This is It !!!!!!!

John oldtmr

kitten0385 said:

John,

I post on the esophageal board, but thought I'd jump in....I had a tube for a few weeks after my surgery, and mine did have some **** type seepage as well...the docs told me that was normal as long as it wasn't hurting or red, so it sounds like the same deal! I wish you luck on all your upcoming treatments!!!

Cathy

More on PEG
Hi Cathy,

Thanks for input. Went for treatment today and rad nurse told me almost the same as you. Said that if it still bothered me to bring in dressing and they would take a look.

3rd treatment today, 30 left!!!!!!!

Thank Everyone,
John

kitten0385

John oldtmr said:

More on PEG
Hi Cathy,

Thanks for input. Went for treatment today and rad nurse told me almost the same as you. Said that if it still bothered me to bring in dressing and they would take a look.

3rd treatment today, 30 left!!!!!!!

Thank Everyone,
John

John,

3 treatments down!! Way to go!! The countdown is on! :0)

Cathy

denistd

Peg
I do not believe there is a justifiable reason for not having the peg tube. Four weeks ago I completed 35 radiation treatments and 3 cisplatin high dose chemos. The first two weeks were real easy, no reactions to the cisplatin except a couple of days of annoying hiccups. fatigue from radiation, but kept eating, docs nurse admonished me for losing 5lbs over the two weeks. Things started to get rough on the throat, so I started using the canned formula. My goal was a combined 2000 calories a day. The formula was 300 calories a can. I also drank 2 ensures a day. I kept increasing the cans of formula to compensate for lack of eating orally, although I kept on eating small amounts. I also kept myself hydrated with the peg as thin liquids were difficult to swallow. I did and still do suffer a little nausea. the nausea is a dekayed effect due to low white and low red blood cells. I am anemic at this time. I am 4 weeks post tx and am eating normally, during tx I lost a total of 8lbs and have regaind 5 since the tx stopped. The peg comes out next week. Get the peg, it's as much neeeded as the brakes on your car. Denis

soccerfreaks

denistd said:

Peg
I do not believe there is a justifiable reason for not having the peg tube. Four weeks ago I completed 35 radiation treatments and 3 cisplatin high dose chemos. The first two weeks were real easy, no reactions to the cisplatin except a couple of days of annoying hiccups. fatigue from radiation, but kept eating, docs nurse admonished me for losing 5lbs over the two weeks. Things started to get rough on the throat, so I started using the canned formula. My goal was a combined 2000 calories a day. The formula was 300 calories a can. I also drank 2 ensures a day. I kept increasing the cans of formula to compensate for lack of eating orally, although I kept on eating small amounts. I also kept myself hydrated with the peg as thin liquids were difficult to swallow. I did and still do suffer a little nausea. the nausea is a dekayed effect due to low white and low red blood cells. I am anemic at this time. I am 4 weeks post tx and am eating normally, during tx I lost a total of 8lbs and have regaind 5 since the tx stopped. The peg comes out next week. Get the peg, it's as much neeeded as the brakes on your car. Denis

peg tube revisited
Denis, congratulations on your successful conclusion of treatment!

As for your comments regarding the peg tube, I am a big supporter of the tube when needed. In my case, following surgery, rads and chemo I lost 75 pounds and that was WITH the peg tube in place.

So, as a general rule, I would advise that if someone's doctor suggests or recommends it, it a pretty good idea to go with that call.

Even so, a sweeping generalization is going to be somewhat incorrect in the cancer world, simply because no two cases are the same. There are a few reasons I can think of why a peg tube should not be placed: if doctors presume with good reason that it will not be needed, why would one want to undergo a somewhat invasive procedure (they do put a hole in you to insert the tube), the wound site which is potentially a source of infection, and which may provide a handy crutch, potentially, for avoidance of getting back into the eating-normally groove again?

I am certainly not disagreeing with your intent, Denis, but with the idea that the tube is the right choice for everyone.

Again, congratulations on getting through it and for the impending removal of your tube as well.

Take care,

Joe

John oldtmr

soccerfreaks said:

peg tube revisited
Denis, congratulations on your successful conclusion of treatment!

As for your comments regarding the peg tube, I am a big supporter of the tube when needed. In my case, following surgery, rads and chemo I lost 75 pounds and that was WITH the peg tube in place.

So, as a general rule, I would advise that if someone's doctor suggests or recommends it, it a pretty good idea to go with that call.

Even so, a sweeping generalization is going to be somewhat incorrect in the cancer world, simply because no two cases are the same. There are a few reasons I can think of why a peg tube should not be placed: if doctors presume with good reason that it will not be needed, why would one want to undergo a somewhat invasive procedure (they do put a hole in you to insert the tube), the wound site which is potentially a source of infection, and which may provide a handy crutch, potentially, for avoidance of getting back into the eating-normally groove again?

I am certainly not disagreeing with your intent, Denis, but with the idea that the tube is the right choice for everyone.

Again, congratulations on getting through it and for the impending removal of your tube as well.

Take care,

Joe

1rst week
Hey everyone,

Just an update. Tomorrow will end the first full week. Have had 3 doses of Erbitux and tomorrow will make 7 rads. So far a little dry mouth and taste is starting to change a little.

Saw nutritionist this morning. Doc wanted them to set everything up as I am type 2 diabetic. She is getting me lined up for Glucerna 1.5, about 7 cans/day. So far not having any real problems.

Nutritionist was really impressed with how knowledgeable Ruth and I were about all this and I gave all you folks on this site all the credit. If it wasn't for all of you I would be completely in the dark. Thanks to you all I've known the questions to ask and a lot of time already knew about what they were telling us to do or expect.

I can't thank you all enough,
John

jkinobay

John oldtmr said:

1rst week
Hey everyone,

Just an update. Tomorrow will end the first full week. Have had 3 doses of Erbitux and tomorrow will make 7 rads. So far a little dry mouth and taste is starting to change a little.

Saw nutritionist this morning. Doc wanted them to set everything up as I am type 2 diabetic. She is getting me lined up for Glucerna 1.5, about 7 cans/day. So far not having any real problems.

Nutritionist was really impressed with how knowledgeable Ruth and I were about all this and I gave all you folks on this site all the credit. If it wasn't for all of you I would be completely in the dark. Thanks to you all I've known the questions to ask and a lot of time already knew about what they were telling us to do or expect.

I can't thank you all enough,
John

Congratulations
Take every opportunity you can to celebrate an accomplishment, especially as great as this one.

Hey, a tip on the nutrition/hydration, you may already know. Get a notebook and keep detailed records of the time and amount of nutrition or hydration that you take. This will make it easy to achieve daily calorie intake goals as set by your Nutritionist. Also, this will help to stay ahead of your hydration. As you progress you are going to find that 80-100 oz. per day of plain water may not be enough. You may want to substitute Pedialyte for some of those ounces. Toward the end I was doing 50-50.

You can use that same inventory to track meds, mouthcare, etc.

One quick way to predict dehydration is to use one thumbnail to press the other thumbnail just in front of the cuticle. If it turns white and stays white when you release, then chances are you need to up the fluids.

I love your attitude. Wish you could bottle it and share it.

JK