Amazed!
So, after 13 1/2 years, my ever present, ever trusty, good buddy PEG tube was yanked out for the last time in February (you may feel some discomfort the doc says- a bit of an understatement I says), yeeeeee haaawwwwww!! I am amazed and, it's still hard to believe, that 2 1/2 years after my laryngectomy, and lots of swallow related challenges, that my spiffily newly remodeled esophagus (done when I had the laryngectomy- a twofer as it were) is at last functioning flawlessly; I can really swallow!! I honestlly never thought that it would happen, and I was fine living with my PEG, after all, we ran marathons, backpacked, hiked up mountains, and surfed together, so why not just keep the status quo, I was good with that; no problem, as they say. It just goes to show you that you never know what will happen in our lives thanks to medical miracles. But, being tubeless, and and able to swallow has made a sea change in my life; it is so wonderful to not only swallow, but to also taste the food, and of course beverages (yes, that does include spirited thirst quenchers) that I am pouring down (yes, still a liquid diet), it is soooooo gooooooood! We're talk'in 13 1/2 years here folks!
Oh, and I am also amazed that after almost 11 years of having no saliva and industrial strength mucus in my mouth while I was unable to swallow, my salliva glands started pumping again, and the mucus is much thinner in viscosity, and less in volume after my laryngectomy, really,,,,, go figure. So, no more of the small spray bottles of Mouthkote stashed in my vehicle, and pants pockets. I do have to say, that I am really glad that I didn't have saliva when I couldn't swallow, do you know that we pump out gallons of the stuff a day, and all of that saliva and not being able to swallow would have been a problem.
I am very thankful, and appreciative that I am just still here, and now that I am able to swallow and taste, life is even better than it was before, and before, life was real good. It's been a long journey with lots of challenges and a few gauntlets, but always I remind myself to keep it mov'in forward one step, one day at a time. I am just happy to be here, and to share my joy of once more being able to taste and swallow with you my friends, and warriors. I truly am amazed every time that I taste and swallow anything, it just goes to show, that you never know what will happen with time, perseverance and patience.
PATRICK
Comments
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You cheered me up no end, my
You cheered me up no end, my throat is blocked and I live with a PEG tube(7 months now) I was beginning to think I'd never eat and drink properly ever again but you give me hope thank you.......
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Goodbye PEG
That is great! I remember "talking" to you last year and you telling me about your reconstruction. I was so interested in it, and was even pursueing talking to a doctor about having it done so I could also swallow again. Never made it that far as having an "elective" surgery like that, but as a surgery I needed to save my life.
You had given me all the details, so when the doctor described the surgery I would need- there were absolutely no suprises. (Guess my only real suprise is what the forearm looks like - still kinda freaks me out - and if I'm going to be freaked out - so is everyone else - Short Sleeves for ME!)
I also thought I had never be able to eat again (or drink). So, Thank Yor for being my inspiration! And good bye PEG!
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Hi Patrick
I am happy for you because it gives me hope that maybe someday I too will be able to swallow again. The thing we all need to remember is that our body is a remarkable piece of machinery that God created to heal itself, and with the help of modern day medicine anything is possible. On the saliva and mucus I am not so lucky as you were, I am always looking for somewhere to spit and sometimes I need to carry a cup and paper towel. Other times I wake up in the morning with pain in my chest because while I was sleeping and swallowing the saliva was going into my lungs.
But I like you am just glad to still be here and still able to do some of the things I love to do. I am going home next month for 2 weeks, it will be the 1st time in 3 years when this crap all started, I can’t wait to get back.
Thanks again my brother for the hope that you give us all.
Tim Hondo
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What activities planned?michdjp said:Great news
I can almost feel your excitement! That is great and am so glad you can enjoy and taste things again.
all my best
michelle
Hey Paddy (as we'd call you here) will this increase the activities you do even more? What you got planned? Love to hear your plans! G.
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patricke, that is really
patricke, that is really AMAZING! i'm so happy for you. your attitude definitely helped with that. keep on improving, you are an inspiration!!
dj
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ACTIVITIESGuzzle said:What activities planned?
