This is my first post so I hope I am doing this correctly. I need some advice. My father is 4 weeks post treatment(35 radiation and 8 Erbitux) (sorry, I don't know all the acronyms) He had a pegtube placed but was bound and determined not to use it. Taste went within first 10 treatments and he relied on Ensure to get him through. Was able to maintain weight within of 10 lbs of start weight all through treatment. As the last week of treatment started, my brother and I noticed his reserves were starting to fail him. I asked the doctor about placing him the hospital for a few nights so we could get him into a physical therapy inpatient setting. Oncologist did so but insisted on only using feeding tube. He was transferred to rehab 5 days later. Felt generally miserable for about first 5 days of being there. Some ups(wound care created a gentamycin(sp?) and lidocaine cream to speed facial burn healing. 4 weeks later almost everything is completely healed and looking great) and some downs( not enough free water was given for several days until I did some research and found usual rule of thumb is 35 ml per klgram of bodyweight. They kept saying his altered mental state was due to his minor dementia and we should be prepared to accept this is how he would be. Finally transferred to hospital. Some ups( got all of his medications straightened out and is receiving proper amount of free water) and some downs ( he has pnuemonia in the right lower lung that is not responding to antibiotics. Did a modified barium swallow that confirmed NO aspiration but the pulmonologist says he is "micro aspirating". Have now had a ct to confirm. We are waiting on the results. His swallowing was never really an issue through treatment only after it was complete. Took all meds by mouth, etc. First week or two post treatment the pegtube was a blessing as he felt miserable. All throat pain has about gone. Sorry for such a long drawnout post but has anyone heard of microaspiration pnuemonia? Really becoming frustrated. Thanks so much