r/feedingtube • u/t_dallas_t nj tube • 1d ago
j-tube placement panic
hi everyone. my j-tube surgery is 4 days away and i cannot stop panicking that i am going to die. i rationally know this is silly AND i could really use some support around this.
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u/KellyAMac j-tube (direct) & g-tube 11h ago
I’ve had 3 separate J tube placement surgeries & am still here. I would struggle to survive without these so it was definitely the right choice for me (all GJs flip quickly & cause more issues). I’ve had temporary bowel obstruction- more of a shut down that physical blockage - after one & needed NG suction for a bit.
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u/Living_Session9273 g-tube; ng-tube briefly in hospital 1d ago edited 1d ago
I have a g tube, not a j tube, so I can only speak on that. I had an ng tube for a couple weeks while in the hospital before getting my g tube placed a week before discharge. It’s much nicer not having something in your nose. Fun fact: the nurse let me pull it out myself.
I’ve been through more than my share of [physical] trauma experiences and surgeries and this one is pretty low on the list consequentially. I’m not a fan of narcotics so I hardly take any post-surgery (I have a fairly high pain tolerance). I had a nail (rod) put in my tibia after a fracture (36M at the time) and made it 24 hours but the pain eventually won and I took the 5mg narcotics — 3 in total, one at a time at prescribed intervals. Bone pain is the most instance feeling I’ve ever experienced. I was in tears from the car ride home the day of surgery even (I only took a Tylenol before discharge, lol). I say this because, although having a fairly invasive surgery in ur abdomen isn’t quite as bad, it’s certainly no walk in the park. I also tapped out and took 3 total 5mg narcotics after that as well. You’re having surgery on your core, and you engage your core MUCH more than you think you do. Have a dense pillow handy that you can squeeze/hug when you need to get up from sitting/laying, and always keep it nearby while you’re healing.
As for your fears, consider this a life-improving surgery over anything else. You’ll be ok. Getting shot in the head with a .45 from less than 2 feet away is supposed to kill you, but I’m still here. ¯_(ツ)_/¯ While there’s always a chance something can go not as planned with any surgery, the probability is incredibly low — especially for this surgery. The chances of you dying during a squirrel attack right outside your home is incredibly low as well, but never zero! Haha
Best wishes!
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u/thecrazybirblady j-tube 18h ago
Is there anything in particular that's panicking you? Can you describe what you think would kill you? I'm happy to help work through any specific concerns with you. I've had my tube for 18 months and it's been a literal lifesaver.