There is some truth in everything. I used the PEG while maintaining swallowing through almost 100 OZ of water daily and a milkshake every night. The PEG was my nutrition and used for vegetable juices, baby foods, Naked Juice, and Jevity. Had I not had the flu or battled a severe tongue ulcer I would have lost maybe 7 to 10 pounds. You don't appreciate it until you need it. My SLT group never had to force any swallowing exercises on me and I could not wait to get the PEG removed when I could maintain my weight for 10 straight days without using it. Never lost the capability.

Age 55 HPV 16+ SCC, BOT 050613 Stage IV
great team at OSU
Tx 6 weeks of rad started June 3
8 weeks of chemo started May 28
RTOG Phase III trial Cetuximab group.
Treatment completed 7/16/2013
PET Scan completed 10/08/13
Results discussed 10/11/13
NED - Free but am I
Next part of the journey?
1year PET 10/24/14 NED
Good reports now 10 years out.