My DW has had significant weight loss and I cannot stop it or get reasonable medical advice. Recent blood tests were normal, including thyroid.
Spouse, age 56, 5 years into diagnosis. August 2011 weighed 153; today weighs 115. Medical advice indicates is part of disease process. Suggestion to arrest it are nutritional supplements, etc. Diet is regular and consistent with constipation problems.Regular exercise, mobiler- walks 45 minutes to 1.5 hours over multiple walks during day.
Nikki had good results from the use of oral marijuana. Check out her postings of about 2-3 months ago. This weight loss happened to my husband, too. If I'd known about marijuana, I would have asked my doctor to try it.
Milesaweek, Lloyd started this journey weighing 155 around 2006. He now weighs 120 if I am lucky and at time has dipped to 116. It is just the progression of the disease. Lloyd has used oral marijuana/dronabinol/Marinol. He got up to 130 within 10 days from 116. In our case, the medical marijuana is not covered by his prescription plan although it was prescribed by his doctor. Since we pay out of pocket for it, we cannot afford the 5mg which would be over $500 per month. So we stay with the 2.5 for $225 per month. I just do everything opposite of what they say to lose weight...lots of bread, pasta, potatoes. I especially try to feed him something right before bed so it will "stick to his ribs". I am a strong advocate of Marinol. If you check out the studies done with Alzheimer's/Marinol by Dr. Maria Ceballos at the Cajal Institute in Madrid, Spain you will see that the drug does much more than increase appetite. It inhibits the buildup of amyloid plaque on the neurons in the brain, reduces restlessness and pacing. I still fail to understand why it has such a stigma attached to it when it does so much good. It's not like we want to sit around and smoke joints and listen to Hendrix, for God's sake! I personally want whatever will make this godawful life any better for my husband. And God bless Nikki! Because of her I fought for this medication and got it for my husband and I am here to say it worked for him!
Our PCP is board certif. in Internal Med., Geritric Med. and Hospice/Palliative care med. Two years ago when I brought up Marinol, he said he'd go for the natural form, if I could obtain it. He said his decision was based solely on the absurd pricing and lack of insurance coverage for prescription form, not efficacy. Every High School or college student has access. I had no problem, obtaining it. Loss of appitite not a problem at DW's current phase; lack of COGNITION is the issue. Has it helped ? Who knows where she'd be if she had not used it daily for the last two years. DW was DXed Mild/moderate in 07 and was still able to dine out and celebrate our anniversary dinner July 3rd. (no recall of the event one hour later). Progression / deterioration has not been as rapid and dramatic as many have described on the forum here. Certainly neither of us have any negative side effects from use to report on. As I've stated in previous posts, in a number of threads, DW has never exhibited any aggressive symptoms and her personna is generally happy and smiling. Whatever the reason I'll be thankful for what I have, no mixed emotions!
How do you monitor dosage when smoking or putting it in brownies? I was concerned about getting the right amount. God knows I could do something with the extra $230 per month. My kids had suggested it when we first got Marinol. It bothered me because it's illegal and if our spouses need it we should be able to get it without paying through the nose or breaking the law. Anymore I just don't give a shit. If it would do the job, I'm about ready to go there!
Linda, I often hesitate to say much about the pot because of the illegal aspect, But, after reading your post, I don't give a poop either. And I appreciate your honesty too Marty.
Get some "shake" it is the leftovers from when they trim the buds of pot. It still has a lot of THC but not like the bud. Plus it is generally very cheap, people put it in brownies. I don't make it myself, but I would say about one quarter ounce of shake to a tray. I have heard it is tasty and work well. I would imagine one brownie a day would do it, you could freeze it.
It will not be an overdose at these amounts, I am sure.
I was thinking of trying a tea, faster and maybe more potent possibly mix it with mint to mask the taste. Maybe a teaspoon per cup.
Dado is getting really bad and I am so sick of the meds, yes he still gets them, but if a cup of pot tea would do the trick, I am going to try it, for agitation, and perhaps happiness.
A bag of shake , one ounce, I would guess would cost about $50.00. That could easily last a month? Ok Joan if you have to delete this, or perhaps I will. I don't want to get in to trouble or anyone else. I don't care about the judgmental aspect, only the illegality.
Milesaweek, I am very sorry to hear of your DW's weight loss. This has been my biggest struggle with my husband for the past 3 years. Even before that it was a huge fear because he would eat tons, yet still lose weight. There is a thread here about weight loss you might like to read, here is the link... http://thealzheimerspouse.com/vanillaforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=576&page=6#Item_45
In December 2010, out of sheer desperation I did ask, ok demand! Lynn be put on Marinol for the sole purpose of it increasing his appetite. With his low weight being a shocking 92 pounds, he was slowly starving to death and I had to try something!!
