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Don't take this as a "flare", but could you be suggesting that instead of a tube - we watch our loved one starve to death? I will admit that the quality of life in a late stage parkinsonian patient can be poor, but hearing my dad's reminiscences - and watching him play with my children ( who have been born since the tube was inserted) would convince me to vote for the tube. >> >> In several letters to the list lately I've seen reference to a >> gastronomy, or feeding tube. Could anyone tell me what is involved with >> using one? How is it put in? Is it permanent, or inserted at each >> meal? How much expertise is needed to feed a patient using one? Can the >> patient eat in any other way once a tube is used? My mother does more >> choking than swallowing, and is losing weight. It takes her so long to >> even eat a little, that she is quickly too tired to finish taking in the >> amount she needs. She tries to eat often, but we should know about what >> may be yet to come. Thanks. > >Dear Carl, > > The question of whether or not to insert a feeding tube directly >into the stomach is a difficult one. The procedure itself is simple, and >adequate nutrition can easily be provided with a minimum of instruction >to the care giver. One must examine whether quality of life is at all >improved, however. > > The individual who has difficulty swallowing to the point that a >PEG tube must be inserted will probably not be able to take oral >nourishment to any degree. That means that all nutrition will be >provided through the tube. Aspiration pneumonia (which happens when one >can no longer swallow) continue to occur to some extent because the >person still must swallow saliva. > > My question would be, does your mother want this procedure to be done? >------ >Mary Ann Ryan RN >