IV poles?

[WLodgeLizard]

Our DS receives his feedings at night thru his G-tube. We can pack the pump, but the IV pole would be tricky. We are staying at WLV. Any ideas on how to get a IV pole or rigging something else?

Thanks,

The Liz'

 

[Michigan]

They make telescoping IV poles that fold small enough to fit in a suitcase.

You could hang the feeding bag on a hanger and do the feedings by the closet

 

[joanchris]

Our DS receives his feedings at night thru his G-tube. We can pack the pump, but the IV pole would be tricky. We are staying at WLV. Any ideas on how to get a IV pole or rigging something else?

Thanks,

The Liz'

When we had our first pump, a Kangaroo, we initially used the iv pole. I hated it, it scratched the molding on the walls, kept moving etc. So I put a hook on the wall, near her bed for the feeding bag, and close enough to the ground so the pump could sit on the floor, then just ran the tubing up to her tummy.
When traveling, we would hang the pump in a drawer near the bed, but then when those cool 3M hooks came out, the ones that stick with special adhesive and remove cleanly? Can't recall the name now, but can find it if you dont' know what I'm talking about, I would use those in the hotel. Again, hang it near the floor or night stand and let the pump sit on the floor or night stand.
Have fun!

 

[SueM in MN]

When traveling, we would hang the pump in a drawer near the bed, but then when those cool 3M hooks came out, the ones that stick with special adhesive and remove cleanly? Can't recall the name now, but can find it if you dont' know what I'm talking about, I would use those in the hotel. Again, hang it near the floor or night stand and let the pump sit on the floor or night stand.
Have fun!

It's called Command Adhesive.
Here's a link to the 3M page.
One caution; when pulling them off, follow the removal directions exactly and they will come off cleanly without damage to the wall. I had one at work that I thought wasn't coming off, so instead of pulling down, I tired to pull it off. Bad idea. It pulled off and pulled some of the wallboard with it. So, just pull straight down like it says.
Also, you should be able to rent an IV pole from one of the medical supply places listed in the disABILITIES FAQs thread.

 

[MarieS]

We use a telescoping one when we travel. You can adjust the height on it and the wheels fold in. It's pretty light weight too.
We were only in the parks one day( trip cancelled due to family emergency), but I was able to tube feed my son at the first aid station. There was a cot for him to lay down and they had an IV pole for me to use too.

 

[pumpkinboy]

OK, so lots of new ideas for me. We head down in two weeks, but the first time since DS has had his G-tube. I was not even thinking of having a pole available. I like the closet door idea, and also the 3M Command adhesive hooks for the bag. He has a Kangaroo Pet pump which has worked great.

Now to figure out how to get everything we need for feedings into a carry-on...

 

[clkelley]

Now to figure out how to get everything we need for feedings into a carry-on...

Since it is medical equipment, you can have 10 carry-ons if you need it. Medical equipment is exempt from airline luggage restrictions.

Carol

 

[Densgirl]

Just another vote for the hooks for the wall here. We used them when DS had an NG tube for awhile. Also used ours with a Kangaroo pump. Works out really well.

 

[WLodgeLizard]

I think we'll try out the hooks before we leave.

 

[sejejoemmiev]

OK, so lots of new ideas for me. We head down in two weeks, but the first time since DS has had his G-tube. I was not even thinking of having a pole available. I like the closet door idea, and also the 3M Command adhesive hooks for the bag. He has a Kangaroo Pet pump which has worked great.

Now to figure out how to get everything we need for feedings into a carry-on...

We will be traveling in 2/2007. My daughter 8 months is overnight fed by her g-tube (zevex pump) and gets 3-4 bolus feeds by her pump over 1 1/2 hours. How did it go in Disney? Any suggestions for us? She is 100% g-tube fed. Thanks!!! Jessica

 

[Mickey'snewestfan]

We traveled a couple of times with my son's feeding pump. Once I hung the formula bag on the hanger on the head board of the bed, and ran the tube down to the pump in the charger on the floor and then back up to DS. The second time he wasn't using the pump during the day so I charged it during the day time and then packed it all in the backpack at night. Both options worked fine.

 

[WLodgeLizard]

Here's couple suggestions:

get the hooks at Home Depot, they see more "heavy duty" size
get some alcohol swabs to clean the surface before applying

 

[MissingMickey]

We have also used carabiner hooks and attached to lamps or even the packnplay. Depending on your child's mobility and what we call sticky fingers, you can just use a backpack and place it in the bed/crib/packnplay. Unless you are doing gravity feeds, it doesn't have to be up.

We used linkadoos to attach out travel pump backpack to our stroller (loop at top of backpack). Worked great. I threw a blanket over the pump for awhile just so it didn't draw too many eyes. Back in the day when DS was continuous fed on ng tube - his only trip to Disney. Worked really well for us. I guess you could do this in your room too if you had a stroller or wheelchair - just push it close to the bed/crib - again, depending on mobility and the sticky fingers.

 

[SueM in MN]

We have also used carabiner hooks and attached to lamps or even the packnplay.

I was just at Target today and noticed they have carabiner hooks in several sizes in the $1 area.

 

[pumpkinboy]

We will be traveling in 2/2007. My daughter 8 months is overnight fed by her g-tube (zevex pump) and gets 3-4 bolus feeds by her pump over 1 1/2 hours. How did it go in Disney? Any suggestions for us? She is 100% g-tube fed. Thanks!!! Jessica

Jessica, thanks for reviving this thread. I managed to forget completely about the adhesive hooks that time (and Feb '06 trip too); I'm going to get some next time I'm at the hardware store and stash them in the suitcase for the next trip.

We were in WDW with our pump and all the other stuff in both October and Febraury, and it worked really well. We ended up giving DS fewer, larger bolus feeds and a larger overnight (420cc twice during the day, and 660cc in the overnight drip), which suited touring schedules really well, and kept DS happy too. As with any tube feeding plan, it's all in what your child can handle. If she needs smaller more frequent feeds, it may be less convenient but it's better that she be comfortable during your trip. Figure out a feeding schedule that works and try to work out touring plans that will fit. We'll be there in Feb '07 as well (provided we can find decent airfare), so if you're there during Presidents' Day week, watch for us - or at least for the handsome readheaded 9 yr old boy in the cool wheelchair and a big smile (and redheaded dad and sister).

ETA: And next time, I think I'm just going to check a box of DS's food so we don't have to buy any there. With Magical Express it ought to simply show up in our room when we get there (we love DME!) and not have to schlep it. Of course we'll be bringning all the critical meds and devices in a carry-on so we have them at our fingertips, but stuff we could buy there, I'll just check and have deliver to us.

 

[dclfun]

Depending on your vendor there may be a local supplier that can deliver the tube feeding to your resort. I did this once for the Magic 14 night cruise since I needed a 1/2 case and it was in my stateroom when I arrived.---Kathy