Kris has had the PEG inserted on 2 occasions. Our Team would not start treatment without this in place. Kris did manage to swallow ok for the first 3 weeks of radiation and chemo. His oral intake then tailed off dramatically. He was just nauseated and vomited a lot from the thick secretions that developed in the throat. Although he continued to swallow, he could not maintain his weight and he needed to use the PEG. Kris lost around 40 pounds through treatment, despite using the PEG with Ensure for nutrition.
Although Kris had a high pain tolerance and did not use any pain killers through treatment ( very unusual ) it was the thick ropey saliva and secretions that were his undoing, causing excess nausea and vomiting. He also lost all interest in food and eating. The PEG really was a life saver.
Tammy