I just had my take down yestereday and it turned into more than a take down as they had to move 1 gallon of fluid, remove adhesions, and stich up my mesentary. It resulted in the reopening of my laproscpoic incision from my first surgery, a new long vertical incision from, and enlargement of my stoma opening prior closing everything back up. The point is, my belly is really sore, the incisions burn and it kills when I cough. What is the NG tube removal like and what can I do to make it easier if that is needed? Thanks

It really is a piece of cake (sort of). Momentary gagging is the gist of it. I actually removed my own NG tube when the nurses were taking too long to get around to it after the doc wrote the order.

Jan

really? just a little gagging? That is great. I was cocerned that it would result in pretty severe gagging/coughing which would be agony right now

Nope. It's just a matter of seconds.

Jan

It is quick, simple & painless. I thought it would be some kind of procedure but my doc just came in & took it out. It felt so good to have it out. I actually drank a bunch of gatorade because I was so thirsty & missed drinking... yeah but don't do that because you are only supposed to have sips & work your way up to drinking that much. (I didn't get sick or anything but probably wasn't the best idea.)

Good luck with your transition!!!

I don't remember any discomfort at all except sort of a weird sensation. I was still in recovery and trying to put it out myself in a very groggy state of mind. They figured it would be easier to remove it than to have to watch over me. As Jan and Kar said, it's simple and painless. I think it takes less than a couple of seconds....

kathy

Mine fell out all by itself and had a tickling sensation when it did!I`m positive my guardian angel was at work that day.

I've had many NG tubes removed and none of them hurt or caused any discomfort other than momentary tickling in the nose. But it's so quick that it's just a relief to be rid of it.

Good luck with your recovery. Hope you're feeling better soon.

Take care.

Shell

I too have had many many NG tubes and like Jan, as soon as the doctor says it can come out - I take it out myself! I think it feels good to get it out and is a huge relief. The nurse will tell you to take a deep breath in and then she will quickly pull while you breath out and it is over in literally seconds. Don't be afraid, it is quick and I promise it will feel better immediately.

Good luck - hope you feel better real soon!
-Mikaela

My son has had NG tubes several times. He did the same thing Jan did (he was 9).
There are kids with Crohns who are on nightly NG feeds and can both insert and remove their tubes themselves.

Quick and easy with the added benefit of feeling a whole lot better once it is out!

It feels...wierd. NOTHING compared to the agony of it going in, though. The last time I had one it was in for 3 weeks and I was ready to jump out the window. You'll feel so much better once it's out!

I pulled it out on my own after 24 hours. I was berated for doing so by the hospital staff - they wanted to kick my ass! But I felt better, and just couldn't take it any more, and I wanted to breathe. The whole time I had it in I felt like I was being choked, especially the gagging sensation that was produced by the tube contacting the back of my throat. It felt pretty good pulling it out, but I do not recommend anyone else here repeat my spontaneous foolishness. Unlike Jan I have no training as a nurse or with this equipment.

While on the topic of NG tubes I wanted to make one suggestion that might help others while suffering from it. Most of the time they use a spray along with a numbing gel to get the tube down. If you are unlucky enough to get "tubed" you may want to hold on to the spray they use. The stuff I have is called "Hurricaine" and I would spray my throat with that stuff whenever the tube really started to bother me. It is temporary but worth it, just to get that little bit of relief.
As for removal...Simple...It's a quick "boy I feel MUCH BETTER NOW!"
You may have a little bit of a sore throat depending on how it when in and how long you have had it. I have had some nurses do such a bad job of it that I went home and had a sore throat for the next week...Really, I'm not exagerating(SP?)
Julie

This is a little off topic but I was wondering what necessitates the use of a NG tube. I was always told I would wake up with one, yet for my 3 surgeries I have never had one. Is it just for when ilius manifests or do they put it in and leave it in during some surgeries. I know it sounds like a nasty experience but I almost feel jaded that I never got one, didn't get the full experience ya know. Just something this thread has made me come to ponder upon.