I expected the area where the tube goes into the skin to hurt for about a week, here a month later it still does. Any slight movement at all fells like it's pulling at it & hurts. Peg people say that not unusual, but seems kinda odd to me. Does ya'lls still hurt even w/slight movement? Anything I can wrap around opening to relieve this some, so I can become active again?

Hey Harleydude;
I've had my PEG tube since August and sometimes it still gets irritating where the tube enters my stomach. (I wouldn't describe it as painful though, just a discomfort) If it's actually painful you might ask the Dr. who put it in about it again. They also sent a home nurse out to show me how to keep it clean, change the dressing around it, etc. Keeping it clean and flushed is eesential. They did give me a wrap as well, but I never used it. It seemed uncomfortable and a hinderence to me.

Good Luck,

Steve

HI, HD, Some people don't put anything between the peg and their skin-but John's Doc would yell at him anytime John came to an appointment without a gauze pad between the plastic and his skin? What are you doing? And how are you keeping the area clean? The only time John has had any discomfort from the peg is after several days of drinking acidic juices or gatoraid- and twice after taking an antibiotic that wiped out his stomach. Amy

Hi Harleydude,

My Dad's tube started hurting about 2 months 'after' treatment finished and it scabbed up too. The RO said it looked swollen so she sent him for an ultra sound to make sure it was in place; however they said it was all fine.
(He had it removed a few weeks after that; as he doesn't need it anymore).

I had asked here on the forum and a few people said they had the same problem with it hurting.

Once during treatment it looked red; so the nurse took a swab and tested it; and it was fine.

So I think I'd be asking for a swab to rule out infection and if it's really sore then an ultra sound to make sure it's in place properly (if you haven't already done that).

Remember to keep it flushed and cleaned.
Take care.

Harleydude - I still live with my peg - 3yrs out and counting. I've had several different kinds of the things stuck in me over the years. Yours may be sized incorrectly.

The diameter of the hole in your belly is one measurement. The other is the distance from your skin to the inside of your stomach. That length is really important - if a peg is too short, it's painful even to touch it. If the peg is too long, it's painful when the tube gets pulled. You should be able to tug on the tube and pull it about a quarter inch off your skin without pain.

The other issue is infection. There are many layers of tissue punctured to allow that tube into your stomach. Any or all of those layers can become slightly infected without showing much on the outside. The swelling and irritation of an infection will make the site very tender and the tube painful to touch. When in doubt, assume it's mildly infected and treat it.

I used guaze under my tube for months, but it kept the site from healing. The guaze kept the site clean (desireable), but also kept it damp - contributing to the irritation. Allow the air to reach that site whenever you are sitting still. The crusty junk is your body trying to heal the site and will eventually subside.

Good luck. Be strong, Tom J

Tom;
Great information for all of us. Thank you for sharing. The "discomfort" I mentioned in my earlier post doesn't seem to happen when I'm home for the day and leave it "undressed". I can turn mine easily but have never been able to pull it out or push it in. I just learned a lot!

Hope yours is better Harleydude.

Thank you,

Steve