Alzheimer's Disease Support Group
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common cause of dementia and characterized by progressive cognitive deterioration with declining activities of daily living and neuropsychiatric symptoms or behavioral changes. An early symptom is memory loss (amnesia), usually manifesting as minor forgetfulness that becomes pronounced with illness progression, with relative...
Ok, EVERYONE who knows my husband thinks he has a few months BUT his doctors are talking like he has 1-2 years. They see him for a few minutes and I don't know what to think.
The next part is going to be a bit graphic but I don't know who else to ask, it's about poop.
Rollie had a constipation problem from the pain meds when he was in the hospital. FINALLY, on Friday, after numerous doses of Lactulose and 3 enemas he had a BM (if you could all it that, it was very loose and yucky). He is eating and drinking less and less everyday. He will have 2 or 3 bites of a sandwich and a couple sips of liquid and tell me he is full. This morning he said he had to go poop so I put him on the pot 3 times and nothing came out and when I wipe him the toilet paper is clean as a whistle.
My question is..... is he eating enough to even have a BM?
And I do have a call into his doctor and I have talked to the advice nurse and I'm not really get much of an answer other than, well, keep trying.
Trying? for what? Is his body just shutting down? I don't want to be accused of not trying but is there any reason to continue with the enemas and Lactulose at this point?
The next part is going to be a bit graphic but I don't know who else to ask, it's about poop.
Rollie had a constipation problem from the pain meds when he was in the hospital. FINALLY, on Friday, after numerous doses of Lactulose and 3 enemas he had a BM (if you could all it that, it was very loose and yucky). He is eating and drinking less and less everyday. He will have 2 or 3 bites of a sandwich and a couple sips of liquid and tell me he is full. This morning he said he had to go poop so I put him on the pot 3 times and nothing came out and when I wipe him the toilet paper is clean as a whistle.
My question is..... is he eating enough to even have a BM?
And I do have a call into his doctor and I have talked to the advice nurse and I'm not really get much of an answer other than, well, keep trying.
Trying? for what? Is his body just shutting down? I don't want to be accused of not trying but is there any reason to continue with the enemas and Lactulose at this point?
Have you tried having a friend or neighbor come over for a meal or good treat like milkshake and see if Rollie respond to a different person?
Realize he was taking meds that constipated him and then he gets "cleaned out" with enemas and things to get it all moving at a time when he's not eating. It takes time for food to move through the system and if he's not eating much there's not going to by a bm. And I mean, the poor guy, how confusing it must be all this activity over meals and bms added to the normal problems he has with thinking. I had a colonoscopy and it took me three days of full out eating after being cleaned out before I got back to normal.
We all know doctor's aren't always very helpful. Everything I have read indicates moderate to severe stages have varying degrees and changing eating problems. As it gets worse the advice is the caregiver has to change tactics to get fluids and food in. That said, you are right, you can't force him to eat. Don't we all know how hard this is? Yes, we do. I can't tell you how many times I thought my mom was moving towards making herself sick because she refused to eat.
I know with my mom when I get frustrated because meal times are so darn irritating for me, always changing, won't eat this, eats all of that bad stuff, I get wiped out over it all, all the time.....and the worse I get, the worse she gets. Rollie may be picking up on your worries and frustrations over this. My mom won't drink enough fluids, I start giving her more and she just gets mad at me and immediately drinks less. Within a day she's drinking more. She insists she's not hungry and doesn't want to eat and I try to convince her to eat, she gets worse. If I get food to eat without saying anything to her, she eats. It is a constant issue the eating stuff. Some meals I could just scream.
If your doctor isn't helping you understand what is happening and how to help, see if you can find an good gastrointestinal specialist who knows geriatric issues who would be willing to consult and help. The Alz not eating is getting in the way of the constipation bm issues and while the doctor may not want to deal with the not eating mind issues he certainly can help with the constipation and bm information and treatment.
Good luck.
dementia ? In the latter stages there is NO forcing anything and
why would you want to.
We have to pick our battles. In the end.. we are often fighting for our
own sanity.
My mother was in a nursing home for the last few weeks of her life and she hardly ate a bite. She refused food, turned her head and clamped her mouth closed. My husband, who had Alzheimer's, was like Deborah's and just stopped eating and drinking.
I agree with the idea of offering food and drink but not forcing. Maybe let his doctor know but I imagine he will say the same.
Deborah I cannot imagine having a conversation like that with my husband. We have had some difficult ones when he was afraid he couldn't work anymore but nothing like what you describe. My parents have had a few discussions about how they will care for my dad as he gets worse but that was a conversation about the distant future. I think you, and all the other ladies, deserve so much credit for handling this so gracefully.
I think that it is important that all of us who care deeply about Debbie and who admire the terrible road she has walked and is walking provide her with not only ideas...but also with support and comfort.....one word of criticism from my MIl and I am ready to jump out of my skin...we caregivers are grieving, exhausted and frightened.....need loving care......
When your kids are little and sick and the doctor says "force fluids," you do it. Now when your loved one needs fluids but doesn't know it, you won't do it. If they were in their right minds they would do it.
You may be more appreciated advising in an area where you
have experience.