Ok...about this tube removal....

phrannie51
phrannie51 Member Posts: 4,716
edited November 2012 in Head and Neck Cancer #1
After FINALLY getting the two Dr.'s to communicate in the way that made them each happy, I finally got my appointment to get my tube removed. They gave me my choice...to have anithesia when they pull it out (no driving no work for the rest of the day)...OR, just suck it up and have them pull it without anything....I chose the later. They said it was like a "bee sting" (Dr.'s seem to compare everything to a bee sting, don't ya think??). Hubby said "well, none of them have had it done, so they actually may mean a 40 pound hornet sting."

I'm nervous now...how bad did it hurt? I get it pulled on the 9th.

p
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Comments

  • staceya
    staceya Member Posts: 720
    #2
    YEAH!!
    Congratulations!
    I am so proud of your stength!
  • katenorwood
    katenorwood Member Posts: 1,912
    #3
    40lb hornet sting..lol
    Phrannie,
    I know nothing on this issue, other than to tell you that you've been one tough cookie throughout everything ! I am amazed at your strenghth and attitude. Glad to hear it's coming out ! Thinking of you ! Katie
  • VivianLee5689
    VivianLee5689 Member Posts: 546
    #4
    katenorwood said:

    40lb hornet sting..lol
    Phrannie,
    I know nothing on this issue, other than to tell you that you've been one tough cookie throughout everything ! I am amazed at your strenghth and attitude. Glad to hear it's coming out ! Thinking of you ! Katie

    I'm a puney human
    That being said I would want something to calm my nerves. I tip my hat off to you for your bravery. You are one tough cookie.
  • Mikemetz
    Mikemetz Member Posts: 465 Member
    #5
    Get a heads up from the doctor
    Kate's description of this as a sting from a 40-lb hornet is pretty accurate--well, maybe a 10-lb one! It does sting, but not for long. My advice would be to make sure the doctor tells you when he/she's going to pull, so you can be ready. I wasn't told, and the sting plus the loud "Pop" took me by surprise, which took my breath away a bit and I think hurt more.

    Consider it another positive sign that you're on the way to a full recovery--congratulations!

    mike
  • Pam M
    Pam M Member Posts: 2,196
    #6
    You Got a Choice?
    Great! I think almost all of us were wide awake for the tube removal. I was an exception. When I asked about the possiblity of having it without drugs, I got an absolutely not - the nurse acted like other people must have barbarians for docs. It was just as well - I got a two-fer while I was out - tube removal and throat dilation. Everyone I recall said that their removal was intense for a few moments.

    Yay, you! Getting rid of the tube is wonderful.
  • Laralyn
    Laralyn Member Posts: 532
    #7
    It was recent enough...
    ...that I remember what it was like! :-)

    Before I say anything else, I'm assuming you have the same kind I did, which I think was the collapsible kind. Basically it folds when there is pressure pulling it out. You might want to confirm that's the kind you have to help you decide.

    I didn't have any anesthesia. It took about 5 seconds (literally) to have it pulled. The doctor said he would count to three and when he reached three, he waited for me to nod before he pulled. It was a sudden, sharp pain that was strong enough to make my eyes tear up, but not enough that I actually cried. Imagine if you took a tee shirt, pulled it fairly taut, and cut a nickel-shaped hole in it... then pulled a quarter through that hole. That's essentially what happens--it hurts because your skin stretches and bleeds for a few minutes, then it contracts back right away.

    I remember thinking "OW!" for about 30 seconds afterward while the doctor held dressing on it. It felt a little sore as they taped bandages to it. The rest of the day, I was tender if I bent over or stretched pretty far.

    For me, the pain was minimal compared to what we all went through with radiation and chemo. Yes, it hurt, but it really is a sharp pain that's over quickly. The tenderness afterward is probably about the same whether you have anesthesia or not, so if you have the same kind, it's really about whether you are in a state where more pain sounds OK. I think it's a personal thing, and timing can make a difference. It took me long enough to be able to eat again that I was about 4 months past treatment when mine was pulled, so I felt all right about it. If it had been closer to treatments, when I was still really tired and still trying to recover, I would have felt differently.

    Let me know if you have any more questions, and I'd be glad to answer. I can definitely say it feels GREAT to have the tube out!
  • phrannie51
    phrannie51 Member Posts: 4,716
    #8
    Laralyn said:

    It was recent enough...
    ...that I remember what it was like! :-)

    Before I say anything else, I'm assuming you have the same kind I did, which I think was the collapsible kind. Basically it folds when there is pressure pulling it out. You might want to confirm that's the kind you have to help you decide.

    I didn't have any anesthesia. It took about 5 seconds (literally) to have it pulled. The doctor said he would count to three and when he reached three, he waited for me to nod before he pulled. It was a sudden, sharp pain that was strong enough to make my eyes tear up, but not enough that I actually cried. Imagine if you took a tee shirt, pulled it fairly taut, and cut a nickel-shaped hole in it... then pulled a quarter through that hole. That's essentially what happens--it hurts because your skin stretches and bleeds for a few minutes, then it contracts back right away.

