It looks like my mom is beginning to have some problems with aspiration. She had a chemical stress test with Eco Cardiogram to rule out CHF. Got good news, her ticker is in real good shape. I’m still stumped as to why the fluid was there to start. Dr told me could be just complicating factors with the PD, diet, etc. I’m watching her sodium intake and have purchased compression hose and socks to keep her ankles from swelling. The Cardiologist wants me to stop the Potassium, which can burn the esophagus and reduce her lacex to only 1 tab a day from 2.

My mom also had a “swallowing test” which showed definite lateral movement with some solid food hanging around. Her DR has ordered some therapy and I have to pray that she will be able to cope with this new challenge. Unfortunately, my time working out of the house will end June of this year and I will have to return to the office (HR policy). While I plan to move us close to the office, I will not be HERE all the time as I am now. I’m very worried that with the Dementia, it will be too difficult for her to modify her eating habits on her own. I have been helping her with the chin tuck method, but she doesn’t do it all of the time. Although, when I giver her a straw she naturally tucks her chin to use it, so maybe the straw will work. I'm jumping the gun, we haven't seen the ST yet.

If that wasn’t bad, she has not been able to go to day care because she has not been feeling “well” lately. She says she feels like the life got sucked out of her and she doesn’t like to go unless she is 100%. I’m sure she gets stressed from all these DR visits, she understands enough and bears all of the tests, etc. so I can imagine that if I’m tired, she must be exhausted. I also know that she sees the wear and tear on me too. When you live with someone, you can’t hide everything. A couple of weeks ago I came down with a bad cold. My mom got it too but her DR. gave her good medicine so she didn’t suffer. We were at the table eating and I was blowing my nose, real hard, which by the way is not a good idea. I heard a pop and the room started to spin! I’m telling my mom, who really can’t help me that something was wrong. You all would be proud of me, I didn’t panic because I knew it would upset her. God bless her, she jumped up to try to help me. It was really something to see her try so hard. It made me so sad because I know she hates being this way.

I’m so glad I have this forum to turn to….. It’s so difficult to find other people who understand. I’m going to finally join an AD caregiver support group. But they only meet once a month. My therapist has convinced me that the only way you get through these life events are with a large support network and that sometimes that network may not be made up of existing family and friends, so you have to go where you can get the help you need. Everyone on this forum has been a great support to me, thank you….

quote:

Originally posted by Bunnys_grl:
Anna when you get a chance/moment share the skills with everyone here
It will be helpful to folks down the line so they wont be so intimidated or scared and they will know what to expect

Thanks Bunny’s Girl……

Sometimes, as PD progresses the muscles that control swallowing are affected and can lead to aspiration. If the aspiration is not controlled, over time the person can contract pneumonia, which can lead to death in the elderly.

Having your LO tuck their chin to their chest is a mechanical method used by speech therapists to prevent aspiration. Tucking your chin to the chest prevents anything from going the wrong way by closing off the wind wipe.

My mom has dementia, and can’t remember to tuck her chin every time she drinks, so I use a short glass (no taller than 4”) with a straw which prompts her head down, tucking the chin naturally. When using a taller glass with straw, she tends to bring the glass up to her mouth. I think this is because the straw looks shorter. It’s a visual cue because the straw in the short glass looks longer so she lowers the glass and bends her head.

I have found with mild / early stage Dementia, repetition is key. For anyone who has (foregive me your LO is not a dog ) trained a dog. You have to keep up with it. You can't start and then stop and expect them to remember. It is an every day thing and with PD, there are days when your LO won't be able to do a thing.

