Question:
What is an NG tube?

   — Kitty G. (posted on September 15, 2001)

September 15, 2001
An NG tube is a very small tube that is inserted through the nose to the stomach. It is to drain any excess stomach fluids. It can irritate your throat a little, but is not painful. I think mine came out after my first day post-op. It is very helpful to keep from bloating too much, and some people actually have it out by the time they leave recovery. Nothing to worry about. Doesn't hurt to come out, either. Good luck.
   — Maria H.

September 15, 2001
The NG tube is a tube that goes from your nose into your new stomach and is used to drain the blood. It was the worst part of my surgery. I could not wait for them to pull that thing out. It was in for the first 24 hours and I truly did not feel human again until it was removed. It's not that it hurt, it was just incredibly irritating.
   — [Anonymous]

September 15, 2001
Another thing to add about the NG tube is that it is put in during surgery when you are asleep. They will usually leave it in for a day or so to drain the fluid from your stomach. It helps to reduce the nausea. I don't even remember when they took it out (must have hit the pca pump first!).
   — georgiacarol

September 18, 2001
I had a gastric bleed two days after my rny and had to have an ng tube inserted. It was not fun!!! I had it in for 7 days and couldn't eat or dring anything....I could only suck on ice chips. It drains blood from your stomach, through a tube in your nose and into a jug. You won't have to worry about visitors staying very long!!! After a few days, the tube really did hurt the back of my throat. For me, it was the worst part of the whole wls experience. My surgery and recovery went well and if not for the ng tube, I could have gone home on the fourth day. It would have been better if they had inserted it while I was in the operating room ...but...my surgeon said he stopped doing that because the vast majority of his patients didn't need it. I guess I was the exception.
   — [Anonymous]