My kiddo got a GJ tube (she also has Gastroparesis, which is why she needed a GJ tube vs. just a G tube). The surgery is the same, they just put in a tube that is threaded through the stomach into the jejunum.
It was 3 days in the hospital for us. My daughter woke up in a lot of pain and was given IV pain meds immediately. They helped a lot. She was given IV morphine for the first day or two (every 4-6 hours) and then switched to oral pain meds. Some kids don't even need that - they are given oral pain meds much sooner or even just Tylenol.
It really varies depending on the kiddo. Some kids just need Tylenol, and others, like my daughter, need pain meds for a few days.
She found things using her abdominal muscles (sitting up from lying down, coughing, laughing) very painful for a few days. But she was up and walking within an hour of waking up from the surgery (which was as soon as it was allowed).
Hmmm...besides that, I can't think of much else. She hated having a NJ tube (since it has to stay in all the time vs. the NG tube, which she inserted by herself and didn't mind at all) so she was very glad to get the GJ tube. Unfortunately, for us the GJ tube didn't work - the J portion would flip back into her stomach, which resulted in 20 or so tube changes.
Eventually, we went to a separate J tube. That surgery was much harder on her. It was an open abdominal surgery (about a 2 inch incision through her belly button) vs the GJ tube, which is essentially putting a hole in the stomach.
Now she has a separate G tube and a separate J tube. The G tube we use for venting, the J is for formula. The G tube site is VERY easy to maintain and she recently learned how to change the G tube herself (it was VERY easy - she said like changing a giant earring). It doesn't hurt when it's changed.
About a month after the surgery she had site infection. We were told they're not that common, so we were just unlucky. It took two courses of antibiotics to clear it up.
The site does leak a little (most do), so she uses fabric G tube pads we get on Etsy.
Feeding Tube Awareness is a great organization with LOTS of tips and tricks about G tube (and GJ/J tubes). They have a whole section about the surgery:
Some surgeons will go straight to a Mickey button, others will put in a longer, dangling tube first. Our surgeon put in a long tube first and once the site had healed, switched to a button. My daughter did not like the long tube - it hurt when it got pulled (so tape it down) and it showed through her clothes.
She only had it a couple of weeks though and then we switched to a button. She LOVES the button (we use Mickey buttons but some people prefer the AMT Mini) and it is very small and inconspicuous. No one would know it was there unless she told them.
As for cleaning, she will use a q-tip and clean the site once or twice a day - she just wipes it clean. When she's in the shower, she uses soap to wash it. Nothing special or difficult to do.
Once the G tube site heals completely (which will take 4-6 weeks), it should not hurt. My daughter can move her tube around and even replace it without any pain.
Good luck!! If your daughter has any specific questions, we are happy to answer them (or at least, we'll try).
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