Dad coughing/ choking thru every meal- ?? Is this end stages?

Gwendy1

Registered User
Feb 9, 2016
413
0
Glasgow
Every meal, my poor wee dad coughs/ chokes.. He still wants to eat his dinner, puréed diet/ fluids thickened. But every meal in last week has been a horrific ordeal- BUT, he still wants to keep eating, regardless. Mentally, he's very tired, but can be very lucid, and make appropriate responses when I'm chatting to him, shuffles when he's walking, and stares at me for long periods for no reason. I'm at a loss.. What's going on?? Every night, I'm expecting phone to ring from care home, as I can't believe all this choking can't lead to yet another pneumonia :-( .. It doesn't seem like normal Alzheimer's progression, his physical health seems worse than his mental health just now. Has anyone had similar experiences?
 

Beate

Registered User
May 21, 2014
12,179
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London
If this hasn't been done yet, I suggest an urgent referral to the SALT (speech and language therapy) team. They deal with eating, drinking and swallowing problems.
 

Gwendy1

Registered User
Feb 9, 2016
413
0
Glasgow
If this hasn't been done yet, I suggest an urgent referral to the SALT (speech and language therapy) team. They deal with eating, drinking and swallowing problems.

Thank u, he had pneumonia in dec and January, was assessed at hospital as needing puréed diet, thickened fluids.. Now doesn't seem to be able to manage them? ..
 

Izzy

Volunteer Moderator
Aug 31, 2003
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Dundee
Thank u, he had pneumonia in dec and January, was assessed at hospital as needing puréed diet, thickened fluids.. Now doesn't seem to be able to manage them? ..

It sounds like he's seen a member of the SALT team but it also sounds like he needs to be reviewed. I would contact your GP on Monday and ask for this as a matter of urgency.

My husband us still on an ordinary diet but he coughs and splutters a lot while he's eating. Sometimes he becomes quite distressed. I do think it is a common part of dementia but it needs to be looked at.
 

Maymab

Registered User
Oct 8, 2013
214
0
Staffs
Alzheimer's can cause loss of the swallow reflex. That could be what is happening in this case. We

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Bod

Registered User
Aug 30, 2013
1,958
0
These swallowing problems, before they became problems, did the person eat much slower than normal?
I ask because MiL is now eating slowly, no noticable difficulties, with chewing or swallowing at present.
Teeth all good, no reported mouth problems.
It's just slow eating, getting slower.


Bod
 

Gwendy1

Registered User
Feb 9, 2016
413
0
Glasgow
These swallowing problems, before they became problems, did the person eat much slower than normal?
I ask because MiL is now eating slowly, no noticable difficulties, with chewing or swallowing at present.
Teeth all good, no reported mouth problems.
It's just slow eating, getting slower.


Bod

Hi, dad was always slowest at dinner in the CH! His upper teeth were lost couple of months ago.. I dread to think where they are now :-/ The coughing and choking has got really bad in last few weeks, it's very distressing. Yet, dad hasn't got 'ill' as such..his diet is puréed since last hospital admission. I can't believe this choking/wheezing can go on without further infection, but what else can u do when diet is puréed and fluids now thickened???
 

Bod

Registered User
Aug 30, 2013
1,958
0
Hi, dad was always slowest at dinner in the CH! His upper teeth were lost couple of months ago.. I dread to think where they are now :-/ The coughing and choking has got really bad in last few weeks, it's very distressing. Yet, dad hasn't got 'ill' as such..his diet is puréed since last hospital admission. I can't believe this choking/wheezing can go on without further infection, but what else can u do when diet is puréed and fluids now thickened???

I can only suggest, watching him carefully, are certain foods worse than others, what does he enjoy?
Is he better sitting up, or slighty back, or even leaning forward?
Is he better spoon fed? (This is sometimes done better, by someone who has had children.)

Bod