My brother just called me. He lives in Michigan and I live in Minnesota. When he went to the dentist to check over his gums from all the extractions they decided to again cut and grind off some jaw bone. Same dentist who after extracting 32 teeth at once sent him home with Vicodin. He ended up in the local emergency room 36 hours later due to the pain. Today he sent him home without any pain medication. When my brother asked for some he said he wouldn't need any.
My question is this. They haven't put in a PEG yet because they couldn't see the light through his skin and need to do a CAT scan to put in the PEG. They're going to begin chemo on Monday so they're waiting on the PEG because they are concerned that the chemo could cause an infection doing both at the same time (PEG and chemo). So the plan is 5 days chemo 2 days off, put in PEG and then begin 5 days radiation, 2 days off, 5 days radiation 2 days off until the 7th week and the 7th week do five days of chemo. Now my brother was kind of out of it when we talked so I'm not sure he's got that right but I'm wondering if they're worried about chemo and an infection with PEG wouldn't there be the same concern about 6 stitches just now being put in his mouth (Wed) and starting chemo on Monday? I asked my brother if he told the other drs. what the dentist did today which was unexpected and he said he didn't. I told him tomorrow to call the VA and let them know what happened today at the dentist. He's bummed. He was just getting over the pain from the extractions, all set for the PEG tube which they knocked him out for and didn't do and now this new cutting on his jawbone.
Sorry for rambling but he's already frustrated and the tough times are still ahead.