Helping Those Who Care for Parkinson's Patients
| [Home] [Forum] [Help] [Search] [Register] [Login] [Donate] |
| You are not logged in |
|
| ||
| Saw my mom today and she said that she has been having trouble swallowing at times. Unfortunately we just went to the nuero last week ( and she didn't mention it then) but we have another appointment in a few weeks. I'm a little bit concerned because she was hospitalized in January for what they think was silent aspiration. She had an infection that they never found the source of. I asked her some follow up questions and she clammed up. I think she is scared and depressed. The meds really aren't working for her anymore. The choice now is so much dyskensia that her neck cramps, but she can walk a little, or slight dyskensia and very limited movement. Not great choices. She couldn't take even one assisted step today. One other avenue that I guess I should check into is her teeth. I did notice that her teeth don't fit as well as they used to. When she was in the hospital, they took her teeth out and she couldn't swallow at all. She has had this same pair of dentures for 40 years. It's been at least five since she's been to the dentist. That might help with the swallowing. But, maybe we're just reaching that point. Dunno. I always feel like there is more I could/should be doing to stave this off. Or at least to comfort/reassure her. One of those days. Gah. |
| ||
|
Sooboo, Call the neuro and ask if there are any speech - language therapists in area or a nutritionist they can recommend to help with the swallowing problems (also the A.P.D.A. puts out a pamphlet "Lets Communicate") with tips on eating (swallowing) and voice. With a little instruction and help your Mom will be eating and swallowing better soon (You however may get carpal-tunnel from cutting up the food). Tell Mom no worries, there's help out there! (less stress about eating may help with Her neck too!) The neck cramping, is it dyskinesia (Abnormal involuntary, rapid movement) or Dystonia (Slow twisting or writhing involuntary movements like foot cramping etc.)? Really both can be termed dyskinesia. both can be a side effect of some meds for anti-parkinson's. Her neuro may want to try to tweak the meds a bit. As long as I'm throwing out these medical terms, in case anyone wants to use one for difficulty in swallowing, it's termed Dysphagia. I don't recommend using these with the neuro (they probably will roll their eyes and sigh!) but with friends they can be jaw droppers when liberally spread throughout a conversation. Take care, best of luck and hang it there. |
| ||
| I also have trouble swallowing especially when I eat certain types of food. My spouse (loving caregiver--bless her heart) cuts up most of the tough stuff for me but I have a "thing" for such items as trail mix, popcorn, and peanuts -some with shells. As George Carlin used to say cetain "stuff" will cause swallowing problems. I have some liquid in standby to wash whatever down. Any othe caregiver tips? Bob |
| ||
|
Sooboo has your mom had a barium swallow test? It's a simple x-ray test that can determine how well your mom's swallowing muscles are performing with food of different consistencies. The speech therapist is an excellent suggestion. They should examine your mom while she's eating and look at how she chews and swallows. I agree with Lohengrin that there is lots of help out there. If examinations indicate that she is having problems with thin liquids, for example, you can add a thickening agent called Thick-it to her drinks. Good luck! Pick |
| ||
| My Dad swallows funny...in big gulps. He has been given speech therapy which I understood to be something to help his swallowing reflexes. He occasionally gets something stuck and a drink of water helps but it scares me because he makes a wheezing noise. My Dad also coughs frequently to clear things out. What an awful disease. |
| ||
|
The swallowing problems go with Parkinson's but my mom also had swallowing problems when she had her stroke. They had to thicken the liquids they gave her to keep her from asperating the liquid into the lungs. A doctor can have a physical therapist/specialist do a test to see how well she swallows and make recommendations from there. It's tough. Hang in there. |