Feeding tube removeal

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robert77dr
robert77dr Member Posts: 54
in Head and Neck Cancer #1
I am haveing my feeding removed Wed. What am I in for I was told they jurk them out and it is very painfull and you have a lot of drainage and I would be unable to do much for a week. Can anyone tell me what it's like what do I need to expect? I am very worried and caint sleep. My throat still hurts and I cain't eat much at one time dry mouth still bad. Help,Help.

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  • Glenna M
    Glenna M Member Posts: 1,576
    #2
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    I'm not sure who you spoke with but having your tube removed is very simple and relatively painless, not even as painful as a bee sting. Yes, they just jerk it out but it takes a matter of seconds and all I experienced was a slight stinging sensation for a matter of seconds. I was told not to drink large amounts of water for the next several hours because this could leak out through the incision but I had NO drainage at all. Naturally you don't want to be bending and lifting a lot immediately after the removal so you don't put a strain on the incision but I was back to normal the next day with no limitations.

    I'm not sure what types of foods you are trying to eat but I lived on soft foods for a while, potato with gravy, jello, pudding, ice cream, soups and scrambled eggs as these types of foods went down the easiest. If you are still having a problem with dry mouth take a small sip of water with each bite, it makes swallowing much easier and helps moisten your mouth.

    Please relax Robert and know that tomorrow is not going to be as bad as you have heard and please update us after your tube has been removed.

    Stay well and stay strong,
    Glenna
  • rmdgy
    rmdgy Member Posts: 22
    #3
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    G tube
    Two years ago next August I had my G tube removed. It was no big deal. My ENT did jerk it out. I thought there would be sutures involved, but no - the hole seals itself. I was in the pool two days later. Good luck!
  • tnsilcncer
    tnsilcncer Member Posts: 64
    #4
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    PEG tube
    I had my PEG tube removed yesterday....and yep, they do just yank it out, it's about like getting shot in the stomach really hard with a rubber band, it stings. I'm still bleeding a little today, but I got it pulled and came back to work. Ate a hamburger and fries for dinner last night (and I did have to medicate for that), no "leakage". He did tell me to take take it a little easy for about two weeks, no heavy lifting, no hot tubs... etc...As for the not being able to eat, I'm 16 weeks out from radiation and still getting blisters when I eat, but, they ARE getting better. I don't have to take a pain pill EVERY time I eat anymore and the variety of things that I can tolerate is getting larger. Some days are still bad, but they're getting less and less. Hang in there, it does get better. I'm surprised that they're taking out your feeding tube if you're still having that hard of a time eating. I had to fudge it a little to get them to take mine, they were'nt going to until I was 100% eating normal. Will keep you in my prayers.

    Hugs
    Karen
  • CajunEagle
    CajunEagle Member Posts: 408
    #5
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    tnsilcncer said:

    PEG tube
    I had my PEG tube removed yesterday....and yep, they do just yank it out, it's about like getting shot in the stomach really hard with a rubber band, it stings. I'm still bleeding a little today, but I got it pulled and came back to work. Ate a hamburger and fries for dinner last night (and I did have to medicate for that), no "leakage". He did tell me to take take it a little easy for about two weeks, no heavy lifting, no hot tubs... etc...As for the not being able to eat, I'm 16 weeks out from radiation and still getting blisters when I eat, but, they ARE getting better. I don't have to take a pain pill EVERY time I eat anymore and the variety of things that I can tolerate is getting larger. Some days are still bad, but they're getting less and less. Hang in there, it does get better. I'm surprised that they're taking out your feeding tube if you're still having that hard of a time eating. I had to fudge it a little to get them to take mine, they were'nt going to until I was 100% eating normal. Will keep you in my prayers.

    Hugs
    Karen

    After removal......
    Karen, be sure to keep some form of anti-biotic ointment on where the peg tube was located. I had mine removed about 15 months ago, and a week after removal, it started itching like crazy from where it was healing up. Even though I kept Neosporin on it, it took about 3 or 4 weeks before it stopped the irritation. As of now, I don't even realize that it was there. It's fairly small at this time.

    Larry
  • hawk711
    hawk711 Member Posts: 566
    #6
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    CajunEagle said:

    After removal......
    Karen, be sure to keep some form of anti-biotic ointment on where the peg tube was located. I had mine removed about 15 months ago, and a week after removal, it started itching like crazy from where it was healing up. Even though I kept Neosporin on it, it took about 3 or 4 weeks before it stopped the irritation. As of now, I don't even realize that it was there. It's fairly small at this time.

    Larry

    Robert
    It is easy. Some had pain, but mine sort of fell out when the Dr. started to pull. It came out so easy, I don't know how it stayed in !!!
    Make sure you are ready. I ate real food for two weeks and felt like now was the time. I had mine in for 13 months, due to bad sores and saliva. Now I have been PEG free for 2 months and it is great. Just a little mark on my stomach is all that shows. It heals in 2-3 weeks from the inside out. I showered the next day after it was removed and now enjoy the old hot tub once again....Go for it if you are ready...
    All the best,
    Steve
  • rozaroo
    rozaroo Member Posts: 665
    #7
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    hawk711 said:

    Robert
    It is easy. Some had pain, but mine sort of fell out when the Dr. started to pull. It came out so easy, I don't know how it stayed in !!!
    Make sure you are ready. I ate real food for two weeks and felt like now was the time. I had mine in for 13 months, due to bad sores and saliva. Now I have been PEG free for 2 months and it is great. Just a little mark on my stomach is all that shows. It heals in 2-3 weeks from the inside out. I showered the next day after it was removed and now enjoy the old hot tub once again....Go for it if you are ready...
    All the best,
    Steve

    A breeze!
    I seriously had no pain! The Dr yanked & tube slipped so he had to hank again. Felt like the snap of a rubber band. Mine was in for six month's! I had no leakage or bleeding at all!
  • miccmill
    miccmill Member Posts: 248
    #8
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    rozaroo said:

    A breeze!
    I seriously had no pain! The Dr yanked & tube slipped so he had to hank again. Felt like the snap of a rubber band. Mine was in for six month's! I had no leakage or bleeding at all!

    8 months in
    Glenn had his yanked out after 8months in. He described the typical yank and sting. No drainage but he was very surprised at how much air came out.

    He said it sounded like a balloon deflating.

    I may have said something about being full of hot air................

    I think they asked him not to eat for 2 hrs. and he was counting them down. The appoint was right around dinner time.
  • davidgskinner
    davidgskinner Member Posts: 81
    #9
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    miccmill said:

    8 months in
    Glenn had his yanked out after 8months in. He described the typical yank and sting. No drainage but he was very surprised at how much air came out.

    He said it sounded like a balloon deflating.

    I may have said something about being full of hot air................

    I think they asked him not to eat for 2 hrs. and he was counting them down. The appoint was right around dinner time.

    piece of cake
    It doesn't hurt too badly...certainly nothing compared to what you've been through already. And now you get a cool third belly button to entertain people with at parties and other gatherings.

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