reduced due to the removal of excess water and toxins, rather than fat. For this reason, they can be taken no longer than 10-14 days. Typically, the lost weight comes back.

Ready-made drainage mixtures are best used to prevent swelling and digestive disorders. However, they have contraindications. It is forbidden to drink Effilin if you have gastritis or liver diseases due to the presence of radish in the composition. Turboslim acts more delicately, but can also cause adverse reactions.

Eating and drinking while wearing a gastrostomy tube

• Your doctor will tell you when you can start drinking clear liquids after the procedure. Clear liquids include drinks such as ginger ale, apple juice, coffee, tea, broth, popsicles, and jellies (such as Jell-O®).
• Sit up when eating or drinking so that food and liquids can drain into the bag. Remain seated for 20 to 30 minutes after eating. If you don't do this, you may feel nauseous. If you feel sick, check to see if your gastrostomy tube is kinked. You should feel better after this.
• Once you can drink clear liquids without any problems, gradually introduce other liquids into your diet. If no problems have arisen within 2 days, you can start eating soft or pureed foods. Grind the products in a blender or food processor until pureed. For more information, see Guidelines for Puréed and Mechanical Diets.
• If you eat food that has not been pureed, it must be eaten in very small pieces and chewed thoroughly. Eat very small portions at a time. Don't eat more than 4 cups of foods or drink more than 1 liter (33.8 ounces) of liquids in a 24-hour period. Every time you eat or drink, you will lose important nutrients. This occurs because they leak into the drainage bag along with food or liquids. A member of your healthcare team will teach you how to eat healthy.

Most of what you eat and drink will flow through the tube into the drainage bag. For example, if you eat red jelly, the drainage in the bag will be red. Stomach juice will drain into the drainage bag even if you haven't eaten. The color of the gastric juice will vary from green to dark yellow.

Most patients need intravenous fluids while staying at home to prevent dehydration. To give fluids, you may have an implantable port (such as a Mediport®) or another IV access device, such as a central venous catheter (CVC). If you need intravenous access, your doctor will discuss the possibility of getting one with you while you are in the hospital.

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How does drainage tea work?

Drinks with a draining effect are teas that help cope with cellulite and extra pounds. But the effect of tea is not limited to this:

• drainage drink has a positive effect on the digestive system;
• When consumed regularly, drainage tea promotes fat burning processes;
• it also “drives away” harmful substances from the body;
• normalizes blood microcirculation;
• accelerates the process of food processing, stimulates the gastrointestinal tract and helps nutrients, vitamins and other components to be absorbed much faster;
• removes all excess fluid, thus relieving swelling.

Drainage tea stimulates the outflow of lymph, the water-salt balance also returns to normal, as a result of which fluid in the body no longer stagnates. This effect manifests itself not only in the upper layers of the skin, but literally envelops all organs! Additionally, tea triggers fat burning processes and promotes weight loss.

Important! You can hardly expect a drainage effect and weight loss, like any other positive effect, from green or black tea bags bought in a store. Even high-quality manufacturers, after gaining popularity, often begin to dilute good raw materials with production waste.

Tell your doctor or nurse right away if you have:

• temperature rises to 101°F (38.3°C) or higher;
• trembling or chills appeared;
• the gastrostomy tube has become dislodged or fallen out;
• there are signs of bleeding;
• pain appeared at the insertion site of the tube, which does not go away after taking the medicine;
• nausea or vomiting that is worse than usual;
• there is redness, swelling, wetting, or pus in the skin around the tube insertion site;
• your gastrostomy tube is leaking, or you have to change your dressings more than 3 times a day.

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Pharmacy drains

Drainage teas for weight loss in pharmacies are not inferior in their effects to drinks prepared with your own hands. Sometimes they even win because their composition is selected specifically for a specific task. Like other supplements used for a specific purpose, they require reading the instructions before use.

See the same topic: The magical “Hollywood Diet” for weight loss for 14 days

Tea "Fat Burning Complex"

This drink is designed specifically to enhance fat burning.
Such drainage teas for cellulite are designed to get rid of excess fluid in the body and reduce the amount of fat deposits. In addition, suppressing the feeling of hunger is an important element. Making tea is easy - just brew one filter bag with boiling water and wait a few minutes. Can be taken up to three times a day. The duration of the course is no more than 10 days, after which you should take a break.

Tea "Turboslim - cleansing"

Another option for drainage tea at the pharmacy. The drink of this brand is aimed at gentle cleansing and removing excess liquid. In combination with this, a gentle cleansing of the intestines occurs.

The method of use is the same as for other herbal drainage teas - pour boiling water into one filter bag, infuse and drink. You can use two sachets per day, course 10 days. Do not forget about individual intolerance to the elements in the composition and carefully study the composition.

Teabreeze "Drainage"

This anti-cellulite drainage tea is sold everywhere in the pharmacy. Due to its natural composition and low price, it is widely used among buyers. It contains anti-inflammatory, decongestant, laxative herbs that act in combination.

