Wilma,

I didn't want the Peg and my doctors went along even though I couldn't afford to loose a pound going into Tx. I didn't find this site until after my Tx was over so I didn't have this site's wisdom to help guide me. It probably wouldn't have made a difference in my decision not to get the Peg because I was in denial and I wouldn't have listened anyway.

That said, I am glad I didn't get the Peg but I will tell you there were times when I could have used it. There are times when my mouth was so sore and the pain meds were making me so nauseated that swallowing anything was horrible to impossible so I would lie to my wife and tell here I was drinking my water and my food when I was not. That led to dehydration, constipation, weakness and 3 trips to the ER to get fluids. The reason I am glad that I didn't is that it did cause me to keep swallowing every day and I never have any swallowing problems.

If I had to do it over again, God Forbid, I would want weekly chemos instead of a big bay every 3 weeks; I would want frequently SCHEDULED IV fluids; I would want to target 3000 cals a day instead of 2000; I would get a Port and I wouldn't get the Peg.


David

Age 58 at Dx, HPV16+ SCC, Stage IV BOT+2 nodes, non smoker, casual drinker, exercise nut, Cisplatin x 3 & concurrent IMRT x 35,(70 Gy), no surgery, no Peg, Tx at Moffitt over Aug 06. Jun 07, back to riding my bike 100 miles a wk. Now doing 12 Spin classes and 60 outdoor miles per wk. Nov 13 completed Hilly Century ride for Cancer, 104 miles, 1st Place in my age group. Apr 2014 & 15, Spun for 9 straight hrs to raise $$ for YMCA's Livestrong Program. Certified Spin Instructor Jun 2014.