    I remember thinking "OW!" for about 30 seconds afterward while the doctor held dressing on it. It felt a little sore as they taped bandages to it. The rest of the day, I was tender if I bent over or stretched pretty far.

    For me, the pain was minimal compared to what we all went through with radiation and chemo. Yes, it hurt, but it really is a sharp pain that's over quickly. The tenderness afterward is probably about the same whether you have anesthesia or not, so if you have the same kind, it's really about whether you are in a state where more pain sounds OK. I think it's a personal thing, and timing can make a difference. It took me long enough to be able to eat again that I was about 4 months past treatment when mine was pulled, so I felt all right about it. If it had been closer to treatments, when I was still really tired and still trying to recover, I would have felt differently.

    Let me know if you have any more questions, and I'd be glad to answer. I can definitely say it feels GREAT to have the tube out!

    Geez....now I'm getting a little nervous....
    When she asked me which way I wanted to go, I thought..."I've been thru all this other stuff, who cares about a bee sting"...Now I'm wondering if this isn't one of those things that is better if you never see coming...(like getting zapped by an electric fence)...LOL.

    I just don't want the pain to go on and on like it did when they put it in....that wasn't supposed to be a bad deal either...

    p
  • CivilMatt
    CivilMatt Member Posts: 4,722 Member
    #9
    No pain, but big relief
    Hi Phrannie,

    When I had my PEG popped, it did not hurt, but was a little uncomfortable. A firm tug, a popping sound and swoosh a little bit of belly juice came out. The hole in your stomach closes up almost immediately and the wound on the outside a few days later (like any incision).

    This is a milestone for you, congratulations. You are not using it, if it is still in good shape, tell them to give it to somebody else.

    Best,

    Matt

    My wife came in and watched the popping of my PEG.
  • Ingrid K
    Ingrid K Member Posts: 813
    #10
    CivilMatt said:

    No pain, but big relief
    Hi Phrannie,

    When I had my PEG popped, it did not hurt, but was a little uncomfortable. A firm tug, a popping sound and swoosh a little bit of belly juice came out. The hole in your stomach closes up almost immediately and the wound on the outside a few days later (like any incision).

    This is a milestone for you, congratulations. You are not using it, if it is still in good shape, tell them to give it to somebody else.

    Best,

    Matt

    My wife came in and watched the popping of my PEG.

    exactly like what Matt describes
    Hi Phrannie

    My experience was EXACTLY like what Matt describes above.

    I was literally sitting up and the doc says, "you ready ?" and before I could answer he yanked the tube out....a little pressure, a loud pop and it was out.

    You will be just so so happy to have it gone, you won't even feel a thing.

    good luck !!
  • boardwalkgirl
    boardwalkgirl Member Posts: 269
    #11
    My surgeon that put it in
    My surgeon that put it in was who took it out. He numbed around the area with some Lidocaine first, which that stung a little. Then he just popped it out and that didn't really hurt at all. Just felt a little pressure. Mine was sore for about 2 days afterwards. I did take a Lortab before I went in to have it removed. I am so glad you are getting rid of it, it just makes you feel better.
  • michdjp
    michdjp Member Posts: 220
    #12
    So happy to hear you are
    So happy to hear you are getting your tube removed and i hope all goes well. On a little different note, how did you come to the decision to remove the peg, do you have to gain weight? My dad is at the point where he uses his only maybe at night during the day he eats breakfast lunch and dinner by mouth, mostly macaroni, ravioli, manicotti grilled cheese pancakes. We are still have trouble with meats. I believe we are just keeping the weight stable, not gaining though.
    Well I'm so happy you are progressing it is certainly not an easy road.
    All my best
    Michelle
  • ratface
    ratface Member Posts: 1,337 Member
    #13
    boardwalkgirl said:

    My surgeon that put it in
    My surgeon that put it in was who took it out. He numbed around the area with some Lidocaine first, which that stung a little. Then he just popped it out and that didn't really hurt at all. Just felt a little pressure. Mine was sore for about 2 days afterwards. I did take a Lortab before I went in to have it removed. I am so glad you are getting rid of it, it just makes you feel better.

    It hurts a lot
    for a second or two. It would take longer to administer the pain meds. The nurse puts her foot up on the chair and gives it a big yank, you may not even get a doctor to do it. You could request a bullet or piece of wood to chew on. I would not go through the hassle of being admitted to have it done as that is invariably more painful. Honestly the removal is a cakewalk compared to what you have been through and totally doable and tolerable. What I wasn't prepared for was the cauterization of the wound. This feels like someone poured hot coals on to my skin and is slow to diminish in duration. Cauterization does not seem to be a common practice but I do recommend it for healing purposes as there is never again any pain to the site. I do not handle pain at all, to any degree, as I'm a big sissy and I did it with no real issues and you can to.
  • amy_h414
    amy_h414 Member Posts: 98
    #14
    peg removal
    My husband said his removal wasn't that bad. The gastro doc who put it in yanked it out in his office. Just a 1-2-3 YANK! and that was it. He said it stung for a second and then it was over.

