My husband had his PEG put in yesterday as day stay surgery. Everything went just dandy until the ride home in the car. He started to feel sick then he passed out and puked his guts up. In that order. While I was driving on the freeway. He didn't aspirate but it was pretty awful. He's felt awful since. Doesn't want to eat, feels sick to his stomach, colour washes out at times and he's hardly gotten out of bed. He's a little better this evening but still way worse than I'd have expected.

The PEG site looks good, he hasn't had a fever or anything but I'm concerned because he's had the wind knocked right out of his sails.

I think this is a big physical hit when it is stacked on top of a general anaesthetic 6 weeks ago (biopsy/panendoscopy) followed by having most of his teeth removed in two lots against of background of cancer. I can't speak for him but it also seems like a huge mental hit -- now there's a tube coming out of your body and the discomfort and nausea is just a dose of what is around the corner............

Anybody else out there feel dreadful after having their PEG put in?

He starts radiation day after tomorrow and chemo sometime in the next 3-4 days although we are still waiting to hear exactly when.

It could be a bad reaction to the anesthesia. When getting a peg tube put in, its normal to be sore and not feel 100% for at least a day or 2. Some members feel lousy for 3 or 4 days. Your husband has had alot done in a short amount of time. Most patients would be sore and not feel the best if they had undergone what your husband has.

One thing that will pull him out of this funk is to make sure his nutrition and hydration are where they should be. He needs to consume a minimum of 48 ox water and 2500 calories every single day. He cant short one day and try to make up for it the next. With everything he has been thru recently, its very possible his nutrition and hydration needs are not being met which can make someone feel horrible. I was malnourished and dehydrated, I felt so bad I really believed I was dying. I ended up getting IV hydration at the hospital's chemo lab and immediately felt better like a new person. Please pay very close attention to your husband's intake as it will make all the difference in how much he struggles to get thru his treatments.

Hope he feels much better very soon.

Hi - I did the puke thing on the way home from my insertion, though it may have been the liquid codeine I was told to take before I left the hospital. I was okay after a day or so but never coud use the peg. good luck.

Hi Laura,

Simon felt dreadful for at least 10 days after the peg was inserted. We were all surprised (I'm being polite here) that he was not on painkillers and was sent home in the state he was in. We thought something had gone seriously wrong. It passed, however, and he thinks the PEG is a godsend. I still think his pain was mismanaged. Perhaps everyone reacts differently and both Simon and your hubby are within the normal range. Having said that, if you have doubts (as a nurse) get him seen to.

Re: Christine's comment about hydration, I rang Simon a couple of times a day during his treament and my first question was always how much have you had to drink. He has a kidney condition, and keeping hydrated was imperative. He drank and continues to drink 2.5-3 litres a day, and I think this was a big part of him getting through the treatment in one piece. See if you can encourage him to drink as much as possible.

You'll both get through this. I remember we all were counting down the weeks of radiation and up to week 5 it seemed to go mighty slowly, and then time just rocketed along. I can hardly believe he's 6 weeks out from his treatment. I'm thinking of you. My family were all just there where you are now. Linda

I got sick to my stomach when I had my PEG placed. I also had a lot of pain the first day. I hated the thing, but was really glad I had it. It will get better with time. I was also worried that I would have problems when it was removed, but that was a piece of cake!

Thank you all. It is reassuring to hear that the PEG insertion wasn't a piece of cake. I swear it seemed like he'd aged overnight. He complained of pain and nausea afterwards but seemed a little better each day. He was reluctant to eat much of anything, even with encouragement, which is a concern because he doesn't have any time left to make up ground, much less get ahead. He's already down to 60 kg and it hit me how skinny he is already in spite of putting in a great effort to eat these past few weeks. He knows how important it is, everyone has told him he doesn't have the weight to lose but getting himself to eat when he feels poorly is going to be a battle -- for both of us. I predict at some point we will have words over this.

He started radiation yesterday and gets the first of 3 rounds of cisplatin today. Cross your fingers................

Nutrition and hydration are something that your husband must get enough of or it will make him feel awful. I thought I was doing ok but ended up hospitalized a few times for malnutrition and dehydration. This is something you will want to discuss with your husband now while he is still feeling ok. He must understand that if he chooses to not get enough calories and water daily then he will have a much harder time with his treatments. It is not optional, every single day he must get enough.

Ive seen so many people sail right thru treatments and have noticed what they have in common, its good nutrition and plenty of water every single day. If your husband understands up front this is not up for negotiation, it is mandatory then hopefully he will help himself and comply.

Every single day he must get a minimum of 48 oz of water and 2500 calories. I cant stress this enough. Ive seen others who have struggled and shorted themselves. I would warn them to push to get more and all too often I have seen these same patients hospitalized due to malnutrition and dehydration. If you are able to push your husband now and get him on board with this then he will have an easier time of it.

Best wishes!!!