Your case sounds exactly like my husbands. I so wish I had found this site sooner. We were never told this could happen. I didn't even know what aspiration was. His scans kept showing a lung infection and they would put him on an antibiotic. He kept losing weight and choking more. He finally went to a Swallowing Disorder Clinic and took 8 weeks of therapy. It really helped. Had he done it before he lost 40 lbs he probably could have avoided the tube. He is on it now and trying to get his strength and weight back. We are also looking into surgical alternatives. Another thing I found out too late was that Hormel makes pureed meals - very good meals: chicken & gravy, beef & gravy, pasta & sauces etc. They are in the consistency of mashed potatoes. He had them in the hospital while awaiting his tube and you can buy them ready to heat. Will keep you posted if we find more answers.
Wife Of Ted age 59 Non-smoker, dx 07/2007 cancer in tonsil cavity 40 rad tx Last rad 9/28/07 8 chemo weekly - Erbitux & Alimta dx 03/2008 native kidney tumor cancer 03/2008 kidney removed, 11/2013 Esophageal Dilation 12/2013 Aspiration Pneumonia 01/2014 Aspiration Pneumonia 01/2014 - G Tube - Nothing more by mouth 05/2014 - Aspiration Pneumonia & Sepsis 05/2014 & 06/2014 - Esophageal Dilation 06/2014 - Aspiration Pneumonia 08/2014 - 30 HBO Dives 10/2014 - All teeth extracted |