Peg insertion tomorrow :-(

Robyn64
Robyn64 Member Posts: 124
in Head and Neck Cancer #1

Hi there,

 

I am very very nervous. It is now 11.50 pm and I am going to be at the hospital tomorrow morning at 7.30 for peg insertion, think I am the first of the day. I am extremely nervous. Then 1 more week and treatment starts. Its now becoming real.

 

Robyn

 

Comments

  • phrannie51
    phrannie51 Member Posts: 4,716
    #2
    The actual insertion of the PEG

    is short and sweet.....you don't even know it's happening.  For me, from the time they came and got me till I was waking up was about 45 minutes.  There is cramping afterwards for a couple of days, and then it lightens up, and goes totally away by day 3 or 4.  Don't let them get away with putting it in, and then not telling you how to use it (or send you home without syringes to clear it and later to eat with.....they did that to me, and I was at a loss on how the thing worked). 

    I think once you're in the fight....actually going through treatment.....you'll find your nerves will give you a break.....you'll be in a daily routine, that surprisingly becomes a temporary "normal"...

    p

  • Laralyn
    Laralyn Member Posts: 532
    #3
    It was short and simple. I

    It was short and simple. I was nervous too, but it turned out to be pretty much the easiest part of treatments. :-)

    Afterward, it was sore for a few days--not sharp pains, just tender as I moved around. The hardest part was getting used to it being there. I think all of us went through the stages of keeping it completely taped to our bodies, then lightly taped, then held in place my a tight tank top or shirt or ace bandage, to just letting it dangle under our shirts and tucking it into our pants!

    You'll be glad you had it. Treat it as a lifeline. Track your calories and when they start to go low because it hurts to swallow, start using the PEG. Don't hesitate to use it for water, especially. I suspect half the nausea in treatments comes from our throats--it gets water straight to your stomach so you can keep it down. Dehydration has sent almost all of us to the hospital, and more water through our PEG tubes might have prevented that.

  • debbiejeanne
    debbiejeanne Member Posts: 3,102 Member
    #4
    that's probably the easiest

    that's probably the easiest part of this whole ordeal.  praying tx goes smoothly with minimal side effects.

    dj

  • CivilMatt
    CivilMatt Member Posts: 4,724 Member
    #5
    PEG club

    Robyn,

    I went through 2 PEG insertions, both times it was easy and the second one was during the middle of treatments.

    The PEG makes nutrition intake a breeze, but you should continue to drink lots of water and swallowing.

    Treatments do become more and more “real”, try to accept it with a positive attitude.  You will get through this in one piece.

    Best,

    Matt

  • catfish_58
    catfish_58 Member Posts: 138 Member
    #6
    peg insertion

    Hey Robyn,

       Peg insertion is not a big thing to worry about,I think the main reason behind this is if during your treatments you may get to a point that swallowing is causing you pain and you may get to the point that you are not wanting to eat anything or even drink anything,You need to stay hydrated at all times as others from this post will probably say the same,That is usually the reason behind this,I remember that mine was a godsend,I got to the point that I could not swallow anymore or better yet only sip something every now and then,Became dehydrated and had to go to the hospital to rehydrate,they also gave me something that was called jevity 1.5 worked great for me and was covered under my insurance,You may want to check the Superthread (Read only) ~ contributed by Sweetblood22 for any other problems that may occur.Good luck and I'll send you my prayers

       Chris

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