Anxious about possible NG tube

Hi. If your team can place a RIG or PEG that won’t interfere with your throat. 

PS

a feeding tube isn’t a threat it’s a life saver. I spent four nights in hospital because my pain was out of control. I was fitted with an NG tube and proper analgesia sorted and I never looked back. This is a difficult enough journey without spending weeks in hospital and I really feel for you. 

I know I’m being a wuss about it. They haven’t mentioned a PEG but I think I would prefer that to be honest. Thankyou for your kind words.

Hi you can  ask for a peg or rig some trusts will fit part way through treatment. As Danis says it’s not a threat you need to be able to maintain hydration and nutrition  plus take your medication. 
amy ng tube was a lifesaver it helped me in recovery as well.

Hazel 

Hello M, it’s a very difficult point you are at. I also suffered severe nausea which the team couldn’t get under control. I had a PEG fitted, I was so against this but it saved my life as I couldn’t eat or drink. The PEG is fitted under a GA, it doesn’t go through the throat but inserted into the stomach. It can be uncomfortable but it enables specially formulated high calorie drinks to go into the tube so your weight is managed. It takes pressure away from your throat. You can get dissolvable pain medication to go through the tube. Maybe discuss this with your team asap. I could not have got through the treatment and through recovery without this. Best wishes Debbie 

Thankyou, I will discuss on Monday with whoever will listen. Dissolvable meds sound really good as I’m even gagging trying to swallow tablets. 

Yes please do all my meds by week 3 we’re soluble in via tube .Good luck and let us know.

Hazel x 

Mmac said:

I know I’m being a wuss about it.

Not a wuss. It’s a pretty ghastly cure after all. 

Good evening Mmac, some good replies from the others, I have not experienced having an NG tube so cannot say how it feels, etc as I always had a PEG fitted. Please do not panic as a lot of people have had either the NG or PEG fitted and once they settle in you will find it a big blessing that will help take away some of the swallowing pain. It is like a lot of things to do with cancer and the treatments, they all give us a certain amount of worry and anxiety because it's all new but most of the time it's not as bad as we imagine. I'm afraid if you are struggling with keeping food down and losing weight you will have to have a tube fitted but the outcome will be a lot better and easier once it's fitted making recovery a bit more pleasant. Well done in getting this far and good luck with the rest of your treatment, wishing you all the best.

                                                                           Take care 

Hi Mmac  I made it to 33 of 35 RT then admitted to 2b Belfast Cancer Centre had NG tube fitted (they are very good at fitting NG tubes doing it every day) It was a little uncomfortable for a few seconds then little strange for a few hours but after that everything went in via tube Feed and all medication even tablets were crushed, mixed with a little water and in they went. I had lost 9% body weight during RT. My weight stabilised and after week 4 sent me home. 

Mmac you will soon be ringing the bell !!

Ivan