 Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 10,507 Likes: 7 | What you can do to help your brother is speak up for him. Set up his formula for the PEG tube. When I was at my worst, I would skip feedings as it took too much energy to set it up. I would stay in bed and sleep instead of drinking and swallowing. Help him by keeping track of his medications. When a patient is that sick, they need someone to take charge and take care of them as they are unable to do it for themself.
PS... Try to encourage him to swallow sips of water several times per day.
ChristineSCC 6/15/07 L chk & by L molar both Stag I, age44 2x cispltn-35 IMRT end 9/27/07 -65 lbs in 2 mo, no caregvr Clear PET 1/08 4/4/08 recur L chk Stag I surg 4/16/08 clr marg 215 HBO dives 3/09 teeth out, trismus 7/2/09 recur, Stg IV 8/24/09 trach, ND, mandiblctmy 3wks medicly inducd coma 2 mo xtended hospital stay, ICU & burn unit PICC line IV antibx 8 mo 10/4/10, 2/14/11 reconst surg OC 3x in 3 years very happy to be alive  | 
