SWALLOWING PROBLEMS AND VERY DRY THROAT/MOUTH.

[OREOLU]

Hi everyone, kindly assist with your input. How do you deal with difficulty in swallowing, mostly in the mornings after waking up.? Anyone with experience of how to manage this condition. It is still mild,I am usually relieved, once I take my c/l, and has kicked in. Apart from speech therapist intervention, is there any alternative treatment with supplements or herbs?Please help.

[GymBag]

Solids go down easier than liquids

Thick liquid goes down easier than thin

take your time, eat slowly , breathing and swallowing at differant times

choking and aspiration of food into lungs (pneumonia) leading causes of death for PD

I use an antibacterial mouth wash and gargle about 10 times day especially before bed

[Cleo16 in reply to GymBag]

See how much you bring to our lives

[OREOLU in reply to GymBag]

Thanks Gymbag.

[104L]

Small bite sizes, eat slowly, finish each piece before starting the next, soft food, extra gravy or sauce. My wife likes things like stuffing with gravy, penne pasta with sauce, soft key lime pie, softened vegetables, chocolate boost protein drinks.

Tell friends and family about need for diet restrictions so the are aware. Need to be careful. Choking is a real risk. Have your caregiver trained in Heimlich maneuver. I’ve had to do it several times on my wife.

[OREOLU in reply to 104L]

Hi 104L, thanks for your input.

[Spencer53]

You can buy Biotene - spray in mouth at night. Drink water through the day and first thing in the morning (drink carefully in case swallowing is difficult). On suggestion by John Pepper is to breath deeply before you drink or eat - if the lungs are full of air and you should choke, the air will expel any items before they get into your lungs.

[Despe in reply to Spencer53]

Very interesting!

[Spencer53 in reply to Despe]

Correction in my reply - "should you choke"

[OREOLU in reply to Despe]

Thanks Despe.

[OREOLU in reply to Spencer53]

Thanks Spencer53.

[chartist]

This may help with the issue of dry mouth and it is important because a major problem with dry mouth is that it can cause tooth decay which is not going to be helpful at all for PwP or anyone for that matter :

healthunlocked.com/parkinso...

Art

[OREOLU in reply to chartist]

Thanks chartist.

[Adubyaem]

Pay attention while eating. Conversation, tv, reading, increases risk of aspiration

4 steps:Chew and hold,

breathe in through your nose,

swallow twice,

breathe out.

This reduces the risk of inhaling food into the lungs