DH has been dx'd with FTD or possible FTD/AD mixed dementia. He has most of the behaviors of someone with FTD. My problem is the pace at which he eats his food if he is feeding himself. I prefer to have him feed himself since he is still able but he shoves everything into his mouth and is at risk of choking. I try to give him smaller portions and cut the food smaller to reduce the choking risk but he still puts almost all his food in his mouth at one time or drinks the whole glass of water or other beverage. Does anyone else have this problem and if so how have you handled it successfully? Needless to say this makes mealtimes stressful for both of us because when I ask him to slow down, he just eats faster.
My husband who has been diagnosed with probable FTD, does the same thing. I have not found anything to slow him down. I cut his food up into small pieces but he just shoves more into his mouth. Maybe someone on here has found something. Sorry, I'm no help.
Thanks Deb. I'm really worried about choking since he was hospitalized with aspiration pneumonia last year after a choking incident and has never regained his mental/physical abilities where he was before the hospital. I'd like to avoid another hospital stay.
Hopefully someone may have an idea short of pureeing the food or feeding him.
Does he listen to medical personnel? I would think the doctor could order a speech therapy consultation (speech therapists also do swallowing), since he has already had aspiration pneumonia. Even if he wouldn't listen, the speech therapist might have some suggestions for strategies for you.
pam, no he doesn't listen to medical personnel-he's now at the stage where the world revolves around him and what he does/doesn't want like a 2 or 3 year old. Unfortunately he was admitted to the hospital last night for a possible stroke and I know they will be doing a swallow test today. So I will consult the therapist and see what different strategies (s)he may have.
To my dear friends on this site....thanks for your thoughts and good wishes. Right now there's no sign on the CT scan of a bleed or stroke but they still don't know what happened. I am scared...last time he was admitted for an acute event they treated as it was just dementia progression (wouldn't listen to me that he could speak and was walking into ER). They started to do that again last night & today and I am aggressively pursuing the appropriate treatment for him. Took him off all meds (for behavior) and geriatrician called today to ask what's going on and why they took him off all meds except treating behaviors with ativan and haldol. He said that's VERY dangerous and if they continued there was a real possibility that he could decline so quickly he would be bedridden by the time they released him. I told him it's your hospital staff-do something. Prayers are welcome. Thanks for caring.
Good news-discharged and miraculously is better cognitively. Hospital was a nightmare-withheld his meds for behavior for over 24 hours. Got what they deserved-an uncontrollable dementia guy. Pam, neurologist thinks it was a seizure. Going to try an EEG but doubt he'll put up with it.
Thanks again to all for thoughts & prayers. I sure was frightened.....
My hubby was dxd January 2009 and had his first major seizure in April 2011. He has had probably about 4-5 seizures since then. His first one was a doozie and he ended up in the ER and they gave him such strong drugs (Versed and Norcuron along with Morphine) that they put him into respiratory arrest. He was in intensive care and we carried him home a week later. He had to relearn walking and going to the bathroom. With mine less drugs is better. He is on 2ml Keppra 3x day which is equal to 200mg 3x day. If his neuro had his way he would be taking 1500mg per day. Not happening. Too much turns him into a slobbering zombie. Just enough works. Lloyd usually comes out of the seizures just tired and unless I totally freak out, I just keep him here at home and ride it out. I figure he is already impaired as it is and I don't want to impair him further with excessive sedatives or sleeping pills.