Feeding peg

[Loopyloo97]

Hi everyone
I’ve posted so many different threads on here regarding my elderly mother the latest news is that she has vascular dementia her lucid moments no longer exist and she bed bound doubly imcontinent
We’ve had a lot of eating problems with her orally an ng tube was fitted for two weeks but was constantly moved even wearing restraint mittens .. For the last week she’s hardly eaten so the nutrition nurse has suggested a feeding peg I find it so invasive and my mum has been through so much over the last few months
Has anyone got any advice please?

[Mosaic123]

Discuss this with your mother's GP. If you feel it's too invasive then say so. You may find that they do not argue with you. A sad situation.

[wheat32]

Evening. I am a registered dietitian with a MIL who is starting this horrid disease. I have lots of experience with dementia patients and I would never recommend a PEG. I believe there are recommendations not to insert PEG's due to the increase in death within 30 days of insertion. Also having an NG with a nasal bridle again sounds far too intrusive for someone in your mum's condition. Stupid question but have they modified the consistency of your mum's food? In general clients who are at the end stage of the disease, like it sounds your poor mum is, really struggle to distinguish between different consistencies. Foods should be smooth with no lumps a bit like custard.

I know that I will be in your position in future with my poor MIL and I am thinking of you.

[Loopyloo97]

Hi Wheat2, Thankyou so much for your reply it’s such a heart breaking time for me and my family .. it’s also a difficult decision to make , I’m not happy with the peg as it comes with risks but my mum isn’t eating much . The Dr’s have said if we choose not to have the peg she would be kept comfortable and an iv line would be fitted

[wheat32]

Apologies @loopyloo97 I hadn't seen your reply. I am so sorry to hear that. What would your mum want? What is your gut reaction? Do you feel your mum has quality of life in other ways that the peg would be useful? If you were able to get medications and fluid/nutrition into your mum would she have a decent quality of life once the delirium has passed? (I think in your previous thread you said your mum has delerium if not apologies for my mistake ) or do you feel that having the peg would just delay the inevitable and perhaps not increase the quality of your mum's life? Fluid and nutrition is such a basic thing but it is also the most difficult to decide upon. PEG's are well managed in the community and any nursing home worth their salt would deal with it with no problems.

I'm sorry I feel I've just given you more to think about.xx

[Loopyloo97]

Hi Wheat2, my was initially diagnosed with delirium after her knee replacement op due to pneumonia however even after the cause was treated she remained in a very confused state... They then gave her a brain scan & feel that the op has unmasked dementia... After a lot of thought & family discussion we have agreed not to have a peg fitted as it is invasive and the Dr said that mortality is high in the first month... My mum was also on Apixaban as Warfarin wasn't working & her InR was high .However while she was on Warfarin we noticed that her confusion was worse , she was asleep all the time & complained of tummy pain so last Friday as asked them to stop the Apixaban & put her back on Warfarin .... I went to visit her this morning she recognised me and was lucid for a whileshe had a good breakfast was drinking & allowing the nurses to do their job i.e blood pressure etc ... Now we are hoping long may it continue and was it the Apixaban ... My mum had a bit of a dodgy stomach last Thursday & was moved to a side room maybe she's getting better rest because she looked so much better today .

[Loopyloo97]

Sorry I made a mistake with my last post we feel that Apixaban was making my mum worse