BethU
Extremely helpful member
- Joined
- May 11, 2008
- Messages
- 2,646
- Reason
- PALS
- Diagnosis
- 05/2008
- Country
- US
- State
- California
- City
- Los Angeles
We all agree on how great the PEG is and how easy it makes life (relatively speaking), but my mouth does not agree. It is seriously bored. First it couldn't talk, now it can't eat ... all it has to do is sit there all day and manufacture drool.
But I discovered that I can handle anything that dissolves in my mouth and more or less becomes just another component of saliva, like merangue or cotton candy. (ugh ). I've also finally realized that my swallowing/saliva problems are all on the left side of my mouth. (The left side of my body is more affected than the right, so this makes sense.)
One of my favorite moments of the day used to be when everything was done, climbing into bed with a good book and some little snacks and blissing out. First thing they told me with ALS is "no eating while lying down." Pshaw!
However ... I discovered recently in my ongoing quest to appease my mouth that Hershey kisses dissolve in my mouth. And if I lie on my right side, and tuck one into my right cheek, it can quietly dissolve and get swallowed without the left side of my mouth even noticing there's anything going on! I can even chew it a little from time to time.
The big problem is getting the foil off the candy. My hands are getting a little useless, but I manage to scrape and claw the chocolate free. And 9 chocolates = 200 calories, so there's a little health bonus too. :lol: Gotta watch your health!
I'm sure they'll find my lifeless body one of these days with a Hershey kiss wedged in my throat ... but I'll have a big chocolatey smile on my face.
But I discovered that I can handle anything that dissolves in my mouth and more or less becomes just another component of saliva, like merangue or cotton candy. (ugh ). I've also finally realized that my swallowing/saliva problems are all on the left side of my mouth. (The left side of my body is more affected than the right, so this makes sense.)
One of my favorite moments of the day used to be when everything was done, climbing into bed with a good book and some little snacks and blissing out. First thing they told me with ALS is "no eating while lying down." Pshaw!
However ... I discovered recently in my ongoing quest to appease my mouth that Hershey kisses dissolve in my mouth. And if I lie on my right side, and tuck one into my right cheek, it can quietly dissolve and get swallowed without the left side of my mouth even noticing there's anything going on! I can even chew it a little from time to time.
The big problem is getting the foil off the candy. My hands are getting a little useless, but I manage to scrape and claw the chocolate free. And 9 chocolates = 200 calories, so there's a little health bonus too. :lol: Gotta watch your health!
I'm sure they'll find my lifeless body one of these days with a Hershey kiss wedged in my throat ... but I'll have a big chocolatey smile on my face.