Thank you all for your comments.

[Oliverwindsor]

Hi, thank you so much for your replies to my PEG question. I hear what you are all saying in both respects, however, she is still only in her 50’s and still wants to go to our daughters wedding day! I think we will have to make the PEG route but will most definitely look into the different types of feeding available. I’ll let you know our decision.

Thank you once again everybody for all your help

[Paul_and_Sue_Wood]

Hi

My wife had one a few years ago.

A peg is a little tube that is hidden and tucked away..

It doesn't stop you eating or drinking it's there as a back up system when you can't swallow.

As others have said sooner rather than later because later you may be to I'll to have it.

It's a quick operation under a general anaesthetic.

It does sound frightening and a last resort, but it does help prolong things.

Be safe

Pau

[Hidden]

Hello, apologies for a bit of an essay 🙂 If you're getting one it's worth doing while the person is still able to tolerate hospital admissions, and their care is straight forward enough for the hospital staff to manage with a bit of guidance. Its worth establishing if there is an emergency option in your area or not - in ours it could only have been pre-planned because the consultant for a RIG method (inserted using tummy X-ray) would have to travel across country. The PEG method (inserted with throat camera) was not suitable due to head positioning. We had extensive conversations with the speech therapist about feeding options and they concluded that there aren't really any great alternatives to Pegs as the condition advances. They said a nasal feeding tube is not really a comfortable long-term option, and for one thing it can fall out/get pulled out. They usually would also only advise syringe assisted feeding as a temporary option while somebody is waiting on a PEG. But they acknowledge that it does go on long term in some nursing homes. Personally I would not feel it's particularly safe to do in a nursing home with somebody with dementia who isn't able to really clearly remember what they are doing when they are eating, or if using staff who aren't adequately trained on it. One thing to consider with this method, is if you need to involve professional carers in the future, that some agencies will permit their carers to assist in this way and others will not. Even if you address their concerns about aspiration. (We've been advised that the person with MSA is more likely to aspirate their own saliva than food or drink). Our speech therapist accepts that we are operating safely. We are just unusually lucky that Dad is an absolute machine and manages very well. His oral intake is the only thing in life he can still have control over. We've had to consider deeply what he would want, down the line. I'm putting this info out there because that is the reality of our situation. But what I'm saying to folk is, dont copy us on this, unless you really know what you're doing, and you've been fully advised from all relevant health professionals. 🧡

[Fatwallet]

My husband Phil is also in his 50’s and we have our daughters wedding in June. The peg will not prevent him from enjoying every minute. He continue to feed as normal the best he can and we will start to use the peg when we need to, take care and good look with whatever you decide x

[Helenhooter]

Good luck 👍