The peg tube saga continues.

Tweet

I promised an update on how George's doing, so here we go. On Wednesday, George and I had an appoitment with the GI. Well, we actually saw a nurse pratitioner, and we're being set up with a community care appoitment to see a GI outside of the VA. To (hopefully) get his peg tube replaced, and possibly get an endospsy, to see what's going on with his throat and stomach. It has me wanting to roll my eyes, honestly of the insanity this all is. This should be simple, but the VA makes you jump through hoops for the simple things. George wants his peg tube out, because he's tired of planning our lives around it. But, on some level I think he knows he's not quite ready yet. Almost all of his hydration is done through the tube. While I do allow him to drink his meal replacement shakes, I also have had to put them through the tube sometimes. Let's be real. George's never been one to eat large meals, or even 3 times a day. That's not about to change. He's trying and does ask for ice cream sandwitches and hot dogs on a almost daily basis, which is a huge improvment from where we started. But, I have the same concerns the va does. How much of what he's actually eating and drinking is getting into his stomach? He's had several swollow studdies, and they all come back the same. When it comes to pills and 'large objects' they like to hang out at the top of his throat and not move. Now, when he had the stroke, they told me the left side of his esphogus was weaker and basically paralized. While that's improved greatly since, I don't think it's completely gone away. Especially when he starts getting tired. I don't want to say the tube is never coming out, but I also feel without it.... he's going to have a difficult life.