Like I said in those original posts with you Glenn, you are one tough guy, a really nice guy, but a guy's guy kinda tough. You don't work as a cop in the big apple without having some brass balls. My guess is in a test of tolerance of physical discomfort, or even just plain desire to tough it out and get through something, I would always place a distant second to you. And I agree in principle, there are some people who can get through this without the PEG, depending on the degree of damage to their mouth and their ability to stay hydrated and properly nourished.

The problem is for most patients, until they end up in the ER with dehydration, or until the loss of lean body mass and slow healing becomes painfully obvious, damage is already being done. While some get weird about the idea of having a PEG ( I posted on my initial feelings about this a long time ago, and my irrational perspective of this vision of myself with a bag hanging off me was a no denial realization that I was really sick, which is a weird realization for someone who already at least didactically knows they have cancer ) I think that anyone who veiws this very minor procedure with trepidation (especially given radical neck dissections and the other genuinely painful things they do to us.... their fear of it all is misplaced. So we don't come to blows in a dark alley one day, let's make it clear that doesn't mean i'm calling anyone who is fighting the idea of a PEG a pussy.... but your mom does dress you funny.......