AD and breathing problems

Trisha

Registered User
Apr 8, 2006
12
0
Hello again, I am hoping that someone out there can help with a frightening and distressing "breathing" problem MIL is currently experiencing (she is 93).

MIL has had 3 visits this year already to the local A&E via ambulance due to her "choking fits" and has had several epsiodes at home here with us. On all occasions hospital has found nothing wrong, she has had chest xrays, tube down the nose to check blockages etc, blood tests, all to no avail as to finding a cause.

The episodes only occur at lunchtimes when she has her main cooked meal, breakfasts and teas are fine, she only has them when someone is with her, never alone. We thought that she was eating her food too quickly (her carers always tell her to slow down), usually she vomits excess food and within a short time is OK even to the extent of finishing off her meal!
Last Wednesday however, whilst out with the local Crossroads carer, at her club,she had a really bad attack whilst eating her fish and chips, although she had only eaten a couple of mouthfuls of fish. When we arrived at the hospital MIL 's breathing sounded dreadful a full three hours after the episode, again she was discharged after all tests were done. We took her home (she lives with us)
breathing worsened, we rang out of hours medicom service but by time dr called back MIL breathing problems had lessened and dr had no need to visit her. We spent a fraught night awake for most of it listening to see if MIL ok, needless to say by morning she was right as ninepence, had had a "good nights sleep" (more than rest of us!) Has been OK since though there seems to be no pattern in the attacks.

Has anybody else experienced similar? is she having TIA's or suffering from swallowing difficulties? Her dr now referring her to a speech therapist after a home visit last Friday, she cannot shed any light on the subject either.

Would welcome any feedback, thankyou again for a wonderful place to vent anger, frustrations and distress.
 
Last edited:

Margarita

Registered User
Feb 17, 2006
10,824
0
london
What she like with mash potatoes? Is she Asthmatic?

Sorry can not offer better advice, but was just wondering
 

Trisha

Registered User
Apr 8, 2006
12
0
AD & breathing problems

Thanks for your welcome thoughts Margarita, Mum has mostly meals that are "mushy" not requiring much chewing and mashed potato is a norm (hooray for Wiltshire Farm Foods whose menu and meals are fabulous). She is not asthmatic , we are now considering perhaps its her posture, she does stoop quite badly now and sitting upright is a problem.
 

Lynne

Registered User
Jun 3, 2005
3,433
0
Suffolk,England
Trisha said:
She is not asthmatic , we are now considering perhaps its her posture, she does stoop quite badly now and sitting upright is a problem.

My Mum - now 87 - was diagnosed with asthma for the 1st time in her life 6 years ago. Not sure if this was an actual physical change in her, or a change in the definition on the part of the medics!
 

Trisha

Registered User
Apr 8, 2006
12
0
Thanks for your comments Lynne, perhaps it will be worth mentioning to the doctor next time she calls re asthma, its the unpredictability we are having trouble coping with, sometimes she goes weeks without a problem then 3 times in less than a month, wierd, and wierder.