wewillbeatthis
Distinguished member
- Joined
- Aug 10, 2005
- Messages
- 185
Hello ALS Family!
I have just about lost my mind over the last few weeks. Dad has had some ups and downs with work and for this he has gone through the flare up sort of speak with his legs, speech, and mood. Things are looking up at work and his legs are what they have been for years very little balence the use of a walker or carriage to get around, the cane to get in out of the house and up and down the stairs. This has been the same for at least well cane for 4 years, walker for two years. The speech well it is not as slurred as it was a week a ago. However, it is slow, very horse, and a little slurred on some words like p's and l's and double l's and p's especially. His upper body is fine and his eating and breathing are as well thank GOD.... His mood well he is still stressed because he does his sighing still....
So this is my frustration you can tell when dad talks he sounds nasal and horse and a tiny bit slurred due to how dry his mouth is. His tongue and lips are so dry.... He drinks water fine but just does not do it and when he does he sounds so much better. Why is this and what can I do. I can no longer sit around and watch him not help himself by drinking water and keeping his palete wet. The doctor and speech pathologist both told him that it is important for everyone to drink water all day long especially when it is hot to stay hydrated. However it is especially important for people with MND due to the fact that the palate muscles weaken and keeping it wet helps it out....
Does this sound normal and if so what can I do?
I have just about lost my mind over the last few weeks. Dad has had some ups and downs with work and for this he has gone through the flare up sort of speak with his legs, speech, and mood. Things are looking up at work and his legs are what they have been for years very little balence the use of a walker or carriage to get around, the cane to get in out of the house and up and down the stairs. This has been the same for at least well cane for 4 years, walker for two years. The speech well it is not as slurred as it was a week a ago. However, it is slow, very horse, and a little slurred on some words like p's and l's and double l's and p's especially. His upper body is fine and his eating and breathing are as well thank GOD.... His mood well he is still stressed because he does his sighing still....
So this is my frustration you can tell when dad talks he sounds nasal and horse and a tiny bit slurred due to how dry his mouth is. His tongue and lips are so dry.... He drinks water fine but just does not do it and when he does he sounds so much better. Why is this and what can I do. I can no longer sit around and watch him not help himself by drinking water and keeping his palete wet. The doctor and speech pathologist both told him that it is important for everyone to drink water all day long especially when it is hot to stay hydrated. However it is especially important for people with MND due to the fact that the palate muscles weaken and keeping it wet helps it out....
Does this sound normal and if so what can I do?