I still have my PEG and use it from time to time. I still have it as I can not chew any food without pain. When my family goes to eat I take my food with me and "eat" along with them. It took my a long time to get to the point that I coudl do that. Yes, I do get stares and people look at me, I just politely smile at them. It is amazing how many changes your body goes through. For me I can swallow fine one day and then the next day I can only get down water, because everything tlse stays at the top of the throat, but then the next I can swallow pudding again. Radiation, the gift that keeps on giving. It will get easier with time or at least it did for me.