Question about Ongoing Issue with LO

Marnie W

Hello all. My husband and I are caring for his mother who has Dementia. She is having an ongoing issue that we have taken her to multiple doctors for with no real answers. We are wondering if anyone may have experienced similar issues. Our LO says she feels like she has tons of phlegm or saliva in her throat all the time. She constantly "harks" loudly to clear her throat and wipes out her mouth with tissue (A LOT of tissue). (She has no trouble swallowing). She is now saying she feels like it is coming from within her body and feels like it is going to kill her. We have taken her to her PC doctor, to the ER because she was panicking about it, a gastro doctor, an ENT and have recently taken her to a Gerontologist. They have found nothing medically wrong with her. They suggested allergy medicine and took her off Lisinopril (in case this was a side effect). We are at a loss as to what to do. Any help or guidance would be greatly appreciated.

SusanB-dil

Hi Marnie - Welcome to 'here'. Maybe neurologist? I'm not familiar with that, but perhaps it could be an OCD type of agitation? Or even just try generic Coricidin HBP for cough and cold - or the one for congestion? Maybe see if that really does help?

scoutmom405

I'm wondering if it's a delusion? Medically nothing wrong but mentally she believes something is happening & the psychosis makes it feel very real to her.

Marnie W

That’s exactly what I am wondering. Wondered if anyone else had experienced anything like this? We are at a loss as to what to do.

M1

Just a thought, has she had x-rays of her neck and a swallowing study or scope? Arthritis in the cervical spine can sometimes impinge on the esophagus and give this sensation. A good gastroenterologist should know this so maybe it's been done.

Scopolamine patches are used for seasickness and for excess saliva, you could always try that and see if it helps. You put them on the mastoid process behind the ear.

Marnie W

She hasn’t had a swallow study yet. We can check in that. And thank you for the suggestion about the patch. We will definitely try it.

Marucs

Wow. My mom is having something VERY similar. I literally was signing up for this forum to ask about something just like this. Wild. Hmmmm. My mom's throat keeps hurting according to her and she seems like she is in a lot of pain. She says she feels like she is going to die. She also touches the back of her neck. She also has these large belches. But after and MRI and an esophogram, a visit to an ENT and a Gastro doc, there is nothing being found. We also took her to ER because of panic. Docs are wondering about Acid Reflux, but those meds dont seem to be doing anything....the gastro doc said they could put her under and scope her, but were hesitant to put her under. Ugh, it's just so hard to watch her seemingly suffer....Can anyone else speak to having hallucinations that maifest as pain and discomfort in the body?

Marnie W

https://alzconnected.org/discussion/comment/196464#Comment_196464

As I type this we are on the way to try yet another medication. Both the Neurologist and Gerontologist have now determined it is a delusion. We keep trying to reassure her it is just saliva (per several doctors) but she is still panicking and thinking it is going to kill her. It is heartbreaking.