Marinol has been a miracle for us, not only in weight gain but also in unlocking some of the chains that were holding Lynn locked in his lost little world . I wrote about it in the thread Our Experience with Marinol. The changes can not be denied even by the most skeptic. Was it Marinol, was it God? I do not know, but I do know I have before and after videos and his medical records to prove the miracles we have been given,
And I will weigh in on my personal beliefs on Marinol vs. Marijuana. Through my research and my talks with pharmaceutical knowledgeable people, I personally believe it would be quite hard to get the same benefits from smoked marijuana as we got with the Marinol.
For starters, Marinol is synthetically man made, only the THC used. None of the other over 400 chemicals found in marijuana are used in the making of Marinol. Another big difference to me is the concentration levels in Marinol, it would take a boat load of marijuana to get these same results, even with raw juicing. Also there is the fact that Marinol contains a stable and predictable dose of THC.
About insurance coverage, there are companies that DO cover the entire cost. I pay nothing for Lynn’s. I did switch insurance companies, but it was very easy to do, and well worth the minimal effort. Actually, it wasn’t any effort on my part, the NH insurance lady said, oh this company wont cover the Marinol let me find the ones who do, she later handed me a huge list of those who did and we picked the cheapest one. So know there ARE companies who do cover it, you just need to find the right one.
Milesaweek, I also give Lynn three different supplements at each meal. I give him TwoCal-HN “Calorie and Protein Dense Nutrition with FOS is a nutritionally complete, high-calorie liquid food for stressed patients and those requiring low-volume feedings”
Here is the site for this product information http://abbottnutrition.com/Products/twocal-hn
He also eats what they call Magic Cups at every meal. “Magic Cup® is a great name for a great product! Hormel Health Labs realizes that sometimes you have to be creative to meet the calorie needs of your nutritionally at risk residents. Magic Cup® is a 4oz frozen cup that provides 290 calories and 9 grams of protein in four great flavors, and a No Sugar Added variety with 260 calories and 9 grams of protein. As an added benefit, it can be eaten frozen as an ice cream or after it thaws, a pudding - perfect for texture modified diets.
Here is the link to that site “http://www.hormelhealthl...abs.com/2colTemplate_product.aspx?page=CO_MagicCupSupp&cond_id=141&cat_id=146
I also give him Mighty Shakes "MightyShakes® are a great tasting, frozen supplement and a cost effective intervention for those residents at nutritional risk." here is the link to that site http://www.hormelhealthlabs.com/2colTemplate_product.aspx?page=CO_MightyShakes&cond_id=141&cat_id=148
I will note that before the Marinol Lynn was not able to gain any significant weight even using all the above products. They did work to hold him steady for over a year, but then he took a nose dive. Once we added the Marinol, he was able to finally gain weight. Between these and the Marinol to stimulate his appetite Lynn has gained back 25lbs and he has been able to hold that weight for over a year now!!! An Amazing feat for Lynn. I do hope you are able to find something that helps your DW ((hugs))
My husband was losing weight in the early stages. Having dessert after both lunch and dinner has helped. Some of it is probably burning extra calories because of the rigidity of his muscles, but I suspect most of all his digestion isn't working properly, partly from the disease and partly from the excessive acid blockers and antacids he takes. Taking both digestives enzymes and probiotics has helped some.
I know that I would appreciate knowing whose prescription plan covers Marinol and what companies are covering it. Of course, if I got it covered we would fall into that big black donut hole before the year was out. Coco, to think that the first husband used to grow the stuff. Where is he when I need him? Nah, he reformed. Tea does sound like a good idea. I have given Lloyd Ensure. I may try that again. He has been on his feet for 2 days now. The shorts that fit him day before yesterday are falling down today. He's been getting a little aggressive the last couple days, too. The house has been empty with the family in Chicago for Sebastian's graduation from boot camp, but 2 of the grandsons (Ben and Gabe) came for spaghetti tonite. I even got to sneak out and pay my Penney's card. AND it is wretched out there. Thank God for A/C!!!
For some states where there is medical marijuana, try getting a prescription that way. Thus you will not be breaking any laws. I too think have a small amount of marijuana should not be a crime. In centuries past they used it like liquor. Look at old medicine bottles you could buy over the counter in the old days - drugs that are now illegal. If states sold it like liquor there would be one less drug to be smuggled.