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Prior to coming home from the hospital in late February 1996 (prior to being diagnosed with PD), she was immobile and lying in bed, utilizing a feeding tube. When it came dinner time, my dad and I would purposely sit by her eating our home cooked dinner off of plates right next to her. The smell would drift by her and we purposly wanted to make her hungry enough to want to eat, even though she couldnt at the time. The feeding tube was connected to her stomach and we would fill it with Ensure at specified times of the day. In time, we kept her on the tube and started feeding her baby goods (Gerber), soft working our way up to semi soft food. By May, she was eating regular good, supplemented by less tube feedings. When she went to the hospital in June, she had the doctor remove the feeding tube and was eating normal again. This after the doctor had sent her home to die, and said there was no way she would be able to eat again. We know now that she probably has CBGD and are still working hard, but she still lives for her food and eats with gusto most of the time. - There are periods when she isnt so hungry and we supplement with cans of Ensure, but she is not on the tube. David caregiver of mom, 68/diag @64 "Kathrynne Holden, MS, RD" wrote: > Dear Allen, > > > Eating with general slowness and difficulties in chewing and swallowing has > > become a major and time-consuming problem. On several occasions food bolus > > has become lodged in the esophagus and required an endoscopy to remove. > > The eating difficulties you describe are not uncommon in people with PD. > The first thing you should do is ask your physician for a referral to a > speech language pathologist, who can determine the likelihood of > aspiration pneumonia, choking danger, and also can teach safe swallowing > techniques. > > > We are looking for any suggestions to avoid the step > > of a feeding tube. How does that work? When do you decide it is necessary? > > With regard to use of a feeding tube, your physician and dietitian can > determine the need for placement. A very strong consideration, in my > opinion, is unplanned weight loss. Many otherwise healthy people with PD > are unable to eat at a normal pace, and therefore cannot ingest enough > nutrients to maintain weight and health. > > Use of a feeding tube means that hydration can be maintained, calories > and other nutrients can be safely ingested, and -- if safe swallowing > techniques are used -- the individual can still dine with family and > friends, enjoying meals and eating as much as is possible. Feeding tubes > can help people stay healthy, both physically and mentally, living in > their own homes; whereas weight loss and malnutrition are predictors of > hip fracture, dehydration, confusion, behavior changes, and many other > illnesses. > > My very best regards, > Kathrynne > > -- > Kathrynne Holden, MS, RD > Medical nutrition therapy for Parkinson's disease > Author: "Eat well, stay well with Parkinson's disease" > "Parkinson's disease: assessing and managing unique nutrition needs;" > "Risk for malnutrition and bone fracture in Parkinson'sdisease," > J Nutr Elderly. V18:3;1999. > http://www.nutritionucanlivewith.com/