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Thanks. I am definitely going to share this information with him and talk to him and/or his doctors about seeing a dietician. Thanks again, Leslie > ---------- > From: Kathrynne Holden, MS,RD[SMTP:[log in to unmask]] > Sent: Wednesday, October 22, 1997 9:30 AM > To: Multiple recipients of list PARKINSN > Subject: Re: Welcome (fwd) > > Tatar, Leslie wrote: > > And, how can I get him to remember to snack and eat meals regularly. > He > > has a pretty busy schedule, and sometimes he won't eat anything > until > > 5:00 in the evening. He says he is rarely hungry, and he "forgets" > to > > eat. I live out of town so it's hard for me to check up on him. > And, > > when I do, he gets upset at me for nagging at him. > > Dear Leslie, > Your love and concern for your father are apparent, and he surely > realizes this. But his situation is complex, and nutrition is probably > very low on his priority list > > There are two barriers to your father's nutritional health: > 1) Loss of appetite > 2) His own unwillingness to do anything about it. > > Both are likely caused by his medications and/or PD itself. > > Your concerns are justified. Failure to eat properly/maintain weight > can > lead to health problems, including: > -severe weight loss is a predictor for both illness and death > -loss of B vitamins can lead to confusion, behavior change, fatigue, > insomnia, poor appetite (worsening his present situation), and an > Alzheimer's-like dementia > -lack of calcium and vitamin D can lead to bone thinning and > subsequent > fracture > -inadequate fiber and fluids can lead to bowel impaction > -inadequate fluid intake can cause dehydration, confusion, kidney > failure > > However, there may not be much you can do, other than to > keep encouraging him to eat well. Perhaps if you contact his > physicians > with your concerns, they might be willing to talk with him about his > need for nutrients, and perhaps refer him to a registered dietitian. > Let's hope that will be the case. > > My very best regards, > Kathrynne > > > -- > Kathrynne Holden, MS, RD > Editor-in-Chief, > "Spotlight on Food--nutrition news for people 60-plus" > http://www.fortnet.org/~fivstar > and NUTRITION TOPICS copy-ready handouts > http://www.dietetics.com/class/fivstar/ > Tel: 970-493-6532 Fax: 970-493-6538 >