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Cwillie
found an article on the national foundation of swallowing disorders from 2015 on how to thicken liquids

author's preference is for clear thickeners as others (starch) tend to over thicken and become globs then stick in throat and cause choking
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Cw, I sent you some article citations by PM. It looks like there are some differences of opinion. Maybe armed with this information, you can have a nuanced discussion. Is there not an SLP on staff?
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My whine regarding kids and cellphones. My sig other's daughter and her two daughters [12 & 14] are visiting.... I hadn't seen them in 8 years as I was busy with my elderly parents..... I had missed sooo much.

Anywho, those darn cellphones. Both girls AND their Mom are glued to the phones. At least when we were sight seeing, the phones when into their Mom's purse after a lot of whining. In fact, one historic home the Guide asked for no 21st century items to be on.

As soon as the tour was over and we were outside, they all had to quickly check their cellphones. Even the ride home, sig other and I tried to make conversation but no one would answer.

And the girls were so tired. Say what?? When I was their age I use to walk for miles without even a whimper. Even my parents use to walk 2 miles a day then they were in their 80's and early 90's.
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Amen, FF. It’s shocking how useless and rude a sizable percentage of young folks are.

I’ve lost track of how many of my friends’ tween-to-early-20s kids (or grandkids) have never operated a washer/dryer or lawnmower and don’t know how to write a check.

Don’t hold your breath waiting for one of these delicate geniuses to look you in the eye and hold up their end of the conversation, either.
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Blackhole,
"Don’t hold your breath waiting for one of these delicate geniuses to look you in the eye and hold up their end of the conversation, either." Lol.

Even though I had the pleasure recently to meet two college age persons in a conversation, and they were shy but very polite, the cell phones did come out.
We took pictures, (me with my jitterbug-they with I-phones); their parents joining in a separate I-phone conversation; they did look me in the eye. Overall, it was an amazing experience. This was an exception of what has become common. They did not ignore us or have their heads in their phones all thru dinner.

That said, your comment is so very funny, so very true, that I am writing it down!
I might be laughing all day. I will be sharing it with my hubs, and a very distressed grandma, as we were just crying over the grands behaviors only yesterday.

The general consensus seems go be: These hurt grandmothers do not want to ever see these grandchildren again....it is so painful. And we all have tried so hard!
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It used to be that you stopped at roadside produce stands to pick up extra fresh local goodies at bargain prices, now however, the farmers all seem to be charging a price significantly higher than what is available in the supermarket. Today I picked up 2 cobs of sweet corn to compare with the two cobs I got from the store the other day. Both are good, but the farm fresh corn is slightly less good and 10 cents a cob more.
(and no, it's not organic)
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Would you believe my HUBBY (who is only 52) is glued to his phone and computer? Sometimes I just say "GET OFF THE PHONE" because he isn't listening. If it's not surfing the web or texting someone on the phone, it's games on the computer.... arrrgh!

I, on the other hand, only drag it around with me everywhere, and answer it every time it beeps....LOL
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I Stopped by a fruit stand too cwillie,to buy some peaches and before bed,I cut up the biggest one and put a bunch of sugar on it and put it in the freezer and then pulled it out to eat some of it,but it was SO good,I ate the whole bowl and then I spent that night and the next morning in my john.
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Sometimes buying from farmers is more expensive because we grow naturally. Supermarkets get there produce mostly grown commercially and as quick as possible, therefore so many unwanted chemicals and things are added to your produce. So it is a matter of get what you pay for when it comes to fruits and veggies. I know we sell our veggies at a higher price than the store, because it takes more work to grow naturally and not use any chemicals. So we grow our meat and veggies as intended, and it it is hard to buy that in a store.
Just saying.......

Sorry you had to spend so much time with John, Lu. :)
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Oh,it was my own fault smeshque.....I have a problem with moderation.
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Moderation?

it was hot this afternoon so I made three glasses of cold brew iced tea- not refills in the same glass but three separate glasses then proceeded to have three pieces of See's summer berries - thought it important to try more than one flavor
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I had another one of my healthy meals. Red ju jubes, followed by quinoa which is somewhat healthy followed by more ju jubes and some chocolate m & m's.

I don't know why I continuously sabotage myself this way. I've been working out faithfully for the last three weeks but I know all my efforts are for nought if I keep having these junk food binges.

