Swallowing Issues

M5M

DH has had occasional issues with swallowing for years, but since his Alz diagnosis the difficulties are much more often. He has learned to chew slowly, eat very small bites, and it takes him twice the time to finish a meal than it does me. Last night I had been to a meting and came home, he had an episode while I was gone. It was even more scary because he was home alone.

Over the past few weeks, he has more of these episodes. Something gets "stuck" about halfway down, he has to sit and wait for it to move on. Sometimes he can cough it up or spit some. He is definitely in Stage 4, some parts into Stage 5.....but in reading about swallowing difficulties, it is a symptom more common in the true later stages.

I'm looking for suggestions, what food, methods....does he need to see the gastro doctor?

Marta

Ask PCP to order a swallow study. There are multiple possibilities for the etiology of his dysphagia (trouble swallowing). You are right that swallowing difficulty would be less likely to be caused by AD in someone who is in the earlier stages.

GiGi1963

My husband went through similar problem eating. I mentioned it to his neurologist. Mainly that he could not open his mouth wide to eat. He was tested, biopsies and diagnosed with temporal enteritis. This was early in ALZ also. Just something else to consider.

hiya

My husband had a similar experience. It turned out he needed a stent in his esophagus. I would see your pcp and get them to order a test. There maybe a simple solution.

upstateAnn

My husband’s swallowing problems were caused by radiation. Wecblend most of his foods.

No morebprobkem.

M5M

Thanks for the interesting-and varied- information. I will check w PCP.