Hey Paddy (as we'd call you here) will this increase the activities you do even more? What you got planned? Love to hear your plans! G.
Hey Guzzle, being able to swallow makes all of the activities from hiking, and biking, to kayaking, and running easier, because now when I need to hydrate or eat, instead of having to stop, pull out my funnel, pour it in, wait for it to go down, and then reverse the process tucking tube and funnel away, all I do is drink fluids or liquid food (on the trail it is FiberSource HN, and Boost Very High Calorie for breakfast) which takes about a minute. It is a lot less cumbersome, and I don't have to worry about making sure I alwaws have a funnel (I had them stashed everywhere), keeping my tube secured to my chest, or accidentally getting it snagged on something, like a door knob, and yanked out. I plan to do more backpacking, and hopefully next January begin a long walk in the wilderness on the FL Trail, south to north, which is about a thousand and change miles long. So, the activities won't be different, just easier. My trusty tube was never a stopper, just a slower for activites. Did I mention that Diane and I did tandem skydives to celebreate our 35th wedding anniversary a few years ago, so tube or not I can't think of any activites that we can not do, it is just a matter of figuring out how to do it safely and securely with a tube for some of those fun things. Play on............*
PATRICK
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I would walk 1000 miles.....debbiejeanne said:patricke, that is really
patricke, that is really AMAZING! i'm so happy for you. your attitude definitely helped with that. keep on improving, you are an inspiration!!
dj
...but you'd hit water in the UK! How long will you allow for that adventure! Well done to you and Diane for throwing yourself out of a perfectly airworthy plane. Its fun isn't it! The sky is the limit for you both. IM on week 4 rads. Just jogged 3 miles as determined to keep active. Cycled 20 at weekend. Basically just doing the bare minimum to keep active. Got 2nd cisplatin of 3 tomorrow but the last one didn't seem to have any real impact. So been lucky so far with activity but I can feel a sore throat creeping up on me. No peg so will just have to chew a painkiller and get calories in. IM off to have a look at your trail on the internet now. Sounds awesome. Regards, Gary.
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Grow up?Greg53 said:Hero
Patrick
I wanna be like you when I grow up!
Sir, you always amaze me. Running, hiking, parachuting, surfing...................and no complaining. You are The Man!
Congrats on being de-pegged!
Best
Greg
Greg can understand why you'd wanna be like Paddy. Hes so tough he surfed and sky dived with a peg so who doesn't! But grow up? Come on! G.
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THE TREKGuzzle said:I would walk 1000 miles.....
...but you'd hit water in the UK! How long will you allow for that adventure! Well done to you and Diane for throwing yourself out of a perfectly airworthy plane. Its fun isn't it! The sky is the limit for you both. IM on week 4 rads. Just jogged 3 miles as determined to keep active. Cycled 20 at weekend. Basically just doing the bare minimum to keep active. Got 2nd cisplatin of 3 tomorrow but the last one didn't seem to have any real impact. So been lucky so far with activity but I can feel a sore throat creeping up on me. No peg so will just have to chew a painkiller and get calories in. IM off to have a look at your trail on the internet now. Sounds awesome. Regards, Gary.
Hey Gary,
I'm glad to hear that you are able to stay active during treatment, that's great! Keep those shoes hitting the ground and the wheels rolling, it fuels the fires of the hope that helps to keep us going. I hope that the rest of your treatment continues to be low impact, just keep your eyes on the prize- getting to the other side with NED reports.
The trek will take around 3 months, and a lot of logistical planning. I'm in the process of researching it now. It will be awesome, and hopefully the first of many. I've wanted to do this a long time, so doing it tubeless will make a lot easier. The UK has a lot of great hikes that you might want to check out if you ever get the urge to hit the wilderness trails for a little peace, tranquility, and wonderment.
PATRICK
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Wonderful newsjim and i said:Doing my happy dance and
Doing my happy dance and thanking God for small miracles.
Debbie
So very happy for you. I can feel your excitement. It's wonderful
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