A feeding tube is a tool to help you get thru this. It is not a big deal at all. Ive always thought that it is so much better to have it than to need it and have to wait a few days for emergency surgery. I dont mean to be negative or scare you at all but Ive gone thru this. When you are dehydrated and malnourished you feel like you are dying. I was so sick and felt so bad that I really thought I was starting to die!

If you are adamant about not having a feeding tube then it is your choice. When I first got sick, at first I said no to a feeding tube and the port. I didnt even have a clear idea what they were or what they entailed but I still said no. The real reason behind my 'no' was that I felt everything was out of my control and I finally had a voice with my own choice and I wanted to use it.

If you do decide to wait on getting a feeding tube, you must not lose weight or your docs will make you get one. That means taking in every single day a minimum of 2500 calories and 48 oz of water. Sounds easy right now but as your swallowing becomes increasingly painful and things dont taste how they should it can be pretty difficult. If you are small and have a fast metabolism you may need even more, like 3500 calories daily. Some can get thru without the tube while others cant. By delaying, you could end up with a nasal tube again. But remember its a temporary measure.

If you cant tell, Im PRO peg while some other members are anti peg. There have been some very heated discussions on the forum about each side insisting their way was the right way. The peg wars are a thing of the past, no arguments are necessary on this subject anymore. It really is a very personal choice to make. Ive tried to give you a balance of both the pros and cons of not getting one at this time. Whichever path you choose, we will support you.