Also, I can't believe how cold and unfriendly people are at the workout room. You'd think they were getting penalized for smiling or even just nodding in someone's direction. Is it me? Am I too sensitive? Or is working out such serious business that a smile might throw you off your goals? I'm not a real workout horse. Never have been. Maybe I've been missing something all these years. Nice people don't work out? Is that it?
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Gershun, One of my doctor friends says he only eats and drinks from the basic food groups - sugar, salt, fats, alcohol and caffeine. M & M’s sound healthy to me.

Smesque, I know what you mean about growing and preserving your own. It is more expensive and time consuming than buying commercially grown. But, I think much better nutritionally. I find with my own green beans and other veggies I don’t need to use as much salt or seasonings. With home or wild grown fruits and berries I don’t use as much sugar or flavorings. Of course, one cannot grow their own M&M’s.

I’ve read the negative comments about young people. I don’t find these comments. to be true in my life. I’m sorry others do. My husband and I have 24 grandchildren over 13, plus 5 adult children and I have my two cousins who are starting graduate school in Sept living with us. We all have IPhones, IPads, IPods, etc. plus some of the younger teens have Game Boys and DS. We have a basket and assortments of chargers on a small table in the foyer. Everyone knows that’s where the electronics go. Our son who is a doctor is excempt if he is on call. I cook and we eat our evening meal together. It is a rare meal that we don’t have a few grandchildren or one of our adult children and their families having dinner with us. There are occasional exceptions, but not many. We have a couple of grandchildren who are on the quieter side, but all are fairly conversational. My husband and I both work or have worked with college aged students. I find them considerate and willing to engage not only with their peers, but also with the community at large. I don’t think our family is much different than other large families in our area. I think most of our friends have similar situations.
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Technology I guess can be both a blessing and a curse. I'm just glad social media wasn't a thing when I was a teenager and college age to come back and haunt me later lol.
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I'm more willing to forgive the kids who have grown up with a phone in their hands than I am the people who are older - we should know better.
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Another hot, restless night
I need to shower and get to hoca in 30 minutes- I'm covering breakfast and lunch with mom - the past two weeks she's been so soundly asleep during breakfast that I can't wake her even with an ice cube on her face
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Is your mom losing weight MsMadge, my mom seems to be holding steady on one or two meals a day.
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M & M's now have caramel inside. This advice coming from the one who puts chocolate chips in the Sunday through Saturday medication minder, instead of the prescription for panic attacks. But only one-a-day, Lol. The doc thought that was very funny.

From a book, a long time ago: "Diets Don't Work"

The concept was do not eat the thing you think is healthy to justify the treat that you really want and will eat anyway. Skip the quinoa, go straight to the ju ju bees.

Another diet: Eat Less, Move More.

Hey Gershun....do these exercising people have ear buds in their ears? It is them, not you! Maybe it is more like elevator protocol: Enter, turn to the front, do not speak. Exercise protocol: Do not look like you are having fun, if there is no pain, there is no gain.
Earbuds protocol: If you do not want to talk to anyone, wear earbuds.

Do you even need a diet?
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Whenever I have to use my jitterbug, I feel like throwing the technology right out the window.

Especially when trying to meet up with dH. He does not answer, does not text back, and if I miss his call, he won't even answer when I am right here calling back. When he calls for a ride, he will not ask for a ride, or even mention it. He says: "How ya doin?" If I don't offer a ride, next he says: "I clocked out".

The other choice is to wait in the parking lot, and he doesn't come out, doesn't call.
Hours can pass by.

It is him, not me. Just to shorten the conversation if he does answer, I find myself begging: "Where can I pick you up?, " "I am coming now", I have to make sure the call is disconnected before expressing my ongoing frustrations.
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Hi Everyone...No whines so far today...just dropped in to say "hi!". I have to admit that I am one of the "older" people who is hooked on technology, though I don't text or answer calls when I drive. My honey however has not charged his phone in a month and has only touched his computer once in the last month. Since all of my paintings are hand drawn and painted on the computer I am pretty well tied to my computer most of the time and have been for the last 27 years. One of these days will cut the cord (as the old saying goes) to it and my cell phone for at least one day and just hide out.

Sendhelp...I understand your frustration. My honey refuses to text anyone...period. And does not answer his cell. He seems to only respond to the home phone...ugh. It makes it rough if I am out and about running errands and need to check on him. Since he has not charged his cell in a month I am about ready to have it turned off but sure as I do he will need or want to use it.

