Should I be concerned, my sister is now fully dependant and has started coughing when she eats(choking

[nannygoon]

[carolinesimmons]

There are degrees of dependency and coughing, but my husband is totally dependent except he can indicate that he needs to go to the bathroom and he might not cough every time he eats, but very frequently. This is part of the expected progression of this disease, but it does cause a great deal of concern. I would be sure that any food given be pureed if possible and be given in very small quantities. Liquids can be thickened; there are products on the market for that. Does any of this help?

Caroline

[Peter3]

Dear Nannygoon,

There are several things you can do to help to alleviate the choking when your sister is eating including making the food softer, using plenty of sauces (this can be helpful if the person is starting to loose weight, the sauces can be made with butter and cream, assisting in keeping the calorie level higher) give small quantities of food at each mouthful, make sure she is sitting up and is well supported.

Has your sister had contact with a Speech and language therapist? This is probly one of the best people who will be able to assess your sisters swallowing ability and give advice on how to manage it.

Best wishes.

Peter3.

[Robin20]

My dad enjoyed all kinds of food.we used to put it through the food processer and blend it all.and his drinks were thickened up.we even enjoyed a glass of wine thickened,x