Having Problems Swallowing
Having Problems Swallowing
Having problems when she is eating
im an RN and have lots of experience with Alzheimers patients. Eating problems eventually happen to all patients as the disease progresses. Gagging, spitting,choking ect. Diets will have to be changed in consistency until they eventually become pureed. Yes they also will forget how to sip, chew and swallow. They will eventually need complete supervision during meals then will have to be fed by someone else gving them cues to open their mouth, close it, chew and swallow.. Smaller eating utensils, sippy cups, thickeners for fluids all help. My father is starting to go through same as he will chew and chew then spit out pieces of food, will choke and gag at times. He is not eating much anymore and we are challenged finding something he will eat. Protein powders and supplemental drinks will add some calories for awhile but i know eventually we will hardly get anything into him. At this point some physicians will recommend swallow studies then suggest a feeding tube. I will not consider this or recommend it for anyone. Eating ice cream and cookies are the one thing that brings him joy. Another thing you may consider is after weight loss, dentures will become loose and will rub on gums and make them sore. This at times causes patients to not want to eat due to painful chewing. Take dentures out and only put them in at meal times will help
Hi, my father had a problem swallowing too and would gag on some foods. We resorted in the end to baby foods that you get in jars and encouraged swallowing by stroking his kneck gently. We gave him drinks through a straw to suck but then he forgot how to suck so used a tippy cup where the amount of fluid that comes through is restricted to small amounts that he could manage. Hope this helps.
I find this issue complex. For us we have our main meal at mid day. This is when Bob us at his best for eating and swallowing. Food needs to be moist not dry. In smaller pieces that can be picked up. I look at the whole day for nutrition. And we basically eat all day. I find soup hopeless at night because he cant hold the cup or lift his arms. I make all our food we have limited dairy and wheat. So iceream in our house has frozen bananas and avocado in it. Chocolate pudding the same. Bob says he remembers tastes even though he lost his smell and taste years ago. I think you need to really think outside the box for meal times and throw away convention. So sometime swallowing is good other times not.
Sorry Ann I haven't come across this . I have heard it does happen I would go and see your GP for advise xx big hugs hope you get to the bottom of what's causing it xxxx
We have been for x-ray on neck and chest to c if they can findout what problem is thkd
