I've been looking after Mum now for some years, previously long distance but now have her living with me. I'm a bit concerned because she has been having difficulty with swallowing. At first I thought it was because she was eating too fast (a complete reversal of when she wasn't eating at all) now I'm not sure if it's another downward step in the illness. Does anyone have any experience of this?
swallowing
- Thread starter worriedcarer
- Start date
Losing focus & coordination can cause problems with swallowing.
I believe I have read here that sometimes a speech therapist can help (yes, odd one) and also thickening liquids can make them more manageable.
I have very little first hand experience of this, but I'm sure you will have a few more replies by tomorrow.
Best wishes
I believe I have read here that sometimes a speech therapist can help (yes, odd one) and also thickening liquids can make them more manageable.
I have very little first hand experience of this, but I'm sure you will have a few more replies by tomorrow.
Best wishes
Dear Worriedcarer,
When my husband was unable to swallow food, the Nursing Home did call in a speach therapist.
In the end Peter's food had to be puree.
Best wishes
Christine
When my husband was unable to swallow food, the Nursing Home did call in a speach therapist.
In the end Peter's food had to be puree.
Best wishes
Christine
Thanks for being there. It's a case of Mum will be half way through a meal and then I realise she is having a problem and I make myself be calm, to keep her calm, because you can see she is starting to choke. I get her to the sink and tell her to spit it out and it's like she gets sick, I'll pat her on the back, get her to cough to clear her chest and she'll return to her meal without a problem. The first few times I thought she had put too much in her mouth and then noticed she was eating very fast, so I tell her slow down there's no bus to catch, but recently I've noticed that when she swallows it sounds louder than normal(having a cup of tea for example). I'll certainly talk to her doc about it but wonder if others have dealt with this and the best way forward.
Hi worriedcarer,
As Lynne has said, speech and language therapists (SLT) are the specialists when it comes to this type of thing.
Here is a good, short article by an SLT:
http://www.pdsg.org.uk/Booklet/sp.htm
Your mum's GP should be able to get her a referral to one if necessary.
Take care,
Sandy
As Lynne has said, speech and language therapists (SLT) are the specialists when it comes to this type of thing.
Here is a good, short article by an SLT:
http://www.pdsg.org.uk/Booklet/sp.htm
Your mum's GP should be able to get her a referral to one if necessary.
Take care,
Sandy
Choking Fits
Hi worried carer
I'm so glad I read your post this evening because my Mum is doing EXACTLY the same thing!
She has not been diagnosed with dementia or alzheimers only Mid Cognitive Impairment which can turn into dementia. She was recently admitted to hospital with a pain in her chest just above the sternum. They couldn't find anything wrong but to be honest they didn't do a lot of tests on the gut, just for heart problems. The day after she was discharged she did this choking thing on her dinner just the same as you describe it, and again yesterday.
I am going to take her to the GP next week to see what he suggests so I will let you know the outcome of that if you like. She is on a heck of a lot of medication now so I wonder if that might have something to do with it?
Meanwhile I will have a look at the links the other carers suggested.
Keep smiling! Love Souffle
Hi worried carer
I'm so glad I read your post this evening because my Mum is doing EXACTLY the same thing!
She has not been diagnosed with dementia or alzheimers only Mid Cognitive Impairment which can turn into dementia. She was recently admitted to hospital with a pain in her chest just above the sternum. They couldn't find anything wrong but to be honest they didn't do a lot of tests on the gut, just for heart problems. The day after she was discharged she did this choking thing on her dinner just the same as you describe it, and again yesterday.
I am going to take her to the GP next week to see what he suggests so I will let you know the outcome of that if you like. She is on a heck of a lot of medication now so I wonder if that might have something to do with it?
Meanwhile I will have a look at the links the other carers suggested.
Keep smiling! Love Souffle
Hello! My mother had swallowing difficulties for her last 18 months and the speech therapist was the person who came to sort it out. She arranged for my mother to have 'nutilis', a powder to put in drinks to thicken them. As the swallowing got worse, so we had to use more - the speech therapist will tell you how much to use - although it's a bit hit and miss trying to get someone with dementia to drink to order so that the speech therapist can see what their swallowing is like! Mummy also - on the advice of the speech therapist - went from having soft food, to mashed food, to liquidised food. Basically, what I'm saying in a very long winded way, is that the Speech therapist is the person you need to talk to!
Hope this helps.
Lucy
Hope this helps.
Lucy
Hi, my dad has had this condition for a few years now , every 12 months or so he goes to have his pharyngeal pouch stretched in the hospital, as the muscles weaken the food or drink swallowed collects in a fold of loose skin and can be very frightening for them, i have found that if i get him stand up and wiggle about a bit it helps to dislodge it.
