Question:
What is an NG tube?

What exactly does an NG tube do? How long does it have to stay in for? Jenn    — Jennifer L. (posted on June 14, 2001)

June 14, 2001
No tubes for me!! My doctor does not use any tubes (NG, JP drain, G tube, catheter, etc...) The only thing that I had attached to me was my IV with my pain med pump!! And I was really thankful that I had that.
   — Shelley.

June 14, 2001
I had mine in until the following afternoon. It really was no big deal I thought I'd freak but I didn't. Probably because I was so drugged out!! When I heard the doctor coming down the hall towards my room I hit the morphine pump, when he took the tube out I felt nothing.
   — Rose A.

June 14, 2001
Hello, I had my NG tube put in during surgery. When I woke up I didn't even know it was there. I reached up to scratch my nose and my husband grabed my hand and told me that I had one in.. I couldn't believe it! It was my biggest fear about the entire operation other then just making it through alive.. I didn't feel the tube at all, what I felt was the tape tickling my lower lip. After a couple hours I was able to feel it but it didn't hurt at all. It was just annoying. Once it quit working and I felt so sick. I thought I was going to through up.. The nurse came in and fixed it and immediatley I felt better. I would have hated to not have it in sucking all the nasty stuff away! I had mine in for a total of 24 hours. When it was time for it to come out I was so ready! I hit my morphine pump right before they took it out. It only took a few seconds and it was out. Just keep some klenex on hand when they do it so you can blow your nose afterwards..
   — Katrina D.

June 14, 2001
The NG tube goes up your nose, down your throat, into your pouch. I had mine in for 3 days. After the surgery everything shuts down and your new pouch cannot pump out the nasty stuff. I was really surpised to hear that alot of you either didn't have it or it was taken out hours after. If you don't have it the nausea is bad and you have a chance of throwing up. As for my experience with it... IT SUCKED!! I hated it. I think it was the worse part of it. In fact, I started threating the nurses that if they didn't get the doctor in there ASAP I was going to pull it out myself. I couln't lay down because it was cholking me. When he pulled it out it was great! It was over so fast and it made my eyes water. My oppion is that it was the worst thing in the hospital, well other than the PAIN!
   — Lisa S.

June 14, 2001
My doc removed it before I woke up from surgery. Ask your doc what his policy is on this.
   — Lisa B.

June 14, 2001
Hello--- I would ask your Dr to see what they use? I was also really scared about a ng tube... but when i had my appt with him he told me I will not have any tubes or drainage tubes, All I will have is a IV in my arm! good luck!
   — kiara26

June 16, 2001
Yeah, I agree with one of the other posts - I can't believe some of you guys didn't have a NG tube in for a few days. I had mine in for a few days and when I would look at the tubing leading away from my face, I could see all this gunk draining away; in fact, some of it looked like blood! To think that I might not have had a NG tube in and all that stuff would be just sitting around in my pouch! Maybe waking up with it in or out depends on what kind of surgery you have, I don't know. I had open distal RNY. Jenn - I would ask your surgeon how long he requires the NG tube to be in. I have to say, in my experience, I hardly even knew I had it in; didn't feel a thing. I only knew it was there when I touched my nose to feel for it. I guess everyone's different - some won't feel a thing and some it will irritate. And getting it out, well for me at least, wasn't really painfull either. It felt weird and kind of burned in my nostril and made my eyes water. It only took maybe 3 seconds and it was out, over & done with. Don't worry too much about it.
   — lalasmommy