Today I had my PEG fitted. I had it at about 11am and took painkillers pretty much straight afterwards but they didn't make any difference. I was in so much pain by about 3pm we phoned the Hospital and they said to go to my Doctor and get stronger painkillers...so I did. I took them over 3 hours ago and the pain just seems to be getting worse. It feels like I've been kicked in the stomach/ribs, I expected to have some pain but not this much!! I can't even stand up straight because it feels like something stopping me from doing so. Every time I move (even slightly) it just hurts so badly.
Did anyone else experience this much pain? How long does the pain last? Any tips for easing off the pain? (even a little bit!)
Thank you

Hi Hayley- My husband has a PEG. He remembers it being very painful at first. Just make sure you are not pulling on it in any way. He realized that when he taped it down, it was pulling when he straightened up. He has had it for about 5 months now and it is pain free at this point. His was inserted surgically into his stomach and not down the throat because he had just had his jawbone replaced. I don't if this helps, but hang in there and I'll be sending positive thoughts your way. Sue

I was in so much pain from the darn PEG! Like you, I was not expecting it at all. Most people dont seem to have a problem with PEG. It was the only time during treatment that I needed narcotics. Yes, I felt like I was kicked by a horse for about a week. It was too tight and they would not loosen it until a week went by. Actually what ended up working best for the pain was 800mg of ibuprofun, rather than the oxycodone. My nurse practitioner recommended I try it as some patients do better with it. It worked for me.
So for me the pain lasted little more than a week. My nurse also thought because I was thin to begin with, it was more painful for me than for others. You are on the small side as well, aren't you? Not sure why being small makes it more painful. Just take it easy for a few days, Hayley, and the pain will get better! Take care, Teresa

Buzz was in such pain that I took him to the emergency room the day after PEG insertion...doctor checked it, did a scan to confirm proper placement and stated 'some people experience more pain than others following this procedure'. The severe pain lessened over the next few days.
Hang in there Hayley, and know that we are all here for you if we can help in any way. I pray that your pain will go away soon.

Lois

Took 3-4 days for the pain to go away. It will heal, so hang in there.

Haley I have been there and understand what you are going through. I felt that the pain was worse from the PEG after it was inserted than I felt after my neck dissection. My pain lasted 6 days. On that 6th day I was on my way to the Emergency room because it was so bad. The doctor asked me to wait 1 more day, I did and the pain was completely gone! Its a little uncomforatble when I sleep at night because I am a side sleeper, but I somehow get through it. It will be a godsend when you need to use it when your rad treatments are in full force.I know that its hard to imagine now but you will understand in a couple of weeks. There wasn't any pain meds that eased the pain for me. It will be a tough week for you but the pain will end. Feel free to PM me with ANY questions you have. My PEG was inserted 12/31/07 and all the doctors told me was that I would have slight discomfort. They were WRONG. Stay strong and you will get through this I promise.

I had pretty severe pain the first couple of days--yes, even standing up was tough and sitting up from a lying down position was really hard. And I said the same thing you did--I felt like I'd been kicked by a horse. For me it went away pretty fast. The first two days were bad but I remember feeling OK sitting up and standing by the fourth day--it still hurt if I laughed or moved in other ways that used stomach muscles. By the second week I had no pain at all. Hang in there Hayley!

Hi Hayley!

I am so sorry to hear about the pain from the PEG. My Dad was in the same boat as you and it took a few days. Hang in there sweetie.

I have been following your blog... posted on there awhile back. Hope you are feeling well, aside from this latest PEG issue.

Thank you everybody for your replies. Really appreciate them! This morning I woke up and I'm still very sore but not as much as yesterday, I can nearly stand up straight now. I guess I'll just have to be patient and let it heal and deal with the pain, it'll be worth it if I do end up needing it! Thanks again.

Hi Hayley how are you doing? i remember those days, i was in so much pain with my peg tube when i first had it fitted that i cried to have it taken out, of course my hubby wouldnt let me (meanie) but it does get better i forget most of the time that i have my tube i have even gotten up to go the loo while i have feeding on and pulled my trolly accross the floor thats how comfortable it gets..hope your feeling ok

debz

Hi Haley, how are you feeling? I hope the pain has subsided by now. Check in soon and let us know how you are doing.

wish I'd seen this when you posted it...I had the same thing happen...pain was so bad I went to the ER...here is what was wrong...gas!...apparently when they placed the tube, I was pumped full of air, or something like that...I was never real clear on that...they didn't make sure I was "deflated" before i woke up...so, it was a major gas attack...not the "pew" stuff, just air...hope this helps anyone else that has this happen to them

Mine was too tight to for the first few days. I felt like a butterfly in a showcase complete with stake! After it was loosened it was ok.

