JTubes

JKGulliver
JKGulliver Member Posts: 93
in Esophageal Cancer #1

How many people had J-tubes?  What is your opinion of doing the j-tube pre-chemo/radiation versus waiting to see is you need it during treatment?  What has been your experience.

Comments

  • Joel C
    Joel C Member Posts: 174
    #2
    J-tube pre-treatment

    I had a J-tube placed during my MIE.  Both my medical & radiation oncologist as well as my surgeon all pushed for the tube to be placed before treatment but I would have no part of it.  By the time my concurrent chemo and radiation were over, eating was getting difficult but not impossible.  Looking back I’m happy with the decision I made.  I only used the tube for ~ four weeks post-surgery and had it removed at six weeks out.

    Joel

  • CarolandJoe
    CarolandJoe Member Posts: 23
    #3
    My husband's surgeon

    My husband's surgeon recommended the j-tube prior to chemo and radiation.  Turned out to be a great recommendation because my husband could not swallow even water half way through his radiation and all the way to his surgery.  He went into surgery much stronger than if he had been weakened by not being able to swallow.  After surgery, he was able to eat pretty well but the post-surgery chemo made him completely lose his appetite and made all foods "taste nasty" in his words.  His surgery was in January.  He didn't need to tube feed in February but half-way through March he wasn't eating enough to maintain his weight so we started up the tube feedings at night to supplement the little he could eat during the day.  As much as he hates been hooked up for 10 hours at night, he knows he is doing better because of the extra nurishment.  I think it is an individual decision but I am so glad we have had the choice to supplement with tube feeding when eating is a problem. 

  • Dad'sfight
    Dad'sfight Member Posts: 155
    #4
    They placed a j-tube prior to

    They placed a j-tube prior to chemo/radiation for my father. It became infected, left him with an open wound. Long story short, after that we told ourselves NO MORE J-TUBES!! Unfortantly for him, he had to soldier through chemo/radiation and rely on himself to eat. It was a blessing he made it through, I have no idea how he managed to do it.  It was very painful for him to swallow anything about about 3 weeks into it. Not to mention his vomitting from chemo, he couldn't keep much of anything down. Since he had the esphogectomy, they had to put in another j-tube. Crossing our fingers.....it's worked out just fine so far. I can tell a complete difference in dad's health post-surgery vs. post chemo/radiation with no j-tube. Even with the horrific experience we had with the 1st one, I'm so glad we have it now :)

  • JKGulliver
    JKGulliver Member Posts: 93
    #5
    Dad'sfight said:

    They placed a j-tube prior to

    They placed a j-tube prior to chemo/radiation for my father. It became infected, left him with an open wound. Long story short, after that we told ourselves NO MORE J-TUBES!! Unfortantly for him, he had to soldier through chemo/radiation and rely on himself to eat. It was a blessing he made it through, I have no idea how he managed to do it.  It was very painful for him to swallow anything about about 3 weeks into it. Not to mention his vomitting from chemo, he couldn't keep much of anything down. Since he had the esphogectomy, they had to put in another j-tube. Crossing our fingers.....it's worked out just fine so far. I can tell a complete difference in dad's health post-surgery vs. post chemo/radiation with no j-tube. Even with the horrific experience we had with the 1st one, I'm so glad we have it now :)

    Thanks so much

    What a horrible experience to have an infection set in the J-tube.  I still do not know why the tube is pushed so hard prior to chem/radiation. 

  • JKGulliver
    JKGulliver Member Posts: 93
    #6
    CarolandJoe said:

    My husband's surgeon

    My husband's surgeon recommended the j-tube prior to chemo and radiation.  Turned out to be a great recommendation because my husband could not swallow even water half way through his radiation and all the way to his surgery.  He went into surgery much stronger than if he had been weakened by not being able to swallow.  After surgery, he was able to eat pretty well but the post-surgery chemo made him completely lose his appetite and made all foods "taste nasty" in his words.  His surgery was in January.  He didn't need to tube feed in February but half-way through March he wasn't eating enough to maintain his weight so we started up the tube feedings at night to supplement the little he could eat during the day.  As much as he hates been hooked up for 10 hours at night, he knows he is doing better because of the extra nurishment.  I think it is an individual decision but I am so glad we have had the choice to supplement with tube feeding when eating is a problem. 

    Thanks for sharing your experience

    For people weighing this decision for the first time, it is invaluable to hear from people who have experienced this first hand.  Thanks so much.

  • Dad'sfight
    Dad'sfight Member Posts: 155
    #7
    JKGulliver said:

    Thanks so much

    What a horrible experience to have an infection set in the J-tube.  I still do not know why the tube is pushed so hard prior to chem/radiation. 

    Because after a few weeks of

    Because after a few weeks of radiation it's almost impossible to swallow anything.

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