Tube fitting – the operation

"There was bit of pain afterwards, but it didn't stop me sleeping"
- Jason

Jason and Terry both were surprised at how quick and simple the procedure was, and how soon they recovered. Jason wrote a blog and made a video diary just after he had his RIG tube fitted – you can find links to these on Jason’s My Story page. Everyone will recover at their own pace, but for many people it does not take too long to get back to daily life.

There can be a bit of discomfort afterwards, and this is often managed well with painkillers. You may need to be in hospital for a few days for tests beforehand, and also training afterwards on how to feed and how to look after your tube. Once you get home, you will have local healthcare staff visit you to support you as you get used to feeding.

Having a tube fitted is a relatively minor operation, and for most people it goes very well. As with any procedure however, there are some risks. These risks will be different for each person, depending upon how the condition is affecting you. Your care team and surgeon will explain all the benefits and risks to you before you agree to having a feeding tube placed.

It is worth taking a list of your questions and concerns with you to the assessment. A very useful list of suggested questions to ask has been developed by PENG (a group of dietitians who specialise in tube feeding.) You can find it here and in External resources.