PEG tube removal

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swopoe
swopoe Member Posts: 492
in Head and Neck Cancer #1

My husband had his PEG tube removed last Thursday. The oncologist removed it in her office after calling the surgeon who put the tube in for permission. She just pulled it out. Freaky, right? Both the oncologist and the surgeon said that it would take a few weeks for the "hole" (for lack of a better word) to heal. Right now, my husband is keeping gauze over it and keeping it clean. The docs warned him that it could leak if he drank or ate a lot too. And his stomach hurts a bit, which I assume is due to healing.

What was your recovery from PEG removal like? He is so glad to have the tube out, but now it is just weird in another whole set of ways.

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  • Barbaraek
    Barbaraek Member Posts: 626
    #2
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    Can't offer any insight

    since we still have the PEG. Can I say I am jealous, but happy for you? Another step in the road to recovery and a "new normal". Every step is a victory!

    Barbara

  • phrannie51
    phrannie51 Member Posts: 4,716
    #3
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    Mine healed up

    in three days or so....kept gauze over it for that time.  It sure did smart having them pull it out...but that was over in 2 minutes or so....tho I did curse a bit.  Nurse said it'd feel "like a bee sting".....I said..."a 30 lb bee!!!"

    p

  • the_wife
    the_wife Member Posts: 184
    #4
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    Easy peasy

    Just as a casual bystander, the tube removal and the "hole" left behind was the easiest part of recovery for my hubby. He was so happy to have that tube out!! The hole should heal up no problem.

    Congratulations on another hurdle passed!!

  • CivilMatt
    CivilMatt Member Posts: 4,722 Member
    #5
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    PEG

    Swopoe,

    When they popped my PEG it followed by a gush of belly juice and that was it.

    The hole starts to close-up immediately.  Matter-of-fact, I read up on the procedure for PEG replacement and the time to replace into the same hole is critical because of the rapid closing of the hole.

    So, it may weep, but in most cases it is a done deal.

    Matt

  • luv_freedom
    luv_freedom Member Posts: 49
    #6
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    My oncologist pulled mine out in one of the exam rooms. I was kind of apprehensive about it. Not knowing what to expect. The nurse stood with me talking to me and I could feel him poking around and making a comment about the amount of liquid was in the balloon that holds it in place. Then he showed it to me! "It's out?" Really!? Wow freaky! What an anticlimax lol. I just had a cheeseburger from Broncos and you could smell it when some of the liquid came out of the hole. We all laughed about that. She put a pressure gauze patch over it and it healed up right away and never had a problem. I'm happy for you to have it taken out! One step closer to victory!

    Gary

  • lornal
    lornal Member Posts: 428
    #7
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    closing

    If you are concerned if it has really closed or not - you can take the grapejuice test.  Drink some grape juice.  If your cloths or wound dressing turn purple or blue, it hasn't closed completely.

    Mine never did - I had to get it cauterized (from the outside, I think - i was asleep), and stapled on the inside.

     

    Lorna

    2007 & 2014

     

  • donfoo
    donfoo Member Posts: 1,771 Member
    #8
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    Yeah!

    PEG be gone! Big milestone as it would not get pulled unless the doctors feel strongly he can eat and drink orally. Onto the next phase, gaining back more strength and weight. Don

  • kdot2003
    kdot2003 Member Posts: 143
    #9
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    I took my damn peg tube out

    I took my damn peg tube out after my 3 month PET scan.  My Onc said he would schedule the removal.  I did it in my bathroom.  No pain, came right out and it has only leaked one drop that first night.  I had so much granulation tissue always trying to close it anyway, it just closed right up.  My husband thinks it looks like a second belly button.  I wouldnt recommend taking your own tube out but I'm a nurse and its bad but I just couldnt wait.  I did wait until the Onc said it could come out though.  Proud of myself!

    Karen

  • swopoe
    swopoe Member Posts: 492
    #10
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    kdot2003 said:

    I took my damn peg tube out

    I took my damn peg tube out after my 3 month PET scan.  My Onc said he would schedule the removal.  I did it in my bathroom.  No pain, came right out and it has only leaked one drop that first night.  I had so much granulation tissue always trying to close it anyway, it just closed right up.  My husband thinks it looks like a second belly button.  I wouldnt recommend taking your own tube out but I'm a nurse and its bad but I just couldnt wait.  I did wait until the Onc said it could come out though.  Proud of myself!

    Karen

    My husband is doing fine now.

    My husband is doing fine now. He also calls it his second belly button! Thanks for all the stories!

  • Barbaraek
    Barbaraek Member Posts: 626
    #11
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    kdot2003 said:

    I took my damn peg tube out

    I took my damn peg tube out after my 3 month PET scan.  My Onc said he would schedule the removal.  I did it in my bathroom.  No pain, came right out and it has only leaked one drop that first night.  I had so much granulation tissue always trying to close it anyway, it just closed right up.  My husband thinks it looks like a second belly button.  I wouldnt recommend taking your own tube out but I'm a nurse and its bad but I just couldnt wait.  I did wait until the Onc said it could come out though.  Proud of myself!

    Karen

    Geez Karen...

    You could be in the Revenant! LOL.  You docs and nurses make the worst damn patients! At one point when we were trying to convince my husband to go to the hospital for some IV fluids he told our neighbor (also an oncologist) "I'm not as tachycardic as you think I am!" Shoot - I was 2 minutes away from calling 911.

    Barbara (who can't wait for her husband to join the second bellybutton club)

  • kdot2003
    kdot2003 Member Posts: 143
    #12
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    Barbaraek said:

    Geez Karen...

    You could be in the Revenant! LOL.  You docs and nurses make the worst damn patients! At one point when we were trying to convince my husband to go to the hospital for some IV fluids he told our neighbor (also an oncologist) "I'm not as tachycardic as you think I am!" Shoot - I was 2 minutes away from calling 911.

    Barbara (who can't wait for her husband to join the second bellybutton club)

    LOL first I watched youtube

    LOL first I watched youtube videos for the exact technical information.   haha.  If it had hurt I would have stopped right away!  It feels so much better without that tube hanging out.

  • Hondo
    Hondo Member Posts: 6,636 Member
    #13
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    PEG tube doing life

    Wow that is something I look forward too but only in my dreams as I will be a PEG tuber until the day I die.

     

    Tim

  • Barbaraek
    Barbaraek Member Posts: 626
    #14
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    Hondo said:

    PEG tube doing life

    Wow that is something I look forward too but only in my dreams as I will be a PEG tuber until the day I die.

     

    Tim

    Tim you know

    that your tube is your lifeline and have a great perspective about it. Your words of advice are so encouraging to others.

    Barbara

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