 Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 10,507 Likes: 7 | This is probably pretty simple to do but I would NOT recommend doing this yourself. This could be a dangerous thing to do! You never know if you have any internal stitches holding it in place. I have a J/G tube and mine is surgically changed every couple months with a couple internal stitches holding it. I am awake and its done with only some topical lidocaine so I end up feeling almost everything the surgeon does.
When a patient is able to go for 2 months without using the feeding tube then they are ready to have it removed. During that 2 months, the patient must eat and drink everything by mouth and sustain their weight and good health. If you can do this then check with your gastro do and ask about having it removed.
Best wishes!
ChristineSCC 6/15/07 L chk & by L molar both Stag I, age44 2x cispltn-35 IMRT end 9/27/07 -65 lbs in 2 mo, no caregvr Clear PET 1/08 4/4/08 recur L chk Stag I surg 4/16/08 clr marg 215 HBO dives 3/09 teeth out, trismus 7/2/09 recur, Stg IV 8/24/09 trach, ND, mandiblctmy 3wks medicly inducd coma 2 mo xtended hospital stay, ICU & burn unit PICC line IV antibx 8 mo 10/4/10, 2/14/11 reconst surg OC 3x in 3 years very happy to be alive  | 