Hang in there.

Markus

Hayley:
not sure if you saw my post about my Father in law with Esophogeal and Gastric Cancer. Now, further dignosed in his liver as well.
He designed a peg tube belt because of problems he had with his feeding tube during daily activities. We are in the process of getting the belt in the products list for this site but if you want to check out the belt and beneifts of it, go to www.thepegbelt.com
It dramatically changed his life while he had the feeding tube in.
Please keep me posted and best of luck.

Hi Todd,
I have only just seen this post...wish I'd of seen it earlier as I would of got one.
I have no had my PEG removed, thank you though
Hayley

Hi Hayley,

I feel ya' sister! I am right where you were in February. I got my PEG put in last Thursday and it hurts more now than it did then. I'm sucking down ibuprofen, but sitting, standing and lying down are agony. Tomorrow I have an appointment to have it loosened, and I'm praying that like Markus, the pain will subside. I'm on the heavy side and its really, really tight.

(No need to comment, I just needed to vent!)

-Margaret

Margaret, I'm sorry you're going through such pain with the PEG. Hopefully having it loosened will help a lot. Some of it may just be the pain from inserting it through stomach muscle--although in my experience, that got better after 3-4 days.

Nelie

Nelie,

This is the third abdominal surgery I've had, and I can't believe how much it hurts! I had laproscopic surgery to remove my gall bladder and a laproscopy to remove on ovarian mass and I recovered very quickly from both of those. I certainly didn't expect this to be worse.

Thank you, by the way, for all of your posts. I enjoy your grace and generosity.

-Margaret

When I had a PEG, I took a neck holder for Flash memory, that had a disconnect so I could easily free the PEG, and used it to support the PEG under my clothes -- No tape and the PEG hung free.

I also found out that I could adjust where the PEG tube fit inside, so I could make the flow better for sitting or standing, by pull-push and a little twist on the tube -- There was definitely a wide spot on the inside end of the tube so it wouldn't pull out of the grommet.

My husband has had a peg since April. He had no problems with pain or discomfort, but I find this interesting. Some of the stitches around the peg started to come loose causing him discomfort and the skin was becoming irritated due to the loose stitches. This surgery was done in Pittsburgh. I did not want to travel to Pittsburgh so I called a surgeon here in New Castle PA to restitch the broken stitches. The doctor took one look at my husband and yanked out all the remaining stitches. I looked at him like "what are you doing"? He said he's never put in stitches when doing the PEG surgery and thought the doctor who performed the surgery shouldn't have either. I was just curious if anyone else has stitches.

My husband's PEG tube was initially sutured but these were removed in a week's time. If the sutures are left in they will become irritated and infected. On subsequent tube replacements no sutures were used. Daily cleansing around the tube with saline and a dry dressing applied was all the care required.

No stitches here! Both of my PEGs were held in initially just by being cinched up tightly and then after a week of healing, loosened. There is a bumper inside the stomach, or a balloon, that keeps it in place.

Yes, my second PEG came with a sturdy plastic rectangle around it and the PEG-placer put several sutures in to hold it in place.

On my first followup visit to the nurse practitioner (a member of Dr Haakenslash's team, who follows me through the entire process, allowing the Docs to do the major blood 'n guts stuf), she removed the sutures saying that they got infected so often that she didn't bother to wait any more.

My first PEG in 2005 had no sutures.

No sutures used on Bill's PEG. Just a round button (small, about the size of a nickle) that held it in place. While it was healing we used sterile saline solution and a gauze pad to clean around the button. After healing, his shower water mostly did the trick but I would clean under it with the gauze.

Deb

I had stitches on both sides of my PEG because I had two small incisions about a quarter of an inch from the main incision from when they put it in, but they were not actually stitched to the PEG. I had my PEG put in using Xray and they didn't go through my mouth for anything. My stitches dissolved or something after a couple of weeks. I have the balloon on the inside of my stomach holding it in and a round bumper on the outside.