It takes a week to recover from the PEG surgery. Yes the first few days are the worst with daily improvements from day 3 to day 7. This again is where hydration and food are very important. I did not feel like eating the week of recovery and lost 8 pounds. Keep that in mind. Also time is needed to get used to carrying the tube around. My wife and I without knowing better taped the tube to my stomach to keep it stable. A week later a nurse gave me a stick on catheterization stabilizer to hold it in place which was great. Make sure to ask for some. You need to change out once a week and change placement to protect the skin underneath. Also tracheotomy drainage gauze helps to protect the area around the tube until seepage stops.