Question:
Are are n-tubs and g-tubes?

I hate to sound dumb but what is a g tube for and a n-g tube. are they the same or not. Thanks    — Sue R. T. (posted on July 30, 2001)

July 30, 2001
Definitely not a dumb question! An NG (nasogastric) tube is a very small tube that they put down your nose, down your throat and into your belly. It doesn't feel as bad as it sounds. It's not fun, but not too bad, either. It is to drain accumulated gastric juices and is used after many different types of surgery or for different conditions. A G tube (gastronomy tube) is a tube that goes directly into your stomach and is usually used for feedings or sometimes for medications also. I had both tubes and also a J-P drain after my lap RNY. Neither really hurt, but I must admit the NG tube was rather uncomfortable. Hope this helps. Maria
   — Maria H.

July 30, 2001
Ok I must ask another question. If the g tube goes to the "stomach" after surgery which one? The new pouch or the old stomach? I had a g tube after rny 8 mos ago and I still am wondering about this because when I was only about a week post op, I ate some jello and it came out in my g tube! Why? I don't understand but when I questioned the doctor, he said that is perfectly normal. Why was food I was eating and it was going into the new pouch going into the g tube? I would really like to understand this once and for all, Thanks
   — Marilyn C.

July 30, 2001
Hi, Marilyn, I'm really surprised to hear that something you ate came out in your G-tube. My surgeon explained to me that the g-tube went directly to my "old" stomach. I received supplemental high-protein feedings (sort of like ensure) through the tube for about three weeks post-op. Judging from what I understand about anatomy and my doctor's diagrams, the food you ate should not have ended up in your g tube. Sounds really strange to me. What surgery exactly did you have? That may have been the difference? Well, if you find out anything else about this please let me know. I'm very curious about this now. Maria [email protected]
   — Maria H.

July 31, 2001
Maria, from what I understand, since this was just a few days after surgery, I overfilled my pouch with jello and liquids and it just seeped through. Doesn't make sense to me either. I was convinced that I had a "disruption" and panicked. I called the doctor and was told this was ok and not to worry that it would "heal" completely and be ok. I don't know but it scared me to death! I made another mistake with my g tube also. I guess it was the morphine, but I thought I was told to open the little end up and empty it daily! After I told my doctor what I was doing, he said "Why are you doing that?" And one time when I did this, it exploded! Yellow jello all over the ceiling! I wish I understood what happened but doesn't matter now. Let me know if you find out any new info. Any nurses out there care to tell us what a g tube does and after surgery does it go into the old stomach or the new one? By the way, I had open rny 150 cm bypassed.
   — Marilyn C.