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Alzheimer's Disease
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Posted 4/28/2013 10:44 PM (GMT 0)
Hi i am new to this group and i am taking care of my 90 year mother in law. She has advanced stages of Alzheimer. Lately she has gotten to where she will not eat and it is a huge struggle to get her to eat enough to take her medication. She also has been holding her throat alot. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. I just don't know what else to do for her. She has been to the doctor and i keep getting told there is nothing physically wrong with her.
Posted 4/29/2013 3:10 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Grumpy Twin and welcome,

First, let me say I am NOT a healthcare professional, but I do have a mom with Alzheimer's. Not sure what stage she is in, going on her tenth year since diagnosis, probably at end of midstage or beginning of end stage.

In the early years after her diagnosis, I spent hours, days, weeks, months reading about dementia and Alzheimer's. From what I remember, in end stage, the Alzheimer patient stops eating. I also remember something about Alzheimer's causing the inability to swallow. Could this be why she is holding her throat? You might want to try chopping her food into small bits, or mashing things like mashed potatoes. Are you caring for mom at home? If so, have you contacted the Alzheimer's Association? They do have a support hot line and are very informative.

I wish you well,

Miriam

Posted 4/29/2013 9:14 AM (GMT 0)
We give liquid calories to fill in what isn't consumed in solid food. There are nutrition shakes that dieticians can recommend to replace food (I would ask, not just pick something off the shelf).
Difficulty with eating and eventually not eating at all is unfortunately a common symptom.
There's probably nothing wrong with your mom at all – except that she has Alzheimer's disease.
Posted 4/29/2013 12:22 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Miriam and forestrain,
I am a nurses aide and yes i am caring for her at home. We have tried every form of food to give her..........puree, baby food ,cutting it in to tiny bites and still not eating it........We give her boost but once again she is refusing all forms of food and drink.I have read several articles on Alzheimer and have gone to the Alzheimer site. To top all this off she has gotten combative again she no longer will walk so we take her to her bedroom in her wheel chair and when we do try to have her walk she decided she is just going to sit down with no chair to sit down on catching us off guard She also seems to be having a hard time breathing and all of this has been told to her doctor and she put her on Lortab exliar which is doing nothing for her. Thank You for your input. Gloria
Posted 4/29/2013 1:27 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Gloria,
That sounds really hard. We're not quite at that stage yet - nutrition shakes still work although there is more and more resistance to food. I've been given to understand that at complete resistance to food and drink one puts in a feeding tube. Obviously no one wants to get to that point but maybe its needed...
In our case we've needed meds to deal with the combativeness - that began a long time ago. As long as we have the "happy pills" we can convince her to do what is needed, without them there is just no way. Maybe you need a different med combo?
Wishing you lots of strength!
Forest Rain
http://forestrain.wordpress.com/2013/04/28/cruel-time-warp/
Posted 4/30/2013 1:26 PM (GMT 0)
Hi
It is very hard. She has been on meds for some time for the combativeness and has recently had it increased........not sure my husband wants to put in a feeding tube as she would pull it out causing more harm. She has a super pubic cath in and we have had to go to one piece pj's for her because of that and her.... .not meaning to sound gross........but digging her bowel movemets out resulting in a mess everywhere.
Thank You
Gloria
Posted 4/30/2013 1:55 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Gloria,
I think it's good to call things as they are - what's gross is gross. The situation you are describing is hard and sad.
I can't say that I know what you are going through because I have not (yet) experienced those stages. We may, eventually. I can say that I empathize, as I am sure everyone else here does. I wish you lots of strength and fortitude. It sounds like you are doing an amazing job with a difficult situation. I hope you are proud of yourself. Even if your mother in law is unable to appreciate, it's an excellent example to the people around you.
Wishing you well,
Forest Rain
Posted 5/9/2013 11:36 AM (GMT 0)
hi friend u must have to take care of ur mother in law
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