Hi all, I need a little help. My David seems to have gone down with a cold today, and he is currently chuffing like a train into a hanky...
I know that colds etc turning into pneumonia can be a big thing for PSP sufferers, does anyone have any advice on this one, as it's so rare for David to catch a cold I don't have any ideas...
Thanks,
Derek
If I was you I would get the doctor to look at him in the morning, gets some antibiotics. My husband George, had a cold last week, turned I to pneumonia, he went into hospital, is still very poorly, home with nurses coming in 3 times a day, taken it out of him, can't even transfer anymore, so get help as soon as possible xxxx
Thank you, I will look into an appointment or home visit tomorrow.
Of course getting the doctor's advice is the best, but I will say, for what it's worth, that I don't think a cold necessarily is something to fret about. The danger arises with a cold if he gets coughing and aspirates any of the secretions, so antibiotics may not be called for unless it goes into his chest. If his "chuffing" is coughing, that's something to attend to. I hope it's just a cold that stays a cold, and your David feels better soon. All the best, ec
Well said EC, best thing for a cold is warmth, and sleep, try the cold remedies from the pharmacy such as:" Lemsip flu max strength" remember though they contain paracetamol so if on low dose already stop that. Also ask Dr for nebuliser to help with breathing and keeeping airways open.
Antibiotics no good for a cold but get them ready if cold descends to chest and starts a chest infection, giving antibiotics too early only means when actually needed more aggressive antibiotics will have to be used.
Good luck hope he gets better in meantime get the balm tissues easier than washing hundreds of hankies. Tim
Right about the antibiotics. My guy hasn't had to use them much - just a couple of UTIs and a minor bout of pneumonia, but tests show he has bacteria with resistance to some of the more common antibiotics already, so his doctor is getting very cautious about prescribing them, pushing back on the respite care staff's desire during the last visit to use them preventatively.
Something I've found helps my dad when he has congestion is proteolytic enzymes. Obviously check with doc to see if ok with meds. I use Biotics Research brand Intenzyme Forte. It digests excess proteins, so can be helpful to reduce mucus secretions. I've got dad on it daily now and then increase the dose if/when he gets a cold. Vitamin c powders mixed in to foods can be helpful to shorten the duration, plus a zinc formula (inc copper) to support immune function. I'm a nutritional therapist so that's why I keep stuffing dad full of all these! But no substitute for medical advice, so I always check with docs first before doing anything myself. Hope David feels much better soon.
interesting!
This is Interesting, sasmock. Tell me, is there a natural to eliminate or at least thin saliva? Husband on Glycopyrrolate but I am seeing an increase of and thicker drainage....slobber, if you will.....We also have a suction machine
Also is beginning to really lose his ability to purse lips to spit...and of course cannot cough....makes "ahhh" sounds not even gutteral......I have him on a mucus thinner for preventative reasons.....
AVB
Hi, I'm not sure about this but I think that papaya juice or bromelain (from pineapple stems) can thin saliva secretions. I had a quick google and found this from Stanford Edu (quite reliable source) for cancer patients with same problem healthlibrary.stanford.edu/...
I think hydration is key too. This presents its own problems with PSP though, as at the moment my dad won't drink and every mouthful is a battle. Then when he does, he's going to the loo all the time and my mom is exhausted!
Could the glycopyrrolate be doing 'too good' a job and thickening saliva too much? Have you asked GP or DN? Long list of side effects with this drug, so if you google and read them, it could perhaps be linked?
I googled this med when he first started it about a year ago.....I'll regoogle.....and I have heard about pineapple juice from ppl here at this site...never had to use it before....
So does your dad still eat by mouth?....my husband has a PEG tube...He choked on food for several months . I started freaking out and called Dr who got him into surgery 2 days before Christmas! Whew....but it's a chore to get him to drink even thickened water!
I will look at site you posted ....Thank you
AVB
Thanks everybody for the advice, it is much appreciated. The chuffing that I referred to is one of our families daft names for snuffling, and David was constantly holding a hanky over his nose and snuffling, because of course, he can't blow his nose very well.
Amazingly this morning, he says the cold is all gone. When he was fully healthy, he used to have what I referred to as miracle colds, as he almost never gets one, and when he does it seems to last a day or two at the most even though it is a full blown cold.
It seems he still has this knack, as today his breathing is fine, and he hasn't gone for the hanky once!
Hurrah for the miracle cold. I wish I could do that! I'll be keeping an eye on him of course, thankfully I am off work this week, so can keep a check.
Thanks again,
Derek
That's good news! Thanks!
Chris rarely gets colds. I try to be as we were before and not over treat. He gets weaker with a cold but gets over it quickly like your David.
I think its important to keep anti-biotics in reserve.
love, Jean x
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