I tried searching this but nothing came up. For about a month now when eating she will start gagging and at times throw up. This doesn't happen all the time but enough of the time that it is of concern. Seems to be swollowing ok not aspirating that does not seem to be it. Today at breakfast she threw up then when I was feeding her lunch she started gagging and said she was going to throw up. Anybody had an experience like this? Nursing staff and Doctor dat a loss. She has been complaining about her stomach could this be part of the progression of the disease?
It could be but also could be gastric reflex. My grandson has had reflex since birth. He will be fine then suddenly start coughing eventually throwing up. My husband had it for years then had surgery around 1998 which stopped it. A couple years ago I recognized that 'relex cough'. He has been on antacid since.
Might try giving her an antacid and see if that helps.
When my mother gagged - it was hiatal hernia. When my partner was throwing up it was, as Charlotte suggested to you, gastric reflux. Elimination of the juice I was using as a medium to give her her liquid medicines cured that. She was getting too much acid. Of course it could be something else entirely, but you might want to look into the diet for people with GERD (gastro-esophofigal reflux disease).
I suggest a swallow test, both upper and lower GI. This can see if it is a problem such as the once described here or if there is a swallowing problem associated with dementia. A speech therapist should be there because the chance of the latter, but it can be unrelated to Alz.
My wife occasionally has this problem from not chewing enough or eating too quickly. But since you were feeding her you had some control over these issues.
This could be a progression of the disease. My husband who is on hospice has this condition and is on puréed food and thicken liquids. This has really helped. It is common in later stages oh Alzheimer's.
From the time my husband entered the nursing home a speech pathologist observed him while he was eating. After about a year, and approximately a year before he died, he was put on a puréed diet. He could not swallow solid food. He enjoyed the puréed food and ate well. Weeks before he died we had to stop food entirely. He lost his ability to,swallow. I believe it is the progression of the disease. If she chokes on solid food or vomits she could aspirate the food into her lungs. That is one of the reasons they contract pneumonia, and that begins another whole process.
Like the previous commenters, I think it's either acid reflux or an inability to swallow. A swallow test by a speech therapist whould tell whether that is the problem. If so, it's part of the progression of the disease. If not, it's probably acid reflux and they can give her medicine for that.
Like the previous commenters, I think it's either acid reflux or an inability to swallow. A swallow test by a speech therapist whould tell whether that is the problem. If so, it's part of the progression of the disease. If not, it's probably acid reflux and they can give her medicine for that.
Thank you all for the comments I will follow through with the speech pathologist and see where that leads start to rule things out. As I have said been about a month off and on and nobody has come up with anything.
the nurses and the dietician are all trained in doing the swollow test at Lisa's home so I started the process yesterday. Head nurse did a basic test but was difficult as I quess there are some directions involved and she is just not capable of understanding so The dietician who I guess is more of the expert will do a test next week. Also had dr. Come and visit her last night has ordered extra strength Tylenol for the leg pains. Thought they could be side effect from drugs tried changing those around but no help with the pain only seemed to be more fearful again. I know there has been a lot of discussions around getting the right meds seems like it is just ongoing.
Even through the staff is good You wonder how people make out who have nobody to be their advocate and to watch over them.
I've often wondered the same thing, Rona. There must be so many just falling between the cracks and not getting decent care...not to mention that there's no one to know their likes and dislikes, to give them that affection and TLC that makes all the difference, to really...care for them...for want of a better way to put it.