Cravings for sugar in late stage PSP

[Debspottery1]

Hello all. My husband has been wanting extra sugar for a few months. More syrup on pancakes, more honey in his tea, more Reese's P cups, and in his oatmeal. It does effect his ability to sleep and his mood. What if any experiences have you all had?

[Kasenda]

Hi, Yes this is common apparently that they prefer sweet to savoury foods. My husband enjoyed his desserts more while he was still able to swallow.

[daddyt]

I don't believe I'm in the latter stage... but who knows with PSP, things can decline rapidly. I have always had a sweet tooth for chocolate... and yes, ice cream that I enjoy every day. Incidentally, the PSP-CBD 2022 Ice Cream Challenge begins May 1st. Post your pictures of you, your loved ones, family and friends enjoying the cool treat (frozen yogurt, and other substitutes will do too) to help raise PSP-CBD awareness.

Tim x

Chocolate Easter Bunny and a waffle bowl of vanilla bean ice cream.

[Kayelless in reply to daddyt]

And Cadbury eggs!

[daddyt in reply to Kayelless]

Oh yes, the Cadbury eggs, where did they go?

Chocolate Easter Bunny on an ice cream trail.

[AliBee1 in reply to daddyt]

Tee hee hee !

[Dickwin]

Deb,

yes! My wife, who already had a sweet tooth, has become very demanding regarding sweets. Chocolate, extra sugar in tea and oatmeal, extra syrup on pancakes and waffles, etc.

[Debspottery1 in reply to Dickwin]

Glad you mentioned "very demanding" as my husband will wait until I leave the room and raid the fridge, as he knows I'm trying to control the amount of candy/sweets consumed all at once. of course, he usually falls over trying to get there, so he's "found out". I know what sugar does to my healthy system - and he always has a bad night after indulging with no sleep, imbalance, incontinence and weakness, and strange dreams. Family says - "Let him have whatever he wants"- not having to experience the extra problems that it creates. People bring sweet treats every holiday and birthday, and I cringe. When I explain to them, they appear to be listening, but they just keep doing the same thing. I've concluded I need to be tougher on the issue. Like the saying goes, the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over expecting different results.

[Kayelless in reply to Debspottery1]

Yes, it is. Why is it important? Could you cut him off at a certain time so he can sleep? Chocolate is one of my only joys now, and when it stops tasting good my life will be much less satisfying. I’ve had to give up so much else, ain’t nobody takin’ my choclit!

[Debspottery1 in reply to Kayelless]

Hmmm. Not wanting to dwell on this too much, but the sugar brings on explosive poos for a couple days after he's eaten a bag of sweets. Not so happy a time for either of us then.

[Kayelless in reply to Debspottery1]

That IS a problem. Maybe an experiment to see if there’s a particular one(s) causing it? I get the same effect with too much caffeine which is present in chocolate and drinks. A big diet cola and I’m down for the count.

[AliBee1 in reply to Debspottery1]

Hi. I just read your comments about 'demanding'. I was advised to let him eat whatever he wanted as it would not harm him over the period of time he had left. It saved me from being annoyed about it and acting like a 'warder' and he was much ahppier at food time. I also stopped having 'set' food times as his body clock was all up the creek and that helped too. He would not be convinced that night time was night time so I gave in and lived to his clock which was very odd, an somewhat exhausting, but it was so much more peaceful. xx

[daddyt]

Don't touch my chocolate (or ice cream), and no one gets hurt. 'Nuff said😉

[Kayelless in reply to daddyt]

I’m with you!

[AliBee1]

Dear Dbes, I attended a zoom course on brain damage the other week and one of the things that was mentioned was that apparently a person's savoury taste buds become more bitter which is why sweet things are far more palatable. I know my fridge looked nothing like it used to when my husband's condition progressed. Big hugs AliBee x

[easterncedar in reply to AliBee1]

We were also told that when taste sensation generally fades, sweetness is often the last to go. As it never caused him any trouble (thank heaven) to have what he wanted, I was glad I could indulge him. We used to call his expression when enjoying a treat his "bliss face."

[LostinHeadSpace]

My husband with Parkinsonism has not increased his desire for sweets--but the stress of everything has increased mine!

[Debspottery1]

I hear that! I just read that the sugar creates a dopamine effect such as with an addict - it makes sense.

[Kayelless in reply to Debspottery1]

Dopamine is one of the good side effects. That’s why, I think, I get help with depression w/chocolate. Or that’s my story and I’m sticking to it. 😉

I don’t worry about addiction — I’ve had to give up the rest of the addictive substances in my life.

[Hidden]

Hi DebsMaybe try the flavadrops from MyProtein mixed into thick yogurt (non dairy if mucus from yogurt is an issue). They do a lot of flavours including strawberry, white chocolate and peach which are nice ones. The sugar spike doesn't come and as such helps prevent the restless nights / loose bowels that chocolate and sweets can bring.

[Debspottery1]

Barn Owl - That is a brilliant idea!!! Thank you!!!