Eating.

[Izzy]

I wondered what others have experienced re eating habits. Bill is still very healthy but his eating habits have changed a lot. He never was a big eater but now he will snack all day on biscuits or cakes or whatever is in the house then can't eat much of his main meal in the evening. Having said that about half an hour after the meal is finished he says he will just go and see if there is anything to nibble!! Driving me crazy!

 

[Bookworm]

I've found eating to be a big issue - from binging on bananas & nuts to forgetting to eat or drink all day. Also coveting what is on someone elses plate & asking for more when really the tum is full already. Tendency to think others have something nicer or bigger or more special than he. Once took a cake home in suit pocket & had to take suit to cleaners.....I suppose the opportunity for something sweet was too good to miss!! Also have problems thinking ahead - like I'll be out for "x" hours so I'd better eat now or when i get home I won't have eaten for "y" hours......Prone to putting two spoons of instant coffee in mug & it looks a bit dire!!

 

[Izzy]

At least I know I'm not alone!!!!!!!!1

 

[Izzy]

That's a thought - I haven't noticed if confusion goes along with eating or not. Will look out for this. Thanks!

 

[Bookworm]

At least I know I'm not alone!!!!!!!!1

That bad huh!! You did say we seem similar..... xxo

 

[sad nell]

hello , one of the first things i noticed 6 years ago was the change in trevs eating habits, previously very healthy did not eat cakes or puddings to gorging on anything sweet, not wanting to share and eating foods that he never liked prior to AD the consultant said this was very common with Alzhiemers patients. trev is now skeletal but still has a good appetite although cannot feed himself at all, i just let him eat anything he likes now, love pam

 

[Barry]

Hi Izzy,

I understand what you mean about changing eating habits, it seems that from the moment I was diagnosed with AD my whole eating pattern changed although not to the point of continuously snacking in fact at one point I would not eat at all and started to loose a lot of weight and energy so my doctor had to put me on a Appetite medication so that I wanted to eat, but she also suggested to my wife that we review my whole mealtime pattern which we also needed to do due to my diabetes but its proved to be a positive step as I now eat regularly, have put on some weight in line with my height and age, and don’t have any hunger pangs or cravings for snacks.

My wife now keeps all my meals set to the same time everyday and we even changed the (Main Meal of the day) to (Midday) not the evening time which has had beneficial affects on my diet and eating habits, my own regime is like this:

Breakfast at 6-30am (consisting of things like: porridge, or omelette and toast and jam)

Lunch at 11-30am (This is now our Main big Meal time)

Afternoon snack 2-30pm (things like: biscuits, piece of cake, or banana fritters)

Evening meal 6pm (things like: wholemeal sandwiches, fresh salads, spaghetti bolognas, baked potatoes in there jackets with a light filling,

Night cap 8pm (Hot milky drink with only two biscuits)

Then I’m ready to settle for the night, although I wake up very early at 2-3am I don’t fell any hunger pains and have do desire to snack during the daytime

If I should want anything then my wife makes sure there is always plenty of fresh fruit available for me, to some extent our daily life and even shopping is fitted around my eating habits and to be very honest I feel better for it and its improved my concentration as I agree that hunger adds to confusion.

 

[Nan2seven]

Hi, Izzy - When Brian left hospital 16 months ago after his stroke he came home wanting cheesecake and ice-cream, a dessert he had frequently eaten in hospital and enjoyed. To that he has since added almond fingers, kit-kats, slabs of fruit cake, danish pastries, Twix and Snickers bars - we are never without at least some in the 'fridge, and he never ate any sweets, cakes or desserts before his stroke. His vascular dementia was only diagnosed in February this year, but I think the stroke triggered it. He changed from being a "savouries only" chap to one who enjoys grazing on sweet stuff. But he still eats well at mealtimes through the day, so I don't bother to curb it. He so clearly enjoys it!

