Really tough night,Hubby was choking all night long , scares the heck out of me. Any tips. Gave him some cough syrup and made a honey lemon drink. He has little spit bucket but he has a very hard time getting rid of the flem. Im really not sure if taking him to the dr will help but that is next on the list.
NEED SLEEP
Dee in BC
Get in touch with a Speech Therapist. In the UK, they are responsible, for all these sort of matters. Might need some equipment to keep him more upright in bed, as well. I would go and see the GP, could be a slight chest infection, making things worse.
Lots of love
Heady
We had a terrible time with it. Really gluey phlegm at night. Months of it. We got a suction machine prescribed, and that helped, but didn't stop the problem . Atropine eye drops, one drop under his tongue morning and evening, and the problem has vanished. It took him a little while to get used to the drops, and they used to make him by turns sleepy and antsy, but after a couple of weeks the side effects faded. And I make sure to be very careful with the dose.
Thank you for the tips, going to the doc tomorrow to rule out infection..
Dee in BC
Our speech therapist did suggest turning him on his side, and it has helped...
Is he in a hospital bed? I found that M's choking could be cleared for a while by shifting her position usually sitting upright but if that did not work lowering her to flat and putting on the side in a recovery position.
The body needs a balanced saliva production, the issue in PSP the loss of tongue function and swallow function means saliva seems to either over produced or stopped. Both cause chokes.
It depends on what is causing the choke: too much saliva, or too little. There was no magic bullet, if excess saliva building up on the windpipe, Glycoperonate worked to reduce drool for a year but when it lost its effectiveness we tried Botox of saliva glands with little effect but a month ago we have been put on hyocene patch (2 yr ago caused very bad reaction) but at present seems to be having an effect without too bad side effect.
If the reason is too little saliva which causes thick mucus to build up on the windpipe, check with doctor it may be a side effect of other meds. A suction machine can help if person does not bite, no use for M as she would bite hard.
The golden rule is check the colour of the choke goo coughed up if any colour other than white or clear, it is first sign that an infection is developing and get doctor.
A speech therapist will be able to give help but you are into more sleep deprivation. I tried catching cat naps during the day but did not compensate as I never got more than a couple of hours sleep a night for nearly 2 and a half years. I was a zombie in the end operating on auto only. You need to try and get some night care cover to allow you at least a some sleep.
Best wishes Tim
We couldn't use the Hyoscine in any form tim . It caused a dreadful reaction , I didn't sleep day or night for three days. - choking hallucinations etc .
Find Glycoppyrate best of all.
Cabbagecottage, Yes hyocene caused dreadful reaction 2 yr ago one patch for less than 3 hrs led to 3 days of reaction, not used again. The Nursing home GP suggested a second trial of hyocene last week and touch wood it seems to be working but M does get occaisional leg spasms which she can live with as the saliva is under control.
I agree about glycoppyrate being good at first but after a year it did lose its effectiveness.
Best wishes Tim
Choking is most likely due to not being able to get rid of excess saliva. we are producing 2 to 3 kg of saliva per day. and we normally swallow it away. but if swallowing has become a problem, then this can cause choking. A very effective way to deal with this to administer 2 drops of atropine eye drops 1% w/v. This will also by the way reduce sweating. There is also equipment available to suction off excess saliva.
Also check the tongue. PSP sufferers easily can get build up of plague, which consists for 90% of bacteria. And as a consequence they can also get thrush. Regular tooth brushing is essential. And you can get special tooth brushes that have on the reverse side soft bristles with which you can remove the plague from the tongue and cheeks. And again this is a problem related to increasing difficulties with swallowing. Rinsing the mouth with corsodyl which is the most effective way to get rid of plague is often no longer possible, due to lack of control in the mouth and swallowing.
Hope this helps.
Cough syrup supresses the cough reflex which means you cough less but it doesn't help with the underlying problem which is likely to be excess secretions as the others have suggested. The honey and lemon is a good idea and sleeping in a more upright position or on his side may also help.
Hope you get some rest soon!
Kathy
When mum has a coughing session we give her a Carbocisteine capsule and within literally 5 minutes the mucous has dried up. They were prescribed by her gp and we simply use them on a 'as and when' basis. We were told about them by another psp sufferer.
Hmm...thanks for mentioning this. I had never heard of it but just did some reading. Definitely something to suggest to the doc!
No problem easterncedar, I hope it helps. One thing's for sure, with psp you learn something new every day as some other problem rears its ugly head 😓 good luck xx
Yes! I'm always learning something. Things one might hope never to need to....oh well!
i have the c/ syrupt to take also on a wren i need it basis
it seems o help with t he snoring 2 for which it was prescribed
Hi, Jill! What sort of cough syrup? Because he is taking amitriptaline he can't take some cough medicines, but he likes taking syrup...a placebo effect maybe, but whatever works, I say.
Dear dw123456
My husband has had the same problem but after one year of trying to help a speech/swallowing expert came to the house. Do you know what he said.........take a breath in before swallowing the food. It has helped so much. Not perfect, but has helped. Try it and see what happens.
We still have problems mainly with liquids. Thickening doesn't help and is not recommended. He can't swallow his pills well so I started buying applesauce squeeze packets. You can find many brands. It has really helped!
Lemonade, pineapple juice, etc. help with mucus but each evening it takes him 15 minutes to clear his throat.
I'm with you, friend. We all understand. Hang in there.
Cuttercat
Suction machine
Head elevated
If still eating solid foods, make sure last morsel is eaten several hours before bed due to reflux.
Swallow therapy with speech therapist
My guy just started a medicine to reduce saliva: Glycopyrrolate. His neurologist had to prescribe it as it affects nervous system or something...so far so good though he still uses suction and spits but not as much
These are not in order of greatest value just stuff my husband uses.
Good luck
AVB
Hi Dee,
Sounds crazy but an antacid worked for my dad. He started taking Zantac 150 twice a day a few years back. The doctor says it stops the stomach from producing as much mucus. He's been entirely free of those thick, choking strings of phlegm since we started him on the antacid a few years back. Best of luck.
Carla
Thanks Carla , he is on allergy pills as well as Zantac . He stands by buckly cough syrup , and I do believe it did help a bit..Darn PSP. See what tomorrow brings
How to control choking ?
Coughing/choking
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Tube feeding, choking or deep sedation/euthanasia? Your thoughts would help so much, we are quite lost about dad's late PSP stage. 
