Hi Everyone,
My mum has PSP for approx 7 years now. no speech and a lot of rigidity. She is getting to the stage where solid food is no longer an option. Trying liquified food, pureed food such as oats, banana shakes etc. adding a little Ensure to supplement the food. Are there any known techniques on how to feed such foods?. Presently we tried by spooning the food close to the cheeks inside the mouth. This seems to work. she can swallow without much gagging and coughing. Takes a bit of time. Doctors are recommending she moves to have a PEG inserted. I'm a bit concerned about the anesthesia that will be required and how she will come out afterwords. Any experiences shared would appreciated.
thanks and regards
Som.
No to PEG
PEG
The peg
Peg or not?
My wife had the peg fitted under a sedative. This takes away the fear and danger of anesthesia. She has put on weight and has had no utis in the twenty months since the procedure. All her medications are by the peg so you need to get the meds sorted for the procedure. As I have said before this would have been better done earlier as a precautionary operation in a healthier patient.
Twenty months is a long period of experience with this. Have you had any difficulties, Javan?
No difficulties since peg was fitted, only a better life for my wife as in we have only saw medics two or three times since fitting. We go out most days and people stare when I pump syringes of water and fortisip into her, but sod them as we enjoy life as best as we can.
thanks javan