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Tube Feeding: Living With a Feeding Tube

Table of Contents


Overview

Your body needs nutrition to stay strong and help you live a healthy life. If you're unable to eat or you have an illness that makes it hard to swallow food, you may need a feeding tube. The tube is used to put foods, liquids, and medicines into your stomach. You may have the tube for several weeks or months or longer. It depends on why you need it.

Having a feeding tube means learning new skills and routines. You'll learn how to use and care for the tube and avoid common problems. Keeping the tube clean is an important part of your care.


How do you use and care for a feeding tube?

Using a feeding tube

It's important that the food you use for tube feeding has the right blend of nutrients for you. And the food needs to be the correct thickness so the tube doesn't clog. For most people, a liquid formula that you can buy in a can works best for tube feeding. Your doctor or dietitian will help you find the right formula to use.

Using the tube to take medicines

Here are some tips for taking medicines through your feeding tube.

Caring for the tube

Here are some tips for caring for a feeding tube.

Avoiding common problems

Here are some common problems that can occur with a feeding tube and tips for avoiding them.


Credits for Tube Feeding: Living With a Feeding Tube

Current as of: September 20, 2023

Author: Healthwise Staff (https://www.healthwise.org/specialpages/legal/abouthw/en)
Clinical Review Board (https://www.healthwise.org/specialpages/legal/abouthw/en)
All Healthwise education is reviewed by a team that includes physicians, nurses, advanced practitioners, registered dieticians, and other healthcare professionals.


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