Re: Need suggestions about choking and suctioning

[Guest guest]

Hi

You are not alone in your feelings that you needed to know yesterday what

you find out about today. We all feel that way. This is a very confusing

sickness that doesn't effect everyone the same way. You just do the best you

can

and learn the most you can along the way. That is why this board is a

Godsent.

My Mom coughed alot and seemed to be choking some of the time. I never had

to suction her though. I did cut her food up very small and mashed what I

could. I know with my Dad I went to baby food (the junior kind) but in the end

he couldn't even eat that.

Please tell everyone what you find out about suctioning. You will probably

help someone else out that may need it.

We are here to support you and help if we can so please continue to ask. If

you need to vent this is also a good place to be.

Super hugs from Florida

Jacqui

[Guest guest]

Hi dear Jacqui,

I found a small, one serving size, blender if you will, at a drug store for

me, because I had all my teeth extracted. It works very well. It may be a

good thing to have for our LO in this choking stage, if they are not quite

ready

for baby food. The person can still eat deliciously prepared foods that the

family eats, yet it is fine chopped.

Imogene

In a message dated 9/21/2006 3:22:33 AM Central Daylight Time,

mamajacqui@... writes:

Hi

You are not alone in your feelings that you needed to know yesterday what

you find out about today. We all feel that way. This is a very confusing

sickness that doesn't effect everyone the same way. You just do the best you

can

and learn the most you can along the way. That is why this board is a

Godsent.

My Mom coughed alot and seemed to be choking some of the time. I never had

to suction her though. I did cut her food up very small and mashed what I

could. I know with my Dad I went to baby food (the junior kind) but in the

end

he couldn't even eat that.

Please tell everyone what you find out about suctioning. You will probably

help someone else out that may need it.

We are here to support you and help if we can so please continue to ask. If

you need to vent this is also a good place to be.

Super hugs from Florida

Jacqui

[Guest guest]

Visit the links section:

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/LBDcaregivers/links

there's a folder marked Movement Disorders that includes swallowing

issues - it can get you started on your research...

[Guest guest]

With increased choking/coughing on food and liquid occurs, it's time

to ask the neurologist for a referral to get a modified barium

swallow study. Let the speech language pathologist observe what's

going on and give you advice about whether it's time to puree foods

or thicken liquids. If your LO is silently aspirating, the SLP can

see that as well. If you request, they will have your LO take fluid

from a straw to see if that helps, and do a chin tuck with the

swallow to see if that helps.

We were very surprised about two things during my dad's swallow

study: he was silently aspirating all the time (the SLP said it was

a wonder he had not gotten pneumonia) and solid foods aren't a

problem. So we were told to thicken liquids to a certain consistency

or use regular liquids, limiting intake, and employing a chin tuck.

Sorry, I don't know anything about suctioning. There are a lot of

things you can do to try to cut down on the quantity of mucus and to

make the mucus less thick: take Mucinex (OTC medication; the SLP was

very impressed that the neurologist had put Dad on this over a year

ago); use netti pots; cut out dairy; etc. We give Dad OTC cough

syrup containing DM. (It doesn't contain guaifenisin, which is the

ingredient of Mucinex.) He perceives it helps. The neurologist and

primary care physician say that it doesn't hurt.

On another subject, if you can take a digital photo of your toilet

seat belt that would be another great thing to share!

>5a. Need suggestions about choking and suctioning

> Posted by: " joen_fagan " joen_fagan@... joen_fagan

> Date: Wed Sep 20, 2006 11:38 pm (PDT)

>

>LO is now choking and coughing when eating or taking meds. Several

>times when she's

>passed out and fallen, she coughs like getting ready to vomit, but

>doesn't. I suspect it's a big

>collection of mucus. We will see a geriatric psychiatrist in a

>couple of weeks and I really

>want info from him on reducing meds to the bare minimum. I'm sure

>the aricept has long

>since lost any usefulness and suspect Namenda too. Requip seemed to

>help for a week, and

>then any effects seemed to desappear. i know something about making

>food into mush, but

>when do you know it's time to start? I would like any comments and

>also info on suctioning.

>This is mentioned in the LBjournal website. When does it start

>being helpful? Where does

>one get the machine? Does it take a Dr.s orders? Does one go

>somewhere to get training?

>

>Dammit, every week I feel like a beginner in something new that I

>needed to know yesterday.

>

>Thanks in advance.

