Peg Tube: Should I or shouldn't I

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  • gypsy55
    gypsy55 Member Posts: 5
    #22
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    D Lewis said:

    Good luck to you with your decision
    I had eight weeks of radiation. Got the PEG at about week four, as pain, nausea, and difficulty swallowing, not to mention the nasty (post-Chemo) taste of Boost and Ensure made eating too much of a chore.

    No biggie. Got it as out-patient surgery, was using it by the end of the first day, it worked like a dream. Saved my life. My insuranc paid for the canned food and a feeding pump to infuse it slowly. I used it for the last four weeks of radiation and for about six weeks afterward. Never lost my swallow, bounced right back. Removal was via a simple tug, eeeeeeoooooouuuuuuch! I lived on Carnation Instant Breakfast and soft-cooked eggs for quite a while after that, but all is well now.

    Its an individual choice. I got to a point where it was a no-brainer for me. You may or may not ever reach that point.

    Deb

    peg removal
    I'm hoping to get my peg tube out in about a month. How do they go about doing that and does it hurt? Do they put you out or freeze it or something? Hope it's not too scary. We've been through enough already.
  • D Lewis
    D Lewis Member Posts: 1,581 Member
    #23
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    gypsy55 said:

    peg removal
    I'm hoping to get my peg tube out in about a month. How do they go about doing that and does it hurt? Do they put you out or freeze it or something? Hope it's not too scary. We've been through enough already.

    Hi Gypsy55
    It really depends on the type of PEG you had installed. Mine came with a mushroom-shaped flare on the end, and they just pulled hard and slow, and it popped out. Other folks' PEGs have an inflatable balloon or curly pigtail on the inside, and they just deflate or uncurl those, and the tube slides right out. Other folks actually ended up with a "G" tube surgically installed, and have it have it surgically removed. You will need to speak with the doctor who installed it, to know.

    Best of luck with the procedure. You got it put in... you learned how to use it successfully and it saved your life. Getting it removed will be a piece of cake in comparison to all this. Good luck with it. No matter how helpful it was, you will LOVE IT when it is gone.

    Deb

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