Eureka! Hooray! Yippee! PEG is no more. On July 5, 2022, Surgeon Dr. Ed Card “yanked” it out. The Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastronomy is the medical way of saying “the tube.” I went to Dr. Card’s office and waited to be escorted to the room where the outpatient procedure would take place. I was not sedated and no pain killer was needed. I just laid back. Ed asked, “Are you ready to do this?” YES! No blood, no stomach contents spurting everywhere, just done, zip, fini. He put a gauze pad over the “exit” hole, and I was on my way. The tube is removed by external traction. The stomach wall heals within 24 hours; the hole in the stomach heals in a few days. Amazing!
The questions to be answered are what just happened and why did I decide to do it. Diane, of course, is part of all this, but like everyone else, in the final analysis the removal was pretty much my decision. This medical situation all started on July 28, 2021, when PEG was surgically inserted due to a severe case of silent aspiration bacterial pneumonia which was all recounted in Blog #21. When I reread it, the prognosis was grim in terms of the reality of life without a feeding tube. The Northwestern Medical Center in Lake Forest did what they felt was necessary and in retrospect, I can’t find fault with their diagnosis and recommendation moving forward. Yet, medicine is not always a precise science and there are multiple variables that impact on any given case. I am no exception.
For about five months, I was the model patient but when visiting with six other doctors in Macomb, Springfield, and Burlington, Iowa, during this time, they all seemed to concur that maybe PEG just wasn’t mandatory. I had taken a couple more “swallow” tests; there was modest improvement, not total but better than back in July, 2021. Gradually I began to take a sip of water and actually swallow it and not spit it out. Then it was a bite of food until I was comfortable eating a meal a day and finally dining with Diane at night. I continued to take product via PEG in the morning and at lunch.
Time continued to pass, more visits with doctor friends, a couple of PEG accidents when the tube cap/stopper became dislodged for one reason or another with the contents of my stomach spilling out all over the bed sheets down to the mattress pad, or all over me in the grocery store, or wherever it decided to grab my attention and let me know it was still with me. It became abundantly clear that no doctor was going to say without reservation, “Take it out, you’ll be fine” as there is risk involved with any decision removing PEG. But still, the consensus was there and I had to decide whether I wanted to live the rest of my life with a feeding tube or am I prepared to “roll the dice” and hope there is no recurrence of pneumonia. I opted for the latter course of action. I’ve decided to take my chances and live my life as I always did before this bump in the road, looking to the future with anticipation and not dwelling on the past. Of course, if I get pneumonia tonight and die tomorrow, please remind me that I’m an idiot.
I didn’t make this decision idly; I’ve been coming to this decision over the past three months. I had become comfortable with PEG and knew that I was ingesting nothing but nutritious fluids day after day. There was even a bit of the Stockholm Syndrome in all this; whereby, you become attached to something that you wouldn’t normally consider e.g. Patty Hearst when she was kidnapped by the Symbionese Liberation Army. Yet, every day, I’d look in the mirror and there it was, PEG sticking out of my stomach reminding me of my connection and attachment to her. So far, I’m enjoying my new found liberation from the constraints of the past year and believe Diane is too. After all, she is the one who put in the monthly orders for product, had to endure the clutter caused by my new life, and pretty much eat alone most of the time.
I am prepared as best as I can be for what lies ahead. The doctors tell me that if I get pneumonia again, go immediately to the Emergency Room, and begin IV antibiotic treatment. This should work pretty well unless I’m in the Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, or walking through the south of France. Oh well, I’m an optimist and confident Diane and I will figure out whatever comes our way. The past twelve months have seen us deal with pneumonia, PEG, (raging Restless Legs Syndrome, severe back rash, and “balls of fire”—Blog #21—associated with my treatment at Northwestern) and a cancer scare but here we are, ready for whatever lies ahead. Goodbye, PEG.
Gordy and the Fourth Quarter 
Great news again what a guy!
Good news for you and Diane. Congratulations. Now onward and upward!
I can’t imagine your stress/emotional levels now, but then again you have been dealing with this for quite some time…. Not that that makes it any easier. I have no doubt that you spent countless hours and days coming to your decision to unload PEG and that decision is the best one for YOU. Prayers continuing to come your direction and Godspeed my friend!
Hallelujah!! You are certainly a lovable idiot!
I learned in my Insight training- when you make a serious decision, ask yourself- am I going to feel guilty about this choice?
You thought it over, discussed, ruminated and you are free of the tube!
I am so happy for you and Diane! Looking forward to your next progress report!
Congratulations! What great news!
Bring on the wine!
Such great News! May God continue to Bless you both Will try to call tomorrow…Covid House and I am hiding in Man Cave
Great news, now you can ride with Geezers on their motorcycle trips.
Congratulation Gordy, and Diane !!! So glad to hear that PEG is no more…… Scott
Awesome, I guess prayers do work. This news is fantastic.
Yeah Gordy.
Even more Diane!
Great news 😊
Sent from my iPad
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So very happy for you and Diane.
Enjoy!
Just Awesome!!!! Such great news to hear!!! Congrats!!!!
Yahoo! Bring on those tasty morsels. And BEST wishes that all goes well.
This is wonderful news! I know you have been wanting to get rid of that tube—and now it’s gone. I’m always thinking about you and Diane and am so happy for you!
Wonderful news! Prayers will continue to move forward and not look back. Prayers for continued healing and no pneumonia or anything else!
I’m SO happy for you and Diane ! Best news ever!
Great news! But I will miss the occasional PEG flashing! So happy for you and Diane.