[Guest guest]

in the links section there is link to magic bullet, it is a blender /processor

which has many different sizes of containers with different color tops and it is

advertised on tv to blend and mix in less than 10 seconds, we bought them when

they were 2 for $99 and we loved it for dad, we could cook a meal for us and

then put the veggies in one container , meat and gravy in another and potatoes

in the third and within 30 seconds daddy would have a hot meal with us. one that

he could eat, i have one set on the RV and thn the other set has never been

used. it is in original packing but i think if someone would want it for $50

plus shipping i could ship it for a lot less than the company does as i would

rebox it in a smaller box and send all the paper work with it, it has never

been used, and is the original set doesnt come with the newest blender size

containers but a variety of smaller ones, if anyone is interested, send me your

name and address adn i will ship it to you and you can send me a check once i

have a total. the containers are refrigerator safe and have tops that seal on

them if anyone wants more information just let me know, hugs, sharon m

---- Iward27663@... wrote:

Hi dear Jacqui,

I found a small, one serving size, blender if you will, at a drug store for

me, because I had all my teeth extracted. It works very well. It may be a

good thing to have for our LO in this choking stage, if they are not quite

ready

for baby food. The person can still eat deliciously prepared foods that the

family eats, yet it is fine chopped.

Imogene

In a message dated 9/21/2006 3:22:33 AM Central Daylight Time,

mamajacqui@... writes:

Hi

You are not alone in your feelings that you needed to know yesterday what

you find out about today. We all feel that way. This is a very confusing

sickness that doesn't effect everyone the same way. You just do the best you

can

and learn the most you can along the way. That is why this board is a

Godsent.

My Mom coughed alot and seemed to be choking some of the time. I never had

to suction her though. I did cut her food up very small and mashed what I

could. I know with my Dad I went to baby food (the junior kind) but in the

end

he couldn't even eat that.

Please tell everyone what you find out about suctioning. You will probably

help someone else out that may need it.

We are here to support you and help if we can so please continue to ask. If

you need to vent this is also a good place to be.

Super hugs from Florida

Jacqui

[Guest guest]

oh my, please be very careful our lbders cannot take alot of changes at one

time, so if you will stop those meds, pick one at a time and do it slow just

dont stop them our loved ones do not react well to any sudden changes. also,

can some of the meds be crushed and given in applesauce icecream or pudding.

thick it is a brand of thickener which is almost tasteless, yes i tried it. we

used it in juices, milk and water, but not in sodas it makes them flat. also

there are juices taht are thicker that you can buy like nectar consistency they

are good but thicker and easeir for our loved ones to swallow. the occupational

therapist had my dad clear his throat and swallow after every 3rd bite or drink

to help clear the back of his throat. good luck and i hope this helps, hugs,

sharon m

---- joen_fagan wrote:

LO is now choking and coughing when eating or taking meds. Several times when

she's

passed out and fallen, she coughs like getting ready to vomit, but doesn't. I

suspect it's a big

collection of mucus. We will see a geriatric psychiatrist in a couple of weeks

and I really

want info from him on reducing meds to the bare minimum. I'm sure the aricept

has long

since lost any usefulness and suspect Namenda too. Requip seemed to help for a

week, and

then any effects seemed to desappear. i know something about making food into

mush, but

when do you know it's time to start? I would like any comments and also info on

suctioning.

This is mentioned in the LBjournal website. When does it start being helpful?

Where does

one get the machine? Does it take a Dr.s orders? Does one go somewhere to get

training?

Dammit, every week I feel like a beginner in something new that I needed to know

yesterday.

Thanks in advance.

--

Daugher of Leonard, diag May 2004, had lbd since 1993, had hip surgery from fall

7/05, aspiration pneumonia 7/05 with pulmonary embolyis, had aspiration

pneumonia and uti 8/05, died of blood pressure drop on 9/25/05,

may he rest in peace with his mom and dad,

a smile a day keeps the meanies away

[Guest guest]

My mother hated blenderized foods, but tollerated standerd foods that were

basically that consistency: oat meal, apple sauce, yogert, rhu-barb etc.

Rhu-barb's laxitive effect ment that we kept quite a supply of it.

I microwaved regular oatmeal, and while it was cooling, usually stired a

packet of Carnation instant breakfast into her oatmeal to try and provide her

with a more balanced diet.

She ate her oat meal with yogert stired in it rather than thinned out with

milk. We regularly bought those half gallon tubs of yogert. Rhubarb stirred in

like a " fruit " with yogert, or applesauce.

On good days she liked to eat some finely cut up hamberger. Mom loved her

coffee, but wouldn't drink it if it was 'thickened ' but she did drink her

tea thickened with applesauce.