Anna when you get a chance/moment share the skills with everyone here
It will be helpful to folks down the line so they wont be so intimidated or scared and they will know what to expect

I wanted to let you all know that Mom is learning the "Chin Tuck" method. We have worked on this all weekend and I have found it is a matter of repitition. I took a cue from when the PT had to show her how to get up from a chair. For a long time, she had been holding on to a table or anything in front of her to pull herself up. Apparently, this is not a good idea. The PT worked with her on it for a couple of weeks and I reminded her at home, so that now she knows how to get up from a chair the right way. It may take her a few tries but she finally makes it. I am learing that it is all about slow and steady work. You can't expect immediate results and as problems arise you just have to cope and do your best.

Thanks for everything guys.... I'm in a positive place right now. I know it won't last but I feel good.

quote:

My head popped off

There now thats how I like it ya still have your funny bone Anna good job you know I often say thats what keeps our sanity in tack when everything else seems like its falling apart around us.
Bless your heart your one tough cookie! I am so happy you found your way here Anna if I havent said it before Ill say it now welcome to the wacky world of ECO and welcome to the family
Glad Mom is reapin the benefits of your great care too sounds like it was a good day for you

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Bunnys_grl:
And uh ya wanna tell me exactly what popped young lady?! QUOTE]

My head popped off No, it was my left my ear. Something about pressure.... I looked it up but it sure is scary when it happens.

PS. Mom didn't have any problems today with eating or drinking.

We didn't have high hopes for the swallowing therapy because of our LO's dementia, but it really did her a lot of good. I think that perhaps the repetition forms a subconscious habit. But, since her problems were probably incidental to a mild stroke part of her ability to manage food in her mouth returned because of the exercises.

A year ago our LO was on the mechanical soft diet and mightily unhappy about it. Today she still pockets a bit but can eat pretty much whatever she wants, although we are cautious about letting her have certain types of foods such as nuts. Because her specific impairment was in the mouth rather than the throat, thickened liquids weren't necessary.

Our LO can't be left alone at all. She's no longer ambulatory (a blessing in some respects because she had started doing some wandering), incontinent, frequent falls, and she isn't cognitively able to consistently use an alert button or the pull cord at the ALF. She's full time in the SNF, yet still benefited greatly from the speech therapy.

Anna I wish we could be there for you this is like when my own mom got sick at the end always putting on a brave front till she got to this point and said much the same thing, she felt like the life got sucked outta her and I felt like I got punched in the gut.
For now until you get her therapy underway get thickener from your local pharmacy (someone here will speak up with a product name if not ask the pharmacist) you can add it to milk coffee tea OJ and with her food mash (or blend) everything up *soft diet* that will be easier for her to swallow.
I used to blend everything for my MIL easier on output if ya knowaddimean so my reason is different from yours but the one thing I loved in my kitchen was those nice stick hand blenders it does a bang up job
And uh ya wanna tell me exactly what popped young lady?! Good lord girl take it easy theres only one of you and we need ya just as much as mom does alright!

quote:

Originally posted by Moms_Buddy:
What concerns me more is your having to return to an office in June. Daycare would be great but if she will not go or cannot, then you will need to find someone to take your place at home while you have to be away.

I have a caregiver coming in now but not every day. I will be close enough to home to check on her at lunch while at work and she can still use the phone but you are right, there will come a time when she won't be able to do that either.

Anna, swallowing problems are so worrisome! I am so fortunate that Mom, despite all her other issues, has not often had problems with this. Hopefully, therapy will help strengthen her throat muscles and teach her some alternative ways to cope with this infirmity.

What concerns me more is your having to return to an office in June. Daycare would be great but if she will not go or cannot, then you will need to find someone to take your place at home while you have to be away. The local support group should be able to help you find a solution to this dilemma. The people at the home health, rehab, etc. should also be able to make valuable suggestions to you.

As for getting through it all and understanding the frustrations of trying to care for someone with dementia and multiple physical disorders and keep body and soul together all at the same time - well, that's where we come in. No one of us has lived with ALL the potential problems, but collectively, SOMEONE has had a similar situation to yours at some point and we all stand ready to lend a hand whenever you need.

Hang in there and easy on the nose blowing, okay?