I am curious

nancyann3
nancyann3 Member Posts: 173 Member
in Esophageal Cancer #1
I have been reading a lot lately about the reluctance of the jtube. Seems like some docs just plain dont want to use them and wait so long that it is impossible to use them?

I just was curious, for all that do have them or have had them, as to what procedure everyone went through to get one.

For Steve it was an extremly fast process. During a stent change the surgeon inserted a jtube. 30 min tops. He did it laproscopic they said. Under general sedation that they use for the scopes. He wasnt put to sleep like you are during surgery. He went down removed old stent and interted new stent and jtube.

I know every surgeon is different, but seems like some docs are withholding something that is so easily planted, but can do so much good. I just hooked Steve up to a 1000 calories, plus a tea that helps makes the bowels move better for people on pain meds and fish oil that I squirted in. We let that run all night while we sleep.

I'm just curious if others had a more extensive procedure to get one.

Thanks
Nancy

Comments

  • BMGky
    BMGky Member Posts: 621
    #2
    Maybe I remember
    Maybe I remember incorrectly, but the insertion of the jtube took very little time, no healing time, and I don't remember pain meds. Due to an issue, it had to be re-inserted. Again, no big issue. It is what made it possible for my husband to keep his strength during treatment and during the surgical period. I, too, have been somewhat confused by the reluctance it seems of some medical personnel not wanting to use a jtube.
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    #3
    This comment has been removed by the Moderator
  • ArchTB
    ArchTB Member Posts: 150
    #4
    Was not recommended to us
    J-tube is a life saver and definitely something that people should request if having difficulty swallowing. Tom had one right after the surgery when he was not yet allowed to eat by mouth.
    But prior to the surgery we were actually recommended not to use it, because Tom had no obvious blockage and could eat by mouth. He did have some difficulty swallowing towards the end of the radiation and a few weeks after that, but it was not preventing him from eating. The problem was that he had no appetite and was feeling nauseous all the time. But even then, doctors were saying that j-tube was not necessary. A far as I understand, as long as Tom could eat, they wanted to avoid any risk of possible infection because Tom's immune system was very weak.

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