Need Your Input For Caregiver

Flakey_Flake said:

Wifeforlife
Hi Wife,

Hmmm ... no one has told me that radiation is the big fighter here. That is kind of what John (bf) has been thinking, but no one ever has confirmed it. I feel for him because the throat is a much more difficult area to have radiation. My poor breast at least is pretty much an unused area. Thanks for you input, and I will continue reading the posts on this board. I also have learned alot from those who have posted to my thread. For a place no one really wants to go to, I am finding these boards vital to what life has dealt me, and I am grateful they are here. Thanks Wifeforlife.

Sharon

Hal61 said:

PEG, food, and adhesive tape
Hello FF, I'm about the same age as your boyfriend but run closer to Woody Allen than Charles Bronson. I bring this up in connection with the PEG tube. Because I don't take pain well--I'll take what pain I can't avoid, but only that. Due to the advice on this board I got my tube in two days before I started my run of 35 rads and 3 Cisplaten chemos. Base of tongue cancer with spread to two lymph nodes, same side.

Two problems with not having a tube: 1. It starts to get painful to the point you simply can't eat without one; 2. Once the taste buds stop working, the stuff you're trying to force down tastes like bad-tasting goo, regardless of what it is. Many thoughtful people have gone to great lengths to create smoothies and shakes that combine the calories and nutrition of a Christmas turkey in a velvet smooth drink, only to find they or the person under their care just can't get it down.

My peg tube is very little trouble. First week of having it I would dress the area around it with gauze pad, and tape or cloth adhesive tape, then secure it to my torso with basic medical adhesive tape. After a short time my torso began to resemble a long negelected hiway billboard, with remnants of the standard tape creating a criss-crossed jumble of the securing adhesive. At that point I bought an extra-wide 4" roll of elastic Ace bandage. I measured a length that would snug itself around my torso just below my ribs, cut it, then folded it in half length wise. To finish I used two safty pins to attach the two ends. I still use the cloth tape and standard gauze pads to dress my PEG entry point, but simply lay the tube in the open-topped "pouch" I wear to make securing the tube and fitting easy--and none of the tough adhesive residue. Sounds like you are asking good questions and getting the answers. My toughts are with you and your tough guy.

Hal