Considering gastrostomy (PEG/RIG)

Supports a claim in this answer

Many people can still eat and drink by mouth for pleasure after a feeding tube, when it is safe to swallow

!Qualifies this

“Whether you can keep eating by mouth depends mainly on whether swallowing is still safe.”

Does not present eating by mouth as unconditional: it points to a speech pathologist or dietitian to advise which foods and fluids are easier to manage.

✓Supports this

“For many people a feeding tube does not mean the end of eating and drinking by mouth.”

States it plainly, in the section on reasons to consider a tube.

People can still enjoy food and drink by mouth after they have a feeding tube.

Reasons to think about a feeding tube

Used across the whole answer

Used across the whole answer

✓Supports this

“If swallowing is still safe enough, having a tube does not mean giving up eating and drinking by mouth.”

States it plainly, in the section on reasons to consider a tube.

People can still enjoy food and drink by mouth after they have a feeding tube.

Reasons to think about a feeding tube

✓Supports this

“A feeding tube is a reliable route for nutrition and fluids when eating by mouth is tiring or hard.”

Describes a gastrostomy as a way to deliver food, fluids and medicine directly to the stomach.

A feeding tube helps deliver food (nutrition), fluids, and medicine to your body.

Key points

Used across the whole answer

Used across the whole answer

✓Supports this

“If breathing is already affected, it is worth asking whether the procedure should be done somewhere experienced in ALS/MND care, where breathing support is available.”

Makes this point to the reader directly, saying that people with breathing problems should think about where the operation is done, because a hospital familiar with MND care can provide breathing support if it is needed.

If you have breathing problems, think about having the operation in a hospital that knows about MND care.

Things to be aware of

Used across the whole answer

Supports a claim in this answer

Having a tube placed earlier, before breathing is badly affected, can make the procedure safer for some people

✓Supports this

“Placing a tube is usually safer and more straightforward while breathing is still working reasonably well.”

Gives this as the reason teams raise a feeding tube earlier than people expect, describing the tube being fitted early, while breathing and swallowing are not badly affected, as making the operation safer and healing quicker.

Studies show that having a feeding tube fitted early can make the gastrostomy operation safer and help maintain your weight.

Key points

✓Supports this

“Teams usually raise a feeding tube early, while there is still time to think it over.”

Frames a gastrostomy as something to weigh up in good time rather than decide in a hurry, with a section devoted to why timing matters.

✓Supports this

“Unintended weight loss is one of the usual prompts for raising a feeding tube.”

Lists weight loss among the reasons a gastrostomy is discussed, and puts a figure on when placement helps most.

Research suggests that inserting a feeding tube before a lot of weight is lost (5-10% of normal weight) is most helpful.

Why timing matters

Used across the whole answer

✓Supports this

“If swallowing is still safe, having a feeding tube does not mean giving up eating and drinking by mouth.”

States it plainly, alongside advice that a speech pathologist or dietitian can say which foods and fluids are easier to manage.

People can still enjoy food and drink by mouth after they have a feeding tube.

Reasons to think about a feeding tube

✓Supports this

“For some people, having a tube placed before breathing is badly affected makes the procedure safer and recovery easier.”

Gives this as the main reason teams raise a feeding tube earlier than expected, describing the tube being fitted early, while breathing and swallowing are not badly affected, as making the operation safer and healing quicker.

Studies show that having a feeding tube fitted early can make the gastrostomy operation safer and help maintain your weight.

Key points

✓Supports this

“A feeding tube is another route in for nutrition, fluids and medicines, so less has to depend on swallowing.”

Describes a gastrostomy as a way to deliver food, fluids and medicine directly to the stomach.

A feeding tube helps deliver food (nutrition), fluids, and medicine to your body.

Key points

✓Supports this

“Teams raise a feeding tube because ALS/MND weakens the muscles used to swallow, so eating gets harder, slower and more tiring.”

Gives the same reasons for raising a gastrostomy: meals becoming hard or tiring as the muscles used to chew and swallow weaken.

As MND progresses, the muscles that help you chew and swallow can become weaker. This can make eating and drinking hard.

When eating and drinking becomes harder

Further reading

Eating by mouth after a feeding tube, and who advises on what is safe

Further reading

The benefits and considerations to weigh, that you can still eat by mouth, and that the choice is yours and can change

Further reading

Plain-language overview of feeding tubes, how PEG and RIG differ, and the choices involved

Further reading

How PEG and RIG are placed and what to expect around the procedure

Further reading

A clear overview of feeding tubes to discuss with your team: PEG vs RIG, timing and breathing, eating by mouth, and that the choice is yours

Further reading

Why teams often raise feeding tubes early and how breathing affects the timing

Further reading

Why a feeding tube might be considered, and that you can still eat by mouth and can stop feeds at any time