Mortimer not Mic-Key

The PEG tube replacement went off without a hitch except that they didn't order the Mic-Key replacement but what I would call a Mic-Key knock off. While the nurse was setting me up for the replacement procedure she gave me the manual to the PEG tube replacement. I then became aware that it wasn't a Mic-Key tube but one that looked like it. Normally I wouldn't be concerned about something like that, most of the drugs I take are generics but in this case the Mic-Key tube made specific statements about being able to swim with it while this other one mentioned nothing about swimming.


We had time before the doctor arrived so the nurse researched the replacement tube and called the company that makes it to ask about swimming with it in. She also called the manufacture of the Mic-Key tube. Interesting enough neither company would give the green light for swimming. My guess is that they don't want to commit even though the Mic-Key tube uses swimming as part of its marketing on the web site. They have a story of a girl with a Mic-Key tube that swims and goes to water parks.


From looking at the tube they wanted to use on me and the Mic-Key I couldn't really tell any difference. I spoke to the doctor when he arrived and he couldn't see any reason I couldn't go swimming with the tube they were going to put in so we went ahead with the new tube. So far everything with the new tube is working out fine.

Swallowing Update

The day before the PEG tube replacement I met with the ENT doctor to review my status. At the meeting I asked him to take a look at the swallowing evaluation and get his take on the dilation procedure. He looked at the swallowing evaluation and called the next morning to let me know that he felt esophageal dilation would be appropriate for the procedure.

This week the Roswell Park cancer center called to reschedule my follow up appointment. Initially they wanted to move it to August. I was not overly amused by the delay and was able to get them to reschedule it for the middle of July. At the same time I was able to get a moment to talk to the doctor on the phone about the dilation procedure. He said that it is done in head neck and throat cancer patients and that he has worked with my ENT doctor on several cancer cases a year and would defer to his opinion on the procedure.

Then just a day later I was at the ball park with my youngest son and ran into a person that I I knew from my sons team in prior years. He didn't know that I was being treated for cancer and I mentioned the dilation procedure he knew what I was talking about. Apparently he had it done on him self for a narrowing of the esophagus from a different cause. He used the same GI practice that I do and said they do hundreds of these a year. Good news! (See, all of the good info can be found just hanging out at the ball fields or in the Winter at the skating rinks. :-)). This is good news as I am scheduled to meet with the GI docs next week to discuss the procedure and have them follow up on the PEG tube replacement.

Speaking of next week I have a follow up appointment with the medical oncologist to check on my status and I also have the appointment with the GI doctor to discuss the dilation procedure. Hopefully they will be able to do the procedure locally and I can have it done in July. Initially I had wanted to have it done at Roswell Park but given the delay in scheduling and that the local doctors have done several of the balloon dilations I am starting to feel more comfortable about having the procedure done locally. Also I will most likely require several procedures to fully widen the esophagus and some patients require follow up procedures as maintenance. With radiation patients they tend to be more careful and only try to enlarge the opening a bit at at time.