DCS,

I had a PEG from just prior to start of Tx until about 5 weeks post Tx. I hated the thing so much that it really gave me incentive to get back to eating by mouth as soon as possible. I actually had made an appt. to have the tube removed 3 weeks post Tx but backed out at the last minute. I think I was starting to develop a dependence on the tube and that really got me to thinking. I did not want to get dependent on it or anything else as I just wanted my life back as I formerly knew it. I simply forced myself to eat all as necessary by mouth, pain or no pain. Once I did that for a week I made another appt. and ended up with the PEG removed a week later. I actually lost about 8 more pounds after it was removed before I finally bottomed out at a total loss of 40 pounds, 145 vs. 185. I recall being quite nervous on the way home wondering if I had done the right thing. I panicked at the thought of possibly having to go back to the hospital to have another PEG installed if indeed I had made a mistake. I did see how easy it could have been to become dependent on the tube and not have to worry about normal eating but quickly snapped out of that mode.

Bill D.