#75627 06-13-2008 06:16 PM | Joined: May 2008 Posts: 6 Member | OP  Member
Joined: May 2008 Posts: 6 | My mom has went from a 148 to 115 since Oct. She got the Peg 2 weeks ago and is suppose to be up to 5 cans a day! I've only been able to get 3 cans down in a day. She tells me she is full and doesn't want to have anymore. She hasn't even started treatment or had her teeth pulled yet. She likes the soup from Quizmo's but she can't eat much of it and it's no calories anyway. How can I get 5 cans a day down that tube?
Tracy
Caregiver to my 76 yr old mom
Supraglottic T3N0M0
PEG, No treatment yet we have to get her teeth pulled on July 14th
| | | | | Joined: Feb 2005 Posts: 2,019 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Feb 2005 Posts: 2,019 | Tracy, You can get a pump that will slowly, drip by drip, push stuff down the tube. People usually use it while they sleep. It goes down so slowly that way that she won't have the full feeling except when she wakes up in the morning. It should be covered by insurance if she needs it. Talk to the doc who put her tube in.
If she is swallowing soup, encourage her to keep doing that-even though it has no calories. It's good for her to keep swallowing for as long as she can. Use the pump and the tube at night to help her get her calories.
Nelie
SCC(T2N0M0) part.glossectomy & neck dissect 2/9/05 & 2/25/05.33 IMRT(66 Gy),2 Cisplatin ended 06/03/05.Stage I breast cancer treated 2/05-11/05.Surgery to remove esophageal stricture 07/06, still having dilatations to keep esophagus open.Dysphagia. "When you're going through hell, keep going"
| | | | | Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 10,507 Likes: 7 Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 10,507 Likes: 7 |
Tracy:
Ask your mothers doc about the feeding machine. With the machine, you can load 4 cans and set it for her and then she can feed while she sleeps. Its the easiest way to get thru this. Its imperative for her to have proper nutrition or she wont be able to heal and will have a harder time. Does your mother have a nutritionist? If not, ask where she is being treated. A nutritionist will help you with making sure your mother receives the right amount of nutrition and can help guide you.
Ive used the overnight feeding method since August. I was like your mom and felt full after about 1/2 a can. I also had a hard time tolerating the formula. The feeding pump is very easy to operate.
As Nelie mentioned, its very important that your mom keeps swallowing. She will have an easier time when this is all over if she swallows on a daily basis.
Best of luck to you and your mom. Feel free to ask questions, there are so many wonderful people here willing to help.
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  | | | | | Joined: Oct 2007 Posts: 71 Supporting Member (50+ posts) | | Supporting Member (50+ posts)
Joined: Oct 2007 Posts: 71 | They have gave you great advice I wish I would have known that. I was only taking in 3-4 cans a day because I was so full. So I understand where your mother is coming from and how she feels. I also had my teeth pulled before my treatments so it is good that she has a Peg Tube. ( Don't be in a rush to remove the Peg Tube )I kept mine in for 5 months after treatment until I could get use to wearing my dentures. I went without teeth for a couple of months due to mouth sores. Also after you have your teeth removed you can get little bones spurs growing that can be very painful so ask the dentist about that . They are little tiny pieces of bone they remove them with a twezzer and sometimes they fall out. I even removed one ,I had about 4 all together. It is great that you are there and caring for her needs you will get through this and I hope the information given helps out.
Tammy 43 yr non smoker- Dx-10/11/07 Stage 4 Tongue Cancer Surg.10/17/07, 1/4 Tongue and 14 Lymph nodes 5 positive, Peg tube/Chemo port,Chemo 3 wks/Radiation 6 wks begins 11/07 end 02/08.Teeth removed prior to radiation. PetScan 05/08 CLEAR 09/09. 2011 diag. w/osteoradionecrosis.100 HBO's
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Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 8,311 | Have you tried using cans that provide more calories like Carnation Instant Breakfast VHC that has 560 calories in it's 8 oz can? I didn't have the Peg so I don't know if what I suggest will work as some have said the could use it and others have said it was too thick.
David
Age 58 at Dx, HPV16+ SCC, Stage IV BOT+2 nodes, non smoker, casual drinker, exercise nut, Cisplatin x 3 & concurrent IMRT x 35,(70 Gy), no surgery, no Peg, Tx at Moffitt over Aug 06. Jun 07, back to riding my bike 100 miles a wk. Now doing 12 Spin classes and 60 outdoor miles per wk. Nov 13 completed Hilly Century ride for Cancer, 104 miles, 1st Place in my age group. Apr 2014 & 15, Spun for 9 straight hrs to raise $$ for YMCA's Livestrong Program. Certified Spin Instructor Jun 2014.
| | | | | Joined: May 2008 Posts: 6 Member | | OP Member
Joined: May 2008 Posts: 6 | If I get her on the machine will she be able to get up at night to go to the bathroom? She gets up all night long.
Tracy
Caregiver to my 76 yr old mom
Supraglottic T3N0M0
PEG, No treatment yet we have to get her teeth pulled on July 14th
| | | | | Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 10,507 Likes: 7 Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 10,507 Likes: 7 | Tracy
Yes, she can easily unhook the machine and do what she needs to. Ive used the feeding machine for a long time, it was the only way I could tolerate the formula feedings.
Call her doctor or nutritionist if she has one. They will set it up thru a local medical equipment company. Someone will come out and teach both of you how to work the machine.
Also check with where she is being treated, there may be an option to have a visiting nurse help out too. Since I had the peg tube, my insurance covered a visiting nurse to come out 2 or 3 times per week to check on me. Its very important to keep the peg site clean and its just one less thing to worry about with having a nurse from the hospital looking in on your mom.
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 | | | | | Joined: May 2008 Posts: 73 Supporting Member (50+ posts) | | Supporting Member (50+ posts)
Joined: May 2008 Posts: 73 | Tracy ,
With your post i am infering Your mom is able to walk and move around with ease.
So heres something i learned with my dad.
My dad gets feed every 2 hours and rarely does he gets full cause we all ways make sure hes sitting atleast 20 mins after feed also get a walk, for him walking is kinda exercise which does all the digestion process faster, so after bout 2 hours hes again hungry/empty ... this helped us.
Till date we have not used the machine.
hope it helps you too
- Avinash
My Father,
Age 59, T2N1M0, Stage 3, smoker left 5 years back, casual drinker , NACT with TAXOL +5FU+Cisplatin x 2, and 70 Gy in 35# from 03/10/08 to 04/26/08, no surgery, After Chemo cycles tumor reduced 60%,
Cancer Free now !
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