Chocking sessions came even when there was no meal. Sometimes just a swollow

of saliva went down the wrong way.

Dann

[Guest guest]

Thanks very much for your response and good info.

--- LadySmilingAtU2@... wrote:

> oh my, please be very careful our lbders cannot

> take alot of changes at one time, so if you will

> stop those meds, pick one at a time and do it slow

> just dont stop them our loved ones do not react

> well to any sudden changes. also, can some of the

> meds be crushed and given in applesauce icecream or

> pudding. thick it is a brand of thickener which is

> almost tasteless, yes i tried it. we used it in

> juices, milk and water, but not in sodas it makes

> them flat. also there are juices taht are thicker

> that you can buy like nectar consistency they are

> good but thicker and easeir for our loved ones to

> swallow. the occupational therapist had my dad

> clear his throat and swallow after every 3rd bite or

> drink to help clear the back of his throat. good

> luck and i hope this helps, hugs, sharon m

> ---- joen_fagan wrote:

> LO is now choking and coughing when eating or taking

> meds. Several times when she's

> passed out and fallen, she coughs like getting ready

> to vomit, but doesn't. I suspect it's a big

> collection of mucus. We will see a geriatric

> psychiatrist in a couple of weeks and I really

> want info from him on reducing meds to the bare

> minimum. I'm sure the aricept has long

> since lost any usefulness and suspect Namenda too.

> Requip seemed to help for a week, and

> then any effects seemed to desappear. i know

> something about making food into mush, but

> when do you know it's time to start? I would like

> any comments and also info on suctioning.

> This is mentioned in the LBjournal website. When

> does it start being helpful? Where does

> one get the machine? Does it take a Dr.s orders?

> Does one go somewhere to get training?

>

> Dammit, every week I feel like a beginner in

> something new that I needed to know yesterday.

>

> Thanks in advance.

>

>

>

>

>

>

> --

> Daugher of Leonard, diag May 2004, had lbd since

> 1993, had hip surgery from fall 7/05, aspiration

> pneumonia 7/05 with pulmonary embolyis, had

> aspiration pneumonia and uti 8/05, died of blood

> pressure drop on 9/25/05,

> may he rest in peace with his mom and dad,

> a smile a day keeps the meanies away

>

>

>

> Welcome to LBDcaregivers.

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

glad to help anyway i can , hugs, sharon m

---- Joen Fagan wrote:

Thanks very much for your response and good info.

--- LadySmilingAtU2@... wrote:

> oh my, please be very careful our lbders cannot

> take alot of changes at one time, so if you will

> stop those meds, pick one at a time and do it slow

> just dont stop them our loved ones do not react

> well to any sudden changes. also, can some of the

> meds be crushed and given in applesauce icecream or

> pudding. thick it is a brand of thickener which is

> almost tasteless, yes i tried it. we used it in

> juices, milk and water, but not in sodas it makes

> them flat. also there are juices taht are thicker

> that you can buy like nectar consistency they are

> good but thicker and easeir for our loved ones to

> swallow. the occupational therapist had my dad

> clear his throat and swallow after every 3rd bite or

> drink to help clear the back of his throat. good

> luck and i hope this helps, hugs, sharon m

> ---- joen_fagan wrote:

> LO is now choking and coughing when eating or taking

> meds. Several times when she's

> passed out and fallen, she coughs like getting ready

> to vomit, but doesn't. I suspect it's a big

> collection of mucus. We will see a geriatric

> psychiatrist in a couple of weeks and I really

> want info from him on reducing meds to the bare

> minimum. I'm sure the aricept has long

> since lost any usefulness and suspect Namenda too.

> Requip seemed to help for a week, and

> then any effects seemed to desappear. i know

> something about making food into mush, but

> when do you know it's time to start? I would like

> any comments and also info on suctioning.

> This is mentioned in the LBjournal website. When

> does it start being helpful? Where does

> one get the machine? Does it take a Dr.s orders?

> Does one go somewhere to get training?

>

> Dammit, every week I feel like a beginner in

> something new that I needed to know yesterday.

>

> Thanks in advance.

>

>

>

>

>

>

> --

> Daugher of Leonard, diag May 2004, had lbd since

> 1993, had hip surgery from fall 7/05, aspiration

> pneumonia 7/05 with pulmonary embolyis, had

> aspiration pneumonia and uti 8/05, died of blood

> pressure drop on 9/25/05,

> may he rest in peace with his mom and dad,

> a smile a day keeps the meanies away

>

>

>

> Welcome to LBDcaregivers.

>

>

>