PEG timing

Hi, I had mine fitting same week I started treatment.  Monday first RT, Tuesday RT and chemo, PEG fitted on the Wednesday.  Usually people don’t need to start using it till after week 3 but everyone is different, some don’t need one at all.  I would still have one as it does get more difficult to swallow down the road.

As for pain, I didn’t feel much when they put it, they give you a lot of happy juice and it only takes about 10-20 mins.  

Good luck and hope all goes well

Morning Polly, as a fellow wife I feel for you.Stay on this site, it helped me with my worries and anxiety. Obviously you guys have to cope with a lot more and having to worry about feeding tubes is not helping. In my husband's case,we got told at our first ever appointment, when we got the diagnosis, T4N3M0,that he will need a feeding tube,our trust, living in the North-west, said straight away that he will need a PEG,which got fitted 10days prior start, took about 30mins,he was home on the same day. As to pain, he wasn't in pain as such,more in discomfort, not used to it being there kind of pain,if that makes sense. And in the end it was a life saver,from about 3wks in, swallowing became impossible. Will it hurt more to get it fitted once treatment started? I don't know,also I wouldn't think so,I can imagine that day could be tyring, as my hubby got fatigued once treatment started. Having said this, stay strong and positive.  All my best wishes for your journey Mel x

Hi Polly,

I had mine fitted before treatment but I could easily have had it fitted in week 2.  The great benefit of having it fitted early is that you get over the slight discomfort of the fitting and learn how to use it before treatment starts and you have other things on your mind.  Hope it all goes OK.

Thank you all for your replies, which have helped to reassure me. I'm hoping they might find an earlier appointment but I won't worry too much if they don't. 

Have a good day 

Polly 

Hi, I had mine fitted last weekend and started my treatment the week before. It was a little sore for a couple of days but no problems now