when one has the peg tube removed are there any precautions? as in no lifting, etc as the hole inside closes? I have read one can have problems with gutt leakage causing peritonitis if they develop this complication, so wondering what is suggested to avoid any such problems

thanks

When I had mine taken out I asked the doctor if I had any precautions after and he said no. I was worried because I had physical therapy the next day and I lift weights and all that. He said it would be no problem. And honestly, I took the bandage off the next morning after having it taken out and it was completely closed up. I was disappointed because I had plans to take pictures of the hole in my belly. I kept another bandage on it just to be safe but nothing leaked out after that. There was some initial leakage the first day, but that was it. If you are like me with a balloon on the inside it is pain free, at least I thought so, and I was prepared for the worst. It was definitely the easiest thing I've been through in a while! Now my only problem is that when I get hungry my peg tube scar hurts. My husband calls me Harry Potter. Good luck!!

Thanks, Steph! I appreciate your response.

Not really Rita . . . except for a sting when it's pulled out and then euphoria to have it gone! Does take a week or so to heal completely but no lingering effects. Good for you!

It doesn't even sting if you have the crappy one like I had, too skinny to allow food to flow without pumping and prone to clogging -- Had no balloon on the end; when I gently pulled on it to see if I could get a better flow position, all 17" of it came out (I just couldn't help it!<g> -- Removed it four times total for cleaning, but had lots of difficulty reinstalling it the last time, so when it clogged again and I had been swallowing liquids for several weeks, I just removed it one more time.

I put a small piece of dressing and tape over it and it was closed in two days (I wish my trach stoma had closed that quickly!).

Pete! You are the worst patient ever!

Anyway, Rita, the PEG removal is one of the simplest parts of everything we have each been through and I say you should worry more about the economy and who is going to win the Presidential election.

God, I've become a CNN junkie. Oh, back to you Rita. My Doc just grabbed and yanked.

It was stingy at first, and the bandage had some "stuff" on it the next morning, but within 48 hours, it was totally sealed up and within a week it was starting to just scar over.

It's such a strange sensation. Getting it. Having it feed you. Then getting it yanked out. Now the scar is a strange morning reminder of the experience. (in the shower)

Enjoy the new freedom and don't find things to worry about :-) there are plenty that hit us without us worrying and they are usually the ones you weren't worried about anyway.

I had that same strange feeling when my Gastro-Doc yanked my first PEG -- When he pulled it out, the pain seemed to go with it and I felt like a part of me was leaving!

Speaking of bad patients, I was coming awake after minor abdominal surgery (navel hernia repair), a bit woozy, and saw the gizmo above with my blood pressure on it so I started holding my breath and tensing, then releasing, then doing it again, putting the sucker in alarm -- Nurse comes quickly over, watches me doing it and sez to the other nurse, "We have a joker over here", then goes back to her station.

The nurse who removed mine warned me to grab and hold tight the sides of the table as she prepared to yank it out. It hurt like the devil for about 2 to 3 minutes but by 5 minutes I never knew it had been there for 3 months. I will advise not to drink any carbonated type drinks within at least 24 hours after removal. I wasn't told this and found out the hard way. I had profuse leakage after drinking a Sprite that freaked me out. We called the RO Dept. afterwards and it was almost like "you should have known not to do that".

Bill D.

Peg tubes, I want to scream,went in for a simple day surgery, it back fired they couldn't get it in thur mouth so had to wait 2 day for surgeon to put it in thur belly, he said he had to cut more then he wanted to, took weeks to heal and still causes problem. Hope to get it out the 10th. He put two stiches in to make sure I didn't pull it out. He said all he had to do was pull out the plug on red side to release the air. removes stichs and it would just slide out with no problems. I don't trust then, sure it's no pain to them.....LOL I'm in my 7th. week of chemo and radiation, today they added 2 more weeks. be Nove. 11 when it ends. so can;t be sure when peg will be out. I still eat all my food by mouth. The doctor said I was doing remarkable well for someone in there 7th. weeks treament. If I'm still eating on 10th I want the peg out, still driving too. Food is rough to get down because of taste, but no sores inside of mouth besides like a big canker sore on lip. I feel very bless to have things going this well. Not that I feel all that great, I just know where I could be and may get. best of luck to all of you.

Keep it in until you KNOW you don't need it -- Be a shame to pull it and then need to get a new one -- I kept mine in place with a detachable neck lanyard so I didn't need dressings or tape to hold the tube -- Nurses tell me that it's quite common for the stitches to get infected, so pay particular attention to them with anti-infection goo.