AM 07,

I did the Tx without the tube and looking back and after reading hundreds of comments from both people with and without the tube I'm glad I didn't have the tube. That's not to say it was easier because it's definately not, at least in the short run.

Either way remember...THE MOST IMPORTANT THING FOR YOU TO DO THROUGHOUT TREATMENT IS TO DRINK 48 oz OF WATER AND AT DRINK LEAST 2000 CALORIES EACH AND EVERY DAY.

You you that and it won't matter which way you go.

I also went through the whole thing without a PEG. I had a nasal tube after surgery, and my motivation was to avoid having it again.

The Doctor agreed to leave me "tubeless" as long as I maintained my weight within 7 1/2% of my pre-treatment weight.

It was close, but I made it. As David said, it was tough, and very painful many times. You have to keep up both your food and water intake, and at times that required morphine just to allow water to go down.

You will have discomfort and pain either way. You have to decide what is tolerable and what isn't, for you.
Wayne

My Doctor said I'll be getting my PEG soon. I'm not so worried about that procedure; I'm more concerned about the radiation after-effects, if any.

My Doctor said I'll be getting my PEG soon. I'm not so worried about that procedure; I'm more concerned about the radiation after-effects, if any.

The radiation treatments will seem like a non-event for the first 2 weeks, give or take. After that, you'll start feeling the effects.

Mouth sores, sore throat, loss of your sense of taste, fatigue, burns on the skin, thick mucous, generally feeling lousy.

It will get worse and worse over the next few weeks, usually hitting it's worst around week 5. For the next three or four weeks, you will continue to feel the full effects of the rad, and then start to improve.

For me, the pain in my mouth and throat were the toughest, second only by the complete loss of the ability to taste anything at all.

You will likely need potent pain relief through much of this period. It is rough, no question. It is doable though. Take it one day ( or one hour, or even one minute) at a time, and you'll make it though O.K.
Wayne

Does anyone know if I don't do the PEG tube, if my throat closes, can they put an Nasel tube in at any stage and get the same results?

Like I said, i'm 217 lbs. I could stand to lose some weight. 135 lbs is/was my ideal weight

AM 07,

Shorty answer is yes they can put the nasal tube in anytime. It does not require sedation or hospitalization. The only thing that must be done is to x ray after it's been guided down into the stomach to make sure it's in the right place.

If you're completely unable to swallow, they won't be able to do a naso gastric tube. I think if you have an option, the PEG would be preferred. With a nasogastric tube, they will NOT put you to sleep. They simply insert the tube, then x-ray your abdomen to make sure it's properly placed.

Mine was done initially in surgery. They placed a couple of stitches inside my nostril to retain it in proper position, which of course I ripped out accidentally the 2nd day I was awake.

The tube was removed, then relaced. The second round was enough to keep me HIGHLY motivated not to have a nasal tube placed again, if I could avoid it.

If your Doctor is not acknowledging your stress levels, talk to someone else. There is no need at all for you to be this stressed
Wayne

AM2007 - you don't want to be thinking of cancer treatments as a weight loss program regardless if you are over wieght or not. Your body needs nutrients and fuel, and you need to be feeding it so that your recovery time is not extended. You don't want to have a nasal tube for more than a short period. You will have that thing hanging out of your nose in your face and dangling in front of your mouth all the time. I think you can imagine what that looks like and how that will impact how you feel about seeing anyone or going out of the house. Nasal tubes are for use for a few days only, and generally not used for long term feeding which you may need.

I got a call today and they have me setup for the PEG tube for May 4th. They will be knocking me out. Thank God for that. My stress has reduced just knowng that.

Thanks for the imput on the feeding tube through the nose. I will heed your advice on this.