Installation of a feeding tube

Morning

Im really sorry you have found yourself here. I’m no expert and many others will be a long shortly to share their experiences too.

My husband had a PEG tube fitted 2 weeks before he started chemo radiation. This was fairly recent in Dec 2019. I know had one fitted fairly recently too.

It wasn’t pleasant but essential (either a PEG or nasal tube are required to get sufficient calories to keep well).

He was conscious throughout but once he’d “swallowed” the camera he was sedated with Medazolam and given pain relief. The procedure took less than an hour but then he stayed in a further 4 hours for monitoring. He can’t remember some of the procedure due to the sedation but he was definitely awake. He was a bit “drunk” I suppose and that definitely helped.

Just think of this as the first step towards getting rid of the pesky lodger that has taken up residence somewhere in your head or neck. Hubby had tonsil cancer.

There will be many hurdles and you will jump them all.

Please shout up if I can help in any way and good luck. 

Due to my age, and anxiety about the procedure, they did mine under a general anaesthetic. try and stock up on painkillers too. 

Best of luck.x 

3 weeks post treatment and slowly getting better. 

Hi, Septicpeg  If anybody is offered a PEG or RIG feeding tube, my advice is to have it. During the installation you will be given painkillers and sedation, so you have no pain. It is well worth any discomfort that may come with it.  Many  people on here including myself, have been relient on them, during and after treatment.  All the best to you.

Regards Ray.

Good evening Septicpeg, I had my PEG fitted in 2008 and was asleep when they fitted it so did not have to do the swallowing etc, a lot depends on how it is fitted as some people have a RIG fitted which is basically the same but fitted differently.  As i say mine was quite a few years ago and times have changed, mostly for the better. Please mention any concerns you have in having a PEG or RIG  fitted as I think you still have options on what sedation you have. It's great that they have offered to fit a feeding tube now rather than later as some consultants do. Wishing you all the best, take care.

                                                                                     Chris.

Hello

I had my PEG fitted a couple of weeks before start of treatment, back in June last year.I remember very little now about it and all I felt at the time was the camera going down my throat. It wasn’t dreadful at all and the rest I don’t remember at all. I was in hospital over night. I was in a lot of pain for a few days..felt like really really bad bruising but gradually wore off. It was invaluable to me as at the beginning of week three of treatment I was reliant on it, for food, fluids and medication. I used it until two months post treatment. It was no trouble at all once it had settled down.

very best wishes..

And just to add the procedure only took 15 minutes from leaving the ward to returning!

Hi Septic peg

My hubby had his RIG fitted on Monday the 10th Feb. He started 6 chemotherapy and 30 radiotherapy on the 12th Feb.He was in overnight but that is procedure where we live. Basically they inserted an NG tube up through nose  down back of throat into stomach.  Air is pumped through this into stomach. The peg/rig is inserted through stomach layers. All with pain relief. He swore he would never use it but it's been invaluable. He has 1 Chemo and 7 radio left, I'd say he's used his RIG for at least 6 weeks.

Very few problems with it .

All the best 

Lisa x x

Sorry he has used the rig for the last 3 weeks !

I had my PEG fitted under general anaesthetic on Wednesday and on the Saturday I was pain-free!

It’s trust policy to fit them under general, but I wish to god I had only had sedation. I react badly to general anaesthetics and was sick as a dog. I have teeth out under sedation because a I have wonky roots and sedation is brilliant!

As to the pain from having a tube shoved in your abdominal wall, the first 24 hours was bad and I was scared to move. But most of the problem was that I felt so ill from the anaesthetic and was lying down, so I had to use my stomach muscles each time I tried to sit up or get out of bed and it flippin’ hurt every time I was sick! They gave me morphine, though. After that I was still struggling to move a bit on day 2, but pain very well controlled with simply two paracetamol and two ibuprofen taken at the same time four times a day. Day three I went for a nice walk and was simply a little wary of the pain.

Other people on here have said what a relief it is not to have to worry about eating when their mouths start to get sore from the radio.

So don’t worry about the PEG; it will be fine. Weird, but fine.

xx

I didn't have a PEG but I have had two procedures under midozalam, a dental implant and a gastroscopy and I can tell you that you won't remember a single thing.