I have not posted on hear for over a year. I am the brother of Andrew, the man about which the thought provoking Sunday Times Article "The Vanishing Man" was written (http://women.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/women/families/article2715310.ece).
Since the article Andrew has been admitted to a specialist care home and his Dementia has agressively taken hold. To the point where by February 2009 he was doubly incontinent, no longer able to walk or talk and no longer able to swallow. His mother, sister and I felt the loss of his swallow reflex was the beginning of the end of Andrew's suffering and he would be allowed to die with what little dignity he had left. Sadly his wife felt differently wishing to prolong his life, and after seeking medical advice allowed Andrew to undergo a Percutaneous Endoscopic Gatrostomy (PEG) procedure under general anaesthetic. For those who are not aware the PEG is a means of artifically providing nutrition through the abdomen directly into the stomach.
I for one was vocally against the procedure as I saw it as prolonging Andrew's dying when he was clearly suffering and had no quality of life. Other's involved in his care felt otherwise.
The sad fact is that 12 month's on from the PEG, Andrew is still with us. He now has no sensation or recognition, is virtually blind and is being kept alive artificially by the nutrition the PEG provides. So much so that in the 12 months since the PEG was fitted he has put on 20Kg in weight!
The future? Well at some point the decision over removing the PEG must be considered. I am not looking forward to that point.
I hope this helps other carers/relatives if they ever have to make decisions over feeding tubes in end-stage dementia.
Thanks for the ongoing support,
Kevin
Since the article Andrew has been admitted to a specialist care home and his Dementia has agressively taken hold. To the point where by February 2009 he was doubly incontinent, no longer able to walk or talk and no longer able to swallow. His mother, sister and I felt the loss of his swallow reflex was the beginning of the end of Andrew's suffering and he would be allowed to die with what little dignity he had left. Sadly his wife felt differently wishing to prolong his life, and after seeking medical advice allowed Andrew to undergo a Percutaneous Endoscopic Gatrostomy (PEG) procedure under general anaesthetic. For those who are not aware the PEG is a means of artifically providing nutrition through the abdomen directly into the stomach.
I for one was vocally against the procedure as I saw it as prolonging Andrew's dying when he was clearly suffering and had no quality of life. Other's involved in his care felt otherwise.
The sad fact is that 12 month's on from the PEG, Andrew is still with us. He now has no sensation or recognition, is virtually blind and is being kept alive artificially by the nutrition the PEG provides. So much so that in the 12 months since the PEG was fitted he has put on 20Kg in weight!
The future? Well at some point the decision over removing the PEG must be considered. I am not looking forward to that point.
I hope this helps other carers/relatives if they ever have to make decisions over feeding tubes in end-stage dementia.
Thanks for the ongoing support,
Kevin