The peculiarity of this tea is that all its ingredients grow in Russia, so there are very few allergic reactions when consuming it.

Use two to three sachets per day, before meals. The course lasts no more than two weeks. Then follows a month-long break.

Recipes for making drinks at home

It is quite easy to prepare drainage at home. The preparation process does not take much time, so you can always make a fresh cocktail so that the ingredients in it do not lose their beneficial properties. There are many options for preparing drainage.

Berry

It is recommended to prepare healthy drainage from ingredients such as currants and strawberries. These berries contain a high concentration of vitamins. In addition, they have a laxative effect, and this will help in additional cleansing of the intestines and getting rid of excess pounds. The use of berry drainages will be useful for those people who, when switching to a diet, experience such a side effect as frequent constipation.

Recipe for making berry drainage: 2 tbsp. Pour 1 cup of boiling water over pre-dried strawberries and add a couple of crushed strawberry leaves into the cocktail. Leave for several hours, strain. Take 1 tbsp. 15 minutes before meals.

Currant drainage is prepared according to a similar recipe, only with a difference in the dosage of application - drink a 100 ml cocktail three times a day.

Using this simple recipe, you can prepare berry drainages based on other favorite fruits.

Vegetables

The advantage of using vegetable drainages is that they satiate well and suppress the feeling of hunger for a long time. This effect is ensured due to the fact that vegetables have a high concentration of fiber, which includes a minimal amount of calories, but fills the stomach. Vegetables have a beneficial effect on the digestive system and the entire body.

Recommended ingredients for preparing vegetable drainages: cucumbers and carrots, celery and beets. To prevent the vegetable drink from seeming too cloying, it can be diluted with an apple or citrus juice. The addition of a small amount of greens will make the taste of the drink even more rich.

Vegetable drainage is prohibited from being stored for future use or stored for a long time. Vegetables quickly lose their beneficial properties; the amount of vitamins and mineral elements in them decreases.

Cooking recipes:

1. A parsley drink will help quickly remove toxins from the body and eliminate hunger. In addition, parsley has a beneficial effect on the immune system. Cut off the parsley stems, finely chop the leaves and crush in a mortar to extract the juice. The resulting juice must be poured into a glass of just boiled water, heat the liquid in a water bath, but do not allow it to boil. If water with parsley juice begins to boil, the drink will lose all its beneficial properties. It is recommended to drink the cocktail before breakfast; eating is allowed only 2 hours after this.
2. Garlic drainage with ginger and lemon. Grind fresh or dried ginger root and crush the garlic. Mix 1 tsp. ginger, 1 chopped garlic clove, 1 tsp. lemon juice and pour boiling water. To make the cocktail taste better, you can add 1 tsp. honey The drink is a good tonic and invigorating, so it is better to drink it in the morning or in the first half of the day, slightly warmed up.
3. Mix lemon juice in equal proportions with rosehip syrup (you can buy it at the pharmacy), add 2 small rings of red pepper to the liquid, pour boiling water over it. Leave to infuse until the liquid has cooled. Drink the resulting volume of the cocktail in small sips throughout the day.
4. The healthiest and most satisfying drink with a minimum amount of calories and maximum benefits for the body: take any vegetables of your choice (it is recommended to give preference to green fruits - cucumbers, celery, cabbage). Finely chop a few selected vegetables and squeeze the juice out of them, mix in a blender. To make the drink even more effective, it is recommended to add a few tablespoons of beet juice to the resulting mixture.

Honey

The simplest and most effective recipe for preparing healthy drainage based on honey:

• 1 tbsp. lemon juice;
• 1 tsp liquid honey (if the product is already candied, it can be melted in a water bath or in the microwave);
• 200 ml water.

Combine all the taken ingredients. Heat the water for the drink slightly, just enough to melt the honey. You cannot dissolve honey in hot water, especially in boiling water, because... the product loses all its beneficial properties and even begins to release substances that are dangerous to the body. Drink the cocktail 15–30 minutes before your main meal.

Sources used:

• https://dieta4y.ru/drenazhnyj-chaj.html
• https://allslim.ru/4-drenajnyie-napitki-dlya-pohudeniya-v-domashnih-usloviyah.html
• https://dietolog.guru/pohudenie-s-preparatami/drenazhnyy-chay-domashnie-recepty-napitkov-dlya-pohudeniya.html
• https://fb.ru/article/191851/drenajnyiy-napitok-dlya-pohudeniya-polza-i-vliyanie-na-organizm-retseptyi-naturalnyih-drenajnyih-napitkov
• https://gercules.fit/diety/blyuda-i-napitki/drenazhnye-napitki-dlya-pohudeniya-v-domashnih-usloviyah.html
• https://gidbody.ru/problemy-s-vesom/dieticheskie-bljuda/napitki/drenazh-dlja-pohudenija