Has anyone else come across this - Dad chews but then stores the food in his mouth like a hamster and refuses to swallow. We tell him to swallow - he says he has but then if you ask him to show you the food is still there. He's lost nearly a stone and is currently in hospital on iv fluids.
A few people have told me they have relatives that did this at some point during their dementia/Parkinsons/MS and came through it. The carers at Dad's home think it could be for comfort. I wonder if somewhere the sequence of chew- swallow has been interupted and his brain is forgetting to make him swallow. The doctor is putting him on steroids and anti-depressants to increase his appetite, but if it is the dementia that's causing the problem will that actually help?
He will also store liquids if he has solid food in his mouth. For example if he has a biscuit with his tea he'll store both, but if his mouth is empty before taking the tea he swallows.
The psychiatrist suggested purees but the carers were reluctant because Dad can still chew. I wonder if the chewing action isn't adiquate to mash the food up for him to swallow - and surely puree is safer to prevent choking?
Any ideas?
Katie x
A few people have told me they have relatives that did this at some point during their dementia/Parkinsons/MS and came through it. The carers at Dad's home think it could be for comfort. I wonder if somewhere the sequence of chew- swallow has been interupted and his brain is forgetting to make him swallow. The doctor is putting him on steroids and anti-depressants to increase his appetite, but if it is the dementia that's causing the problem will that actually help?
He will also store liquids if he has solid food in his mouth. For example if he has a biscuit with his tea he'll store both, but if his mouth is empty before taking the tea he swallows.
The psychiatrist suggested purees but the carers were reluctant because Dad can still chew. I wonder if the chewing action isn't adiquate to mash the food up for him to swallow - and surely puree is safer to prevent choking?
Any ideas?
Katie x