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Marcia, If you ask John Cottingham to search the archives, I remember many discussions over the years about this stage that is often reached by PD patients. My Dad had a G-tube put in about 4 years ago. Now, I'm not in the medical profession, so I don't know what a PEG tube is. A G tube is for Gastro. tube feeding directly into the stomach. My Dad is now 79, PD for about 35 years. It's been a slow progression, with some defining moments, and one of them was when we realized that he was slowly starving to death. Our family agrees that this was the right move to make. None of us could bear to just watch him starve to death, and none of us define our lives as worth living solely on our ability to EAT. (Although sometimes I feel like all I do is cook and eat and clean the kitchen!) It IS invasive. It has brought home health providers into my Mom's life for the first time, and that has been a good resource to add to Dad's care. They need to be replaced periodically, but most of the care has been out-patient. Dad can still eat by mouth, but it causes saliva production and increased drooling and we don't let him do it too often. Occasional smooshy ice cream, root beer - I made strawberry soup today - and it is sometimes hard on him. We have all agreed to partake in particularly tempting foods away from home - like popcorn, which could be fatal. Don't tell my Mom, but I let him chew on a peach to other day and he tasted and spit and only swallowed juice. He gets his meds and nutrition all thru the tube. We have all learned how to do it. Grandchildren, starting at about 10 - 12 , if interested, have been taught, and this gives my Mom a break and gives them interaction with Grandpa. Does he wish he had starved to death 4 years ago? Well, my daughter wasn't born yet - and I think it was worth it to him to meet that pistol, and let her play "doctor" and watch videos with him. She has taught him some computer games. He reads, watches TV, talks to us, goes on boat rides when his walking is good. Now we sometimes wonder how long we have with him, and what will be the episode that causes his death - probably aspiration or pneumonia - or whatever. But I'm glad we chose to keep him with us for these last 4 years. Sara Byron daughter of Richard, 79 PD since 1969. ---------- Good morning to you all. Yesterday I came home from a very unsettling visit with my parents in Cincinnati. My dad is 79 pd 9 yrs. In the 2 weeks since I have seen him he has lost so much weight. He looked like the some of the pictures from the concentration camps. Mother says he has not been able to eat or drink except in very limited amounts. I called the neuro who wants his internist to see about a barium swallow and then a PEG. I know there has been discussion on the list about this before. Would you provide me with some info on the PEG, what is the procedure, can you still eat when you have it, etc. etc. This is so upsetting and my heart goes out to this dear man. I hope we can get this taken care of. Thanks for your input. Marcia [log in to unmask]