 Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 10,507 Likes: 7 | Roma, I am one who favors the PEG tube. Ive gone thru OC 3 times and have used a feeding tube each time. Minh is a rarity, most people who do not get the PEG struggle with nutrition and hydration. It seems like she is one who had an easier time of it than most.
Its so much better to have one and not need it than to need one and its not there. Then you have to wait a couple of days for all the paperwork before you can get one. Ive seen many people go thru this without it and end up getting an emergency one anyway. I also had a port for the chemo, which was very helpful.
The Carnation Instant Breakfast is different than the Carnation Very High Calorie formula. The Carnation VHC is 560 calories per can. When things get rough and swallowing is difficult, getting the most calories per swallow is very important. Its not easy to find. I order this thru the Amazon link right on the forum pages so that OCF gets a tiny kickback.
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  | 
