cooklo
Member
- Joined
- Oct 11, 2008
- Messages
- 10
- Reason
- CALS
- Country
- US
- State
- Florida
- City
- Pt. St. Lucie,
I'm new to the forum and a new caregiver for my mom who has ALS. I am hoping that this forum will be the place to get answers to my many questions. First, in hindsight, my mother probably has had ALS for quite some time now. She has been getting weaker and weaker the past few years but we did not know what it was, nor did her doctors (amazing). It wasn't until she started slurring (actually thought she was drinking more than usual) that we forced her to get more help. After 2 months the diagnosis was given. That was just in June and since then, her condition has deteriated so much. A feeding tube was placed a month ago since she failed miserably her swallow tests. Her breathing is horrible, she cannot clear her throat at all and gets into a panic until it clears.
My questions are these:
1. We have the cough assist machine (she hates it), but what else can we do to help clear her throat of the 'gerd'? This is a real problem for her.
2. Dry mouth.... this is also horrible for her... since they don't want her to swallow anything, she is sucking on ice chips, but nothing is solving the dryness and she is miserable about it...
3. I think she has dementia now. It comes and goes, but her confusion over the small things is alarming.
I'll stop here.... would love to start a conversation and get help. Thank you to all of you for being there.
My questions are these:
1. We have the cough assist machine (she hates it), but what else can we do to help clear her throat of the 'gerd'? This is a real problem for her.
2. Dry mouth.... this is also horrible for her... since they don't want her to swallow anything, she is sucking on ice chips, but nothing is solving the dryness and she is miserable about it...
3. I think she has dementia now. It comes and goes, but her confusion over the small things is alarming.
I'll stop here.... would love to start a conversation and get help. Thank you to all of you for being there.