So this is what I have been saying to Mom for the last four or five days now, "Try to cough harder Mom ... " I have done some reading on here, and trying to piece together anything I can regarding what may or may not be happening with Mom. It isn't constant, but I hear gurgling going on, and she does small little coughs, and I am trying to encourage her to cough a little harder to get it out -- it is clear, but --- her cough seems so weak, and it concerns me. Of course I have all kinds of thoughts running through my brain, and I have a crazy imagination ----- so ..
Do I panic? Is it just the common cold OR or the start of something more serious?
Trying to calm myself and not jump to all kinds of conclusions here ...
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bazooka111
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You are welcome..didn't someone else recommend pineapple juice as it has an enzyme that breaks down mucus? Might be something quick to try in the meantime.
Btw, our SLP told me that PCs tend to have a go-to antibiotic for pneumonia..she said sometimes they need a reminder that a different antibiotic is more effective for aspiration pneumonia. Thought a good tip.
Bromelain is an extract of the hard pineapple core or immature pineapples. The acids in pineapple juice help break up the phlegm and the Bromelain aids the immune system and relieves mucus production in the sinuses.
I am aware of all it's merits that's why I take it each morning...don't take O.J., but instead Vit C.
Has anyone mentioned palliative care for your mother? A nurse would come weekly to check on her. Palliative is the early version of hospice. She might qualify for hospice having an incurable disease.
Most people think of hospice at the last 6 months of expected life. That isn’t true. Hospice can go on for sometime. She would have to meet the criteria every 90 day for the first 6 months then every 60 thereafter. Every 60 days a doctor from hospice would be out to evaluate her.
I am pretty sure the doctor will have to request an initial evaluation by hospice but as Jeff stated the 6 month guideline is tossed out the window with incurable diseases. My aunt was under hospice care for nearly a year with lung cancer, it was her 3rd time it had manifested and she choose not to do anymore treatments.
I met with 3 different companies before selecting hospice for dad. As with all things do your research and ask plenty of questions when you decide to bring in outside help
As dadshelper said the doctor will have to make the initial request. You will have to tell him or her you want this. If you have a social worker through your doctor’s office I would also speak to them to help you find a palliative/hospice group in your area. If you don’t like them you can fire them and try another group. I did.
It rumbles around below the surface then burst forth ever few days. I know this will take a long time to not hurt as much as it does. I went through this once before. I am in familiar territory.
Dad had a cough for a LONG time. We tried home remedy's, OTC medicines (with doctor approval) and prescription medicines, none seemed to really help. The doctor said it was from not swallowing correctly allowing mucus and saliva to pool at back of his throat.
Another consideration is getting the mucus to break up BUT not being able to cough it out. This situation could possibly lead to fluid getting into the lungs.
My husband’s cough was mild but I took him to a speech and swallow therapist. They performed a swallow test and we discovered that his throat muscles were too weak and some foods were getting stuck causing phlegm buildup. We ended up doing weekly swallow treatments. The therapist put electrodes on the outside of hubby’s neck and had him swallow liquids. When he swallowed the electrodes were turned up to stimulate the brain. This was not painful at all. Basically hubby needed to learn how to swallow again. The sessions taught him how to clear his throat. I’m glad that I sought treatment early when the cough was mild, because now when phlegm builds up, he knows how to clear his throat. It’s been a year since we did swallow therapy and although his cough has gotten worse he CAN cough it up. Maybe you could ask your mom’s doctor for a referral? I hope this is helpful.
Hello darling. I believe she may have reduced muscles in swallowing reflex. I use 4 scoops of thickner and spoin feed my dad liquids its much better. At this stage its harder for them to manage own secreations of saliva. Sit upright as much as possible and 20 mins at least after eating or drinking. Hope you have speach therapist available to you who will give u same advice. Love a fellow member of this group. God bless the patients and us all xx
Hi. My mom has this off and on and the deep down gargling sound . Her muscles are fairly weak now for her to cough it up.
What has helped remove some of this is nebulisation followed by tapping the back twice a day . In addition the application of few drops of black pepper oil.
However it could result in a requirement of having to use suction to remove the phlegm that breaks down and gets stuck in the throat - so if you are doing this do have equipment for suction too.
If you are measuring oxygen saturation, it will go down a bit till the suction is finished and then comes to a higher level.
I an relate. The same exact words cone out of my mouth each day. It seems my husbands gurgle is coming mostly from his throat and his inability to clear it,. He will struggle for an hour or more with tiny coughs. When he eventually get in a big cough, he’s much better. When he was hospitalized and on monitors, we noticed his oxygenation was lower during this time.
Recently, a VA nurse told me there is a vest a available to help initiate a cough.
I happened to notice your posts from 3,4 & 5 months ago re your mom's cough, and respiratory problems. Very ironic since many of us in the USA were getting hit then too with a strange respiratory based illness, characterized by flu like symptoms, a almost awful dry cough, and a lighter 2nd recurrence. We wd love to know if this was related, or a predecessor of covid 19.
Hey, this discribes me as well! Ill back in October,
Terrible dry cough, flu symptoms, high temperature. Lasted for ages. Since then a couple to strange temperature hikes and a second cough. Only now really getting over it. So who knows????
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I think my Mom has PSP
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