Question:
removal of g-tube

Hi everyone: I need to travel 100 miles round trip to have my G-tube removed. There is no one to drive me down so I'm on my own. Is this going to hurt, be painful afterward, bleed, etc. I need to know by tomorrow morning, I'll check my answers before I leave in the a.m. Thanks ever so much. By the way, I had surgery May 15 and already I'm down 26 lbs. as of this morning, so happy! Lorraine    — Lorraine L. (posted on June 1, 2001)

May 31, 2001
It feels weird but doesn't hurt. I would definately vent it before you go. That means to drain it. I drained mine everyday, it reduces gassy discomfort in your tummy. If you haven't done this yet, I stood over the toilet and just let it drain. I've heard if you don't you may have serious leakage coming out of the hole for a little while. Also, have you been cleared to drive???
   — KATIE B.

June 1, 2001
It did not hurt at all. The doctor taped a big guaze pad over the hole and said it might leak some. Mine didn't leak much at all. I was told I didn't have to drain the tube at home since it wasn't draining much in the hospital. THe doctor drained it just before removing it but it drained very little. Congrats on your weight loss.
   — Karen F.

June 1, 2001
My experience was very painful and I was given a shot of demerol 30 min. before. I would call and ask you surgeon what they expect just to be on the safe side. Good luck
   — Lisa B.

June 1, 2001
My husband and I both had Open RNY and had to leave the tube in for 3 weeks. It did not hurt either of us when it was taken out; in fact, our surgeon was talking to me when he took it out and I didn't even realize he had done it. I could feel when he snipped the sutures holding the tube in, but it didn't hurt. At that visit my surgeon released me to drive and I had no problem driving after that visit. He taped some gauze over it, but it didn't bleed and only drained a small bit. I did have drainage during the 3 weeks that I drained daily. Good luck to you.
   — Liz G.

June 19, 2003
Sorry to be a "wet rag" on this, but they removed mine in the hospital 4 days post-op. The intern pulled it out very quickly and the only way I can describe it was it felt like part of me was being pulled out with it! OUCH!! The only way to aleviate the pain was to move my bed up and down about 6 times and hold a pillow over the spot. He put a big bandage over it, it didn't drain at all really, and I removed the bandage after about 8 days.
   — Lori F