    I think you'll do fine. It'll be over fast, they'll slap a bandage on it, and you're out the door.
  • Laralyn
    Laralyn Member Posts: 532
    #15
    phrannie51 said:

    Geez....now I'm getting a little nervous....
    When she asked me which way I wanted to go, I thought..."I've been thru all this other stuff, who cares about a bee sting"...Now I'm wondering if this isn't one of those things that is better if you never see coming...(like getting zapped by an electric fence)...LOL.

    I just don't want the pain to go on and on like it did when they put it in....that wasn't supposed to be a bad deal either...

    p

    It doesn't go on and on
    The pain really is over in 15-30 seconds. After that, it just feels a little sore. It was a LOT less pain for me than when I had it inserted. It sounds like it didn't hurt at all for some people, so what I'm telling you is probably the extreme case. That means the extreme case is a sharp pinch then about 15 seconds of stinging. :-)
  • Grandmax4
    Grandmax4 Member Posts: 723
    #16
    You can
    do this, I never had a peg tube..for 5 weeks I had a feeding tube in my nose, my Doc gave me no warning when he pulled it out, just suddenly said, you no longer need this, yank.
  • phrannie51
    phrannie51 Member Posts: 4,716
    #17
    michdjp said:

    So happy to hear you are
    So happy to hear you are getting your tube removed and i hope all goes well. On a little different note, how did you come to the decision to remove the peg, do you have to gain weight? My dad is at the point where he uses his only maybe at night during the day he eats breakfast lunch and dinner by mouth, mostly macaroni, ravioli, manicotti grilled cheese pancakes. We are still have trouble with meats. I believe we are just keeping the weight stable, not gaining though.
    Well I'm so happy you are progressing it is certainly not an easy road.
    All my best
    Michelle

    My Onc gave me a goal of gaining 5 lbs. before they'd
    give the go-ahead on getting it pulled. Ok, so I cheated a little and wore heavy work boots on my last weigh in...but, I hadn't used my tube for a month at that time. I've probably gained 7 lbs now, which would make the Onc very happy...and it'll be nearly 2 months of not using my tube by the time I get it out...

    As long as your dad is still using it, he might as well keep it...it's there to use. He's eating all the things I ate when treatment finally stopped...the soft stuff. Don't worry about graduating to meats for a while (I still can't do them)...but everyday my repetoire of food increases. Today they had chocolate cake at work...it was dry, and I looked like a kid when I got done eating...but I could taste the first few bites and it was good.

    Your dad will know when he's had enough of the tube...

    p
  • phrannie51
    phrannie51 Member Posts: 4,716
    #18
    Grandmax4 said:

    You can
    do this, I never had a peg tube..for 5 weeks I had a feeding tube in my nose, my Doc gave me no warning when he pulled it out, just suddenly said, you no longer need this, yank.

    Look at how many times the word "yank" is used
    in this thread...LOL. I'm sure I'll be sweating bullets the day of this appointment...but I still want it out as fast as possible, no pain no gain...right? So maybe I'll take one of Lola's sticks with me, and I can bite down on that....ha!

    p
  • D Lewis
    D Lewis Member Posts: 1,581 Member
    #19
    phrannie51 said:

    Look at how many times the word "yank" is used
    in this thread...LOL. I'm sure I'll be sweating bullets the day of this appointment...but I still want it out as fast as possible, no pain no gain...right? So maybe I'll take one of Lola's sticks with me, and I can bite down on that....ha!

    p

    You can do this Phrannie!
    I think I was an exception here. My gastro doc was female, and she had to give a really long slow hard pull. No yanking there. I had some kind of muscle spasm and just lay there gasping and squeaking for what seemed like two minutes before it abated and I could breathe. After that I was fine. No after effects at all.

    I had the kind of PEG with a large mushroom-shaped flare at the end. It looked HUGE.

    Deb
  • Hondo
    Hondo Member Posts: 6,636 Member
    #20
    Hi phrannie

    Glad to hear it is coming out, bring a big stick with you, when the doc ask what the stick is for. Let him know he will find out if it hurts more then a bee sting. Ha ha ha

    Wishing you the best
    Hondo
  • ToBeGolden
    ToBeGolden Member Posts: 695
    #21
    No Tube
    I haven't had a tube put in (me) YET. So I may try to share psychicly in the removal experience. If I feel anything, I will just pass out. Please look for me on the floor. Rick.

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