 

[Izzy]

Thanks all - it's interesting to read others' experiences and how you deal with the issues. Izzy

 

[panpam83]

snacking

Yes,my husband loves to snack on cearal squares.One time i bought a box of nuts raisins dried fruit,and the like ....he ate the whole thing.If i make dinner,one hour later he wants to go down the hill..to dinner.I gives him waffles with bananas,berries and maple syrup...he loves that for breakfast.He is thin as a rail,and the dr. say's he got a little anemic,so i give him ,a spoon of gerital.I don't join him ,in his munches,or with my slow metabalism,a would gain weight,a plenty.

 

[Izzy]

One time i bought a box of nuts raisins dried fruit,and the like ....he ate the whole thing.[/QUOTE

We're the same with biscuits - he goes through packets of them! At least he ate all of his meal tonight - I think I need to scale down the portions. (Or maybe it's just my cooking!)

 

[suzanne]

Eating

is becoming an issue here as well. My mum is the oldest anorexic/bulimic wannabe in the country, the meal plannig is becoming increasingly difficult and is becoming a huge irritation in my life, nothing I cook or present is good enoughwhat a surprise] it gets pushed round the plate and then she says she's full. 2 seconds later "where's pudding?" I have given up trying to push her, if she won't eat she will drink milk and fruit juice and in this hot weather plenty of water but I am totally lying in saying it is hot !!!!

 

[Izzy]

I think I need to stop pushing it as well! It is becoming an irritation and in the whole big picture I suppose it's not too big a problem at the moment. I will need to starve him if we are going out to a restaurant so that he eats what he's given.

 

[susiesue]

Prone to putting two spoons of instant coffee in mug & it looks a bit dire!!

David has started doing that too you could stand the spoon up in it it's so strong and he makes me one too

I have also found that foods David always liked he suddenly no longer likes and he is also suddenly very picky....

 

[Bookworm]

Re double spoon instant coffee

David has started doing that too you could stand the spoon up in it it's so strong and he makes me one too

Thanks Sue, from Sue - cheered me up with a smile!!!

 

[julieann15]

Mum makes tea that I can stand a spoon up in- I very often go in the kitchen,tip half (or all of it)down the sink on the pretext it needed more milk
Julie xx

PS I dread to think how she drinks her coffee

 

[Margaret W]

Can I just say that, having suffered a minor stroke in November and been told to reduce cholesterol, I have learnt that bought cakes and biscuits are very high in saturated fats. These apparently contribute to vascular disease, and vascular problems can cause or worsen dementia. I have no right to tell people what to eat, I am no better than the rest, and I do not home bake any more, but if possible do reduce such foods to a minimum or at least check the contents of the pack you buy. Apparently Angel Cake isn't too bad but I haven't looked. IF you have the time to bake yourself, it would be much better, but hey, we all need a life, and if your loved one is having trouble eating, then I can quite see that you would rather them eat than not.

Maybe cereal bars are better - I don't know, I am new to this low cholesterol stuff myself and still learning.

Love to all

Margaret

 

[Nan2seven]

Oh, oh, Margaret - I am horrified by what I have just read, posted by you last evening. Brian has repeatedly asked his doctor if he should be cutting anything out of his day-to-day eating (the doctor prescribes Simvastatins amongst other stuff) but he has ruled out only grapefruit - and bananas, once banned, are now allowed at the rate of a half of one every other day. I do homebake (my Jiffycake is foolproof - nay, idiotproof), but Brian loves his shop-bought treats as well. .... Have just talked to him about cholesterol, etc. and he is just now finishing a coffee WITHOUT a sweet accompaniment. Hey! Result! Cheers, Nan

 

[imp]

I have been reading this post with interest. It seems that the OH has now reached this stage. He has taken a dislike to most things that can be put in sandwiches for tea. We are down to jam or bread and butter with a stong desire for chocolate. I have been putting the food in front of him as he never asks but now I am told he has never liked the filling in question. Ah well just another problem to deal with and so good to know that I am not alone dealing with it. Iris

 

[Izzy]

Oh dear on the biscuit front! I don't have the time to bake (and am also a pretty drastic baker!). Maybe I could look at getting some homebake type things in some of the more specialist shops. As an aside, we went out for a meal tonight and Bill polished off every last bit of lasagne!!