I want to be prepared in case the doctor recommends a feeding tube for my brother whose electrolytes go out of balance, particularly sodium level. He ends up becoming dehydrated; additionally he suffers back to back bladder infections and fever, probably from the foley catheter he must use.
Way too many questions.
My husband refused a feeding tube, and I am so glad he did.
The decision is highly personal and there is no one-size-fits-all answer.
Some factors to consider:
1) What does Brother want? If he is no in his right mind at this point, do you have any evidence of what he wanted when he was able to make his own decisions?
2) Would this be temporary, until he recovers enough to eat on his own? Or would this continue the rest of his life?
3) How important is food to your Brother. Is he a real "foodie"? Or someone who eats just because he has to, but won't mind skipping it?
4) Is Brother in an end-of-life stage? What is his prognosis?
5) How old is Brother?
6) Does Brother have dementia or other cognitive issues?
There are lots of things to take into consideration.Do a little research via Google and try to find information applicable to the situation your brother is in.
I am accustomed to seeing electrolyte imbalances and dehydration corrected with IV's, rather than feeding tubes. If something could be corrected with an IV, I would certainly be in favor.
I am missing something here probably. I was wondering why he might need a feeding tube. Please tell us more about your concerns.