Hey folks, welcome to the new whine/general topic thread. Feel free to use this thread to discuss anything that is on your mind. Caregiving- related stuff, life after a loved one's death, your own emotional wellbeing. Whatever..........anything on your mind.
He had walking pneumonia then vomited and aspirated - was in ICU two weeks with a nasal tube - moved out of ICU but failed the swallowing test and she had to make the decision for feeding tube - he's otherwise showing improvement and getting PT
If the cause is a temporary condition, not a progressive decline, I think there's a very good chance that when the person recovers, the g-tube can come out.
I know my dad came home from hospital and rehab stay with his still in place, so that was about 6 weeks of having it. By time he came out of rehab, I don't recall that he was using it anymore. I used to flush it to keep it clean but I don't remember giving him feedings that way. He slowly gained weight and was able to eat soft foods just fine... so then they took the g-tube out and that was in 2014. It's never been needed since.
Permanent tubes can provide total nutrition but are more difficult to use and maintain and must be changed at the hospital every three months. Proper care is essentail because they have a tendency to clog easily. Long term feeding can be done at home with competent caregiver.
I have a J tube and can totally manage it myself. You fill a bag with formula by prescription, hang it on an IV pole or similar thread the tubing through a pump, prime the tubing so you done push air in attack to the end of the tube and turn on the pump and it does it's thing over night while you sleep. The important thing to remember is to keep the tube flushed with water before or after feeding because the formula sets up like strands of spaghetti.
This may sound complicated reading it here but multiple lay people have been able to assist me when I was too ill myself. Many nurses are not trained to do this so I have done some supervising when an inpatient.
It is the patient's choice when to do the feedings and it can be done during the day in what is called bolus feeding where you simply pour a measured amount of formula into the tube several times day. For me overnight is the most convenient.
Even with a feeding tube in place aspiration can occur which means the patient needs to sleep at a 30degree incline. No problem for me as I sleep in a recliner.
As far as your friend's DH is concerned I think she made the right decision at the time depending on what his other comorbidities are and his general quality of life. She can always ask them to remove it. It is OK to change your mind this was not a decision that can't be undone.
I remember my Dad having a G-tube (nasal) while in hospital for Aspiration Pneumonia, but it was removed one he was released, but with his disease of PSP (Premature Supranucular Palsy), he had to be on a very strict diet of soft foods and thickened fluids for the rest of his life, and as you can imagine, my very British Father attempting to drink his Life Sustaining Cup Of Tea THICKENED, Ugg, he'd rather drink sour milk! That was the one thing he wouldn't allow us to serve him, he demanded his tea the way he wanted it, so everyone had to be very diligent about sitting near him and monitoring the way he needed to drink small sips, and tilt his head down when swallowing. Unfortunately it was the Aspiration Pneumonia that took him in the end, God Love Him!
I think I remember that my dad couldn't tolerate the nasal g-tube. That was likely why the decision was made to do an abdomen peg in his case.
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There's a recent article on npr.org with the title "Infectious Theory Of Alzheimer's Disease Draws Fresh Interest." It might be of interest to some of you, thought I'd share.
Yep, .....................yep, yep. La de Da!
Okay, on to next thread.
Happy October everyone🍂
(and why are those tiny pieces of metal so expensive?)
In desperation, I then found some YouTube videos on acupressure for sinus. I found a great one (short and simple!) on the Accupressure Selfcare for Healthy Eyes and Sinus. I've been doing that throughout the day at work. Every time I used it, I can feel my face clear up. Then clogged back again. It really does help to lower the facial sinus pressure.
Tonight, I was going to re-watch the YouTube on acupressure for sinus head pressure relief. I got distracted with "how to prevent hair loss" since I'm going bald in my early 50's. So many firm or hard rubbing of the back of the head at 30 counts, the crown of your head 30 cts, the side of your head, etc.. 30 cts. By the 4th position, my head was going crazy with terrible itchiness. By the time the instructor reached the 6th position, he said that you will be feeling itchiness on your head. That's good because that means your head is receiving circulation. I started giggling.... All I can say is that by the time we were done with it, my head felt so... light. Wonderful... Unfortunately, all that firm/hard rubbing of my head (all over- back, top, side, etc..) made me lose more hair! Strands were falling all over my shoulders, arms, blouse... Off to see How to get rid off clogged ears and open your Eustachian tubes.
I was told I have allergic rhinitis. I was prescribed a nasal spray which was supposed to have 120 sprays but I think it dried out in half that time. Plus it wasn't really helping.
This last week I've been having problems with T M J on my right side and my ear continuously popping. I went to the doctor yesterday and he told me I was the fourth person he'd seen this week with this and that it's allergies that are causing it. He told me to put Voltaren gel on my jaw. Didn't really have much more to say about it. So I guess I'll try allergy medicine and see how that goes.
I think I inherited sinus problems from my dear Ma. I used to phone her and she'd say "hang on dear" and I could hear her clearing her throat out. I know the feeling now. :P
Today was just awful with my dH and my nerves are shot.
God Bless all you Caregiver's out there~
One minute at a time
And ALOT of prayer!
And more chocolate.
swimmers ear as a kid so bad that when they pulled the fungus out the Viking had to leave the room because I was screaming so much
now I get eczema in my ears and the itching drives me crazy to the point of some horrible infections
the one ENT who helped me retired awhile back and I haven’t found anyone I like
I actually had to tell one newbie ENT that the steroid she was prescribing was based in peanut oil
she had no idea
I’m not allergic to peanuts but can’t figure out why anything is made with peanut oil
the other guy hurt me so much when he was cleaning my ears that I said ouch
I sense he thinks I’m causing my own trouble but I cannot explain what uncontrollable itching is in the ear
I’m like a dog with it sometimes and need a cone but even then I’d still find a way scratch
I don't have any chocolate unfortunately. I did something just now that relived my t m j. A physio person did this when I was having the same kind of pain I'm having now. I reached into my mouth and stuck my thumb into my jaw where it hinges and pressed quite hard. It feels better for now anyways.
Real fruit juice pieces made with acai, pomegranate, cranberry and blueberry, and here comes the miracle.............
Dipped in smooth dark chocolate.