Thank you both for your comments. To answer your question about where in England, I am in Southend-on-sea in Essex. I have also had a part of my jawbone removed, but only a very small part. I have read some of the postings on PEGs. I think what bothers me most is the thought of having a tube shoved down my throat while I am still awake. I don't seems to get on too well with tubes. They tried to put a nasogastric tube up my nose in the hospital and I had such a bad reaction they had to give up !