| Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 10,507 Likes: 7 Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 10,507 Likes: 7 | Roma, you made a good decision to go with the peg tube. Its so much better to have it and not need it than to need it and its not there. There is tons of info on here about the PEG tube. Dont worry, we will help you learn how to use it.
Glad you will tell the doc about your husbands mouth bleeding. Some people are more sensitive to the effects of radiation and have a very sore mouth. Make sure he is rinsing several times per day with water, baking soda and salt mixture. This will help soothe his mouth. ChristineSCC 6/15/07 L chk & by L molar both Stag I, age44 2x cispltn-35 IMRT end 9/27/07 -65 lbs in 2 mo, no caregvr Clear PET 1/08 4/4/08 recur L chk Stag I surg 4/16/08 clr marg 215 HBO dives 3/09 teeth out, trismus 7/2/09 recur, Stg IV 8/24/09 trach, ND, mandiblctmy 3wks medicly inducd coma 2 mo xtended hospital stay, ICU & burn unit PICC line IV antibx 8 mo 10/4/10, 2/14/11 reconst surg OC 3x in 3 years very happy to be alive | | | | Joined: May 2010 Posts: 224 Gold Member (200+ posts) | Gold Member (200+ posts) Joined: May 2010 Posts: 224 | Not everyone can go without a peg, no matter how much I tried, i just couldn't do it. My sores in my mouth and throat got so bad, and on top of that the nausea. I needed a peg and PICC line. I only had to use my peg for a month or two, but it really didn't do much good for me anyways, cuz the hospital staff gave me cdiff when they put it in, and that caused other problems which made tolerating feedings unbearable!
He says now that he won't allow a peg, but he may feel differently later into treatment. I was deadset on not having the peg, but 3 weeks in started my 12 days of not being able to eat or drink anything, and then they finally put in a PICC and then 3 days later the peg.
Usually they won't do NG tube during radiation because of the sores in the throat and the irritation it can cause, and also possible infection because it rubs up against sores and can cause openings and more room for bacteria to get in!
Nausea is different for everyone, but if his current anti nausea med isn't working, he should talk to the doc and they can switch and try different meds, they had tried 5 different meds on me before they found the one that worked best, and even then, i still vomitted, so sometimes, it's just something you have to deal with!
I hope he can make it through this without the peg, but if it comes down to the point where he isn't getting his meds, liquid or any nourishment, and you tell him he either does eat or drink or gets the peg, maybe that will help, but if he just can't, don't let him be stubborn, there may be other options for him depending on where he's at in treatments.
Also NG tube is really only meant to be in no longer then 3 weeks, Any longer then that and it can cause damage and sores in the throat.
I wish you both well and will be thinking of you as he goes through treatments, but you may have to be his rock, and harshly suggest certain things if you see he's being too stubborn and could really hurt himself!
25/female at diagnosis Dx;stage 3 SCC tongue 03/25/2010 Surgery 04/13/2010 Trach,ng tube, peg feeding tube Hemiglossectomy, right side neck dissection, 40 lymph nodes removed. Free-Flap transplant to tongue. 30 rounds IMRT ended July 15,2010 | | | | Joined: May 2010 Posts: 224 Gold Member (200+ posts) | Gold Member (200+ posts) Joined: May 2010 Posts: 224 | ok, i just read the rest of the comments, lol sorry. Glad he got the peg. And yes, he should not be brushing his tongue during radiation. The top layer is essentially being burned off, and the peeling is understandable cuz he brushed it!! I was told not to go anywhere near my tongue when brushing.. and i still don't brush it and am 4 months out of radiation. So no more brushing the tongue... i don't know what they will do now that it is bleeding, may stop treatment for a while to try to let it heal, but no matter what they do, i hope no more problems like that come up!! Also maybe getting a extra soft/sensitive or baby toothbrush. That is what my rad onc told me to get as the bristles are much softer and even that still hurt towards the end, but i noticed a big difference when i switched to it.
Keep up the good fight!!
25/female at diagnosis Dx;stage 3 SCC tongue 03/25/2010 Surgery 04/13/2010 Trach,ng tube, peg feeding tube Hemiglossectomy, right side neck dissection, 40 lymph nodes removed. Free-Flap transplant to tongue. 30 rounds IMRT ended July 15,2010 | | |
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