Gordy, we are so happy for you. Vi and i will see our family next week in NC and will make sure my mom gets the good news. The seafood in Marco Island will taste even better next year!
Gordy and Diane, I’m so glad for you! You took a lot of care coming to this decision and you likely know all the right things to do your best at avoiding problems. Take a deep breath, smile, and swallow carefully!
Gordy, Congratulations on your decision to divorce the wretched wench PEG and live your life! Hopefully, no more health concerns any time soon.
Awesome news!! So happy for you and Diane!!
We are so happy for you and Diane as well as the family We have you all in our prayers You are special Gene & Vae HAMILTON
I think the Beatles said it best:
You say goodbye and I say hello
Hello, hello
I don’t know why you say goodbye, I say hello
Hello hello
That’s great news Gordo! Now my big question is this… Can you drink a Diet Coke?
Well it’s one giant step for you and Diane and I pray that everything goes as you hope. Your attitude and Diane’s commitment of support are a model of how to deal with such difficulties. God bless you both. Maybe you could come see us in beautiful Colorado.
Great news Viable—live your PEG free life to the fullest. BTW, you’ll never be called an idiot!! Oops, forgot didn’t the Silver One call you that…my mistake,, it was me not you.
All the best in yours and D’s adventures.
Love you both!!
The Cogent One
Hip Hip Hooraaay! Fantastic news.
Great news, Gordy! Glad to hear you’re done with PEG. Hope the future is a lot less complicated.
Wonderful news! Can’t wait to read about your next adventure – the sky’s the limit! Best to you and Diane!
Well Mr. Taylor you are truly an inspiration. I wish you both all the BEST with what comes next. I will certainly be praying for you. I can’t imagine everything that you have been through. Enjoy every minute, I know that you will. Love Carol 🙏🎆🙏🎆
Great news! I’m happy for both You and Diane!
Oh, the power of prayer! I can’t tell you how happy I am for you and Diane (by the way Kerry is too)! Enjoy eating all of those foods you have missed for the last year! Love ya, dear friend.
Fantastic! You and Diane have done an amazing job of doing the very best you can under extra ordinary circumstances! Continued best wishes! Becky/Sam
Good things come to good people. Congrats to you and Diane
Al
Gordy, I am so happy you got the PEG out. I hated that damn tube. For me, it irritated my skin to the point that it was painful. Laying on my back without moving for 18 straight hours just to get one can of nutrition to stay in my reduced sized stomach was awful. I did not feel a thing when they removed it. I remember worrying about it but it turned out to be nothing. Every once and awhile I look at the scar it left behind and I smile and say “I won!” Maybe because I was so happy to get it out, I didn’t care if it hurt or not.
No one knows your body better than you. Any decisions you make are because you know how you feel and how you want to live. You and Diane are a team and I know Diane supports all your decisions. She is living your life as well.
May you continue living the good life you are living right now in the present. You deserve it.
I am in Philly right now visiting Melissa and family. Two of the 3 of the grandkids here are taller than me. How is this happening? We are leaving for the Jersey shore tomorrow for the week. I have never been there so I am excited to spend some time exploring. Our youngest daughter and her family are at the shore as well. Her Father-in-law lives there in the summer. We will all meet up. That means I will have 5 of the 7 grands all together at the same time……ages 20 months, 5, 11, 15 and soon to be 18. Really looking forward to that.
May you always continue to be the courageous, brave, smart, kind, inspiring, funny, clever, and loving Gordy you have always been. You are a survivor! God loves you just like all of your friends do. Me included!
Hugs and kisses, Karen
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Great news! Now you can again take off your shirt while sitting at the ocean on Marco.
Great news Gordo. Now I don’t have to view any more of those pictures you sent with the PEG “popping” out & the resulting “mess” all over yourself, all over Diane, your kids, grandkids, airplane seats, bus seats, doctor waiting room seats, ball park seats, Hanson Field seats, etc. Finally, you may be moving back to more “normalcy” in your life.
Here’s to your next peanut butter and jelly sandwich to be washed down with some prosecco! All the best from Dr. Scholar.
So happy to hear that you were able to get the peg removed. We’ll pray that all will go well.
Winnie the Pooh was a very smart bear. He said, “Promise me you’ll always remember,
You’re braver than you believe,
Stronger than you seem,
And smarter than you think.”
Our lives are a result of choices that we make, and you have made the choice to take charge of your own life. Congratulations Gordy! We are all so excited for you and Diane. God id good all the time and all the time God is good!
Personally I believe you made the right decision
I knew you were going to beat this
Live life to the fullest. Next time we visit lunch/dinner is on me
That is great news Gordy. I admire your and Diane’s decision. To paraphrase the lyrics of a Tony Keith song; Don’t let “The Old Man Pneumonia In”. Live your life to the fullest and enjoy every minute the way you and Diane want. Carry on my friend.
Congrats! A man of courage and conviction! I’ve always trusted your judgment and I’m sure this will be the right choice also!!
Yay! Congrats! You and Diane, you got this!♥️♥️
Dianne – hide the tequila
Congrats Gordy!
I love the loveable IDIOT comment. Wonderful news and very happy for you. Come back to SolShine sometime soon!
Wonderful news Gordy! You and Diane must feel such a sense of freedom. Enjoy the rest of the summer!
Great new Gordy &Diane! You both have endured a lot. Go and enjoy life and live fir today!
Great news, Gordy!! I know this means a lot to you. Time to live a little. Enjoy.
Great news! Gordy, you and Diane have been through a lot and persevered. This is your payday getting your peg out. Continue good health and happiness for both of you!