Sorry I am rambling today. Hope y'all are having a great weekend.
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Well, another sleepy Sunday

no weight loss but she’s got plenty of weight on her

tried for an hour to wake her - can’t stand seeing her with head bent down in her wheelchair

then she woke a bit and I managed to get some food in her but then couldn’t find the nurse for morning meds

first time I heard her say today that she wants to die

maybe it’s time to reduce the risperdal
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Ms Madge, I hope that was the Risperdal talking and not the Viking. She’s my nursing home idol. I want to be feisty like the Viking eating a pancake and pinching nurses when I’m her age or sooner. Like you, I hate to visit the nursing home and see residents sitting with their heads bent down in a wheelchair. It looks so uncomfortable.

You’re a good daughter MS Madge. I hope somebody takes that good of care of me when I need the care.
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MsMadge and others with this problem. There is a way of assisting someone to cough but you need to be shown how to do it properly probably by a Respiratory Therapist.

Back to the thickened or pureed foods.

The Speech therapist assesses the patient's swallowing abilities. A full test is done under X ray fluoroscopic guidance administered by an interventional radiologist (MD)
The patient is first given a drink of liquid barium flavored to choice and it is tracked on the X-ray. next a soup like drink is given again of flavored barium. Lastly a cookie laced with barium is given.
Once the results of this test are known the speech therapist recommends the type of diet needed.
The Dr then writes an order for the diet which food service can not deviate from.
The dietician only becomes involved if the patient has special need each as diabetes or heart problems.

Now I am not known for following any of those rules and have my visitors bring in a little of what I fancy. I don't take enough by mouth for forbidden foods such as sugar and whole milk to impact my health plus I have tube feeding.
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Ms Madge I so agree with you about how sad it is to see patients lined up in their wheel chairs fast asleep. How is that therapeutic.
Getting out of bed and dressed and going to the dining room for meals is a good idea plus other activities.
I see the reasoning of moving the patients out of bed to help prevent pressure sores but the seats of wheel chairs are very uncomfortable and the arms have no padding. Plus and this is a big one in my book is spending long hours with the knees bent which only encourages edema and poor blood flow.
I have no problem with a patient being in a comfortable recliner in a dayroom where their legs can be up and they can dose.
Just one of my pet peeves!
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I was promised a day of rest today from hubs. I worked an extra day last week and visited my mom and MIL yesterday. All bases covered. Tomorrow I have an early appointment. Sunday was supposed to be relaxing.

We went to 10 am services at our church and were supposed to go back home to hang out. Well, in church, hubby suddenly realizes that he had "promised" his brother to bring flowers to his niche on Sunday (he died last week). OK...... but then he mentioned picking up MIL. OK.....We drive half way across town to get her, then to a florist, then to the church where his niche is located. We wind up staying for mass at that church even though we just got out of our church's services 1 hour before.
After that hubs insisted we stop at a juice place even though MIL kept saying she just wanted a bottle of water. She did not enjoy the drink and I just wanted to go home. Then another great idea on his part, let's stop and get tamales and eat them at her house. After driving her back home, we had to visit with her sister who lives behind her, eat our tamales, then hang out on the porch to see who else would stop by. We got home at 5 pm and I was not a happy camper.

Grrrr.....so much for a "day off".
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Sue- that's about how my "days off" go as well. Hang in there. The Lord never gives you more than you can handle. We must be super strong.... :)
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If one thinks veggies are expensive now, wait until winter when we start to get our fruits and veggies from South America [where it will be summer there] if higher tariffs are placed on them :(
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Our little border spat is already reaching into Canadian stores FF 😒.
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According to the Maine State Tourist Bureau while overall travel to Maine by foreign citizens is down because of Administration policies, Canadians are not going along. Visits to Maine have increased to some areas, ie Old Orchard Beach, Ogunquit, Kennebunkport and York Beach. Ferry travel to Canada has picked up this summer.

Canadian seafood prices are higher coming into Maine, along with ice cream and candy prices🙁I guess maple syrup will be next.
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I'm about ready to go Viking on hoca

mom's overnight caregiver cancelled a bit ago, which isn't too much of a worry as I'm cutting back anyway, but hoca's phones are down and I can't get through

it was a long day at work and I'm in my nightie but I guess I'll have to get dressed and drive there to tell them
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