My dad has just got discharged from the hospital for ischemic stroke. This is the 2nd time he suffered from one and a more serious one. It left him feeling weak and has unable to walk without someone to hold him. He had problem swallowing food and was one the food tube for a few days. He is now able to take mashed food. He was discharged after 2 weeks in the hospital. However, he tends to vomit his food for the last few days before he was discharged. The doctors could not find a reason for it. He had been vomiting his dinner for the last couple of days so far since he got back. Why is he vomiting? He also have hiccups lately. The usual trick of drinking water cannot work as he can't take liquid readily.
2006-11-20 03:51:24 · 4 answers · asked by juice 1 in Health ➔ Diseases & Conditions ➔ Other - Diseases
As a person who works with post stroke patients. I agree that you should have him evaluated by a speech therapist. They will eval his swallowing as he eats. It's a tough thing for a family let alone the patient to go through. Until you can get him into a specialist try these tips.
Very small bites of food. Try not to make his food runny, too much liquid can gag your dad. You can get a powder called "thicken" probably at the pharmacy or even at a nursing home ( your best bet would be at the nursing home) Follow the directions on the can. You can mix this tasteless powder with all liquids, it does just what then name implies. It thickens the liquids enough so it doesn't choke/gag the patient. Most times the mix looks like a nectur consistency, you can make it thicker or thinner as you need it. Give it to him by teaspoon, have him sit up straight while eating, give him time to work through the food, remind him to tuck his chin to chis chest as he swallows. He may not eat much at one time so to keep his strength up offer him several "snacks" through out the day.
It is important that he gets the nutrition in some way, Ensure, and other supplements can also be thickened. Good luck and God bless
2006-11-20 04:11:09 · answer #1 · answered by what can i do 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You don't say what part of his brain or brainstem was affected, but if he's getting the hiccups, his tenth cranial nerve is affected, either from swelling around the site or ischemia there. This would also affect his swallowing and his speech.
Don't give him baby food, as it doesn't have enough nutrition for adults. He will eat more, and enjoy it more, if you puree the food that the rest of the family eats. It should be the consistency of applesauce.
Any large pharmacy should have thickener ("Thick-it" is one such brand) for his liquids. EVERY liquid should be thickened-- I can't tell you how often nursing homes and hospitals will give a patient thickened juice and milk, but send them unthickened water or coffee!
If you can get him over to the hospital for an x-ray of his swallowing ("video-swallow", or " videofluoroscopy"), this should be done (ask his MD for a prescription.). This test will definitively show what textures he can tolerate, as well as give the speech pathologist valuable information upon which to develop a treatment plan (positioning, and food texture management).
I hope he WILL get speech/swallowing therapy for this, either through a home-health agency or as an outpatient at the hospital.
The therapist will know how (and when) to advance his diet by introducing more difficult textures of food and liquid.
You may have to take him to a gastroenterologist to address the hiccups and vomiting. They have medications that can help.
Good luck.
2006-11-20 10:58:31 · answer #2 · answered by boogeywoogy 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I feel ur pain honey . I am recently going threw the same thing my husband recently had a stroke .U need to take him to a different doc.Get a 2ND. opinion i do give my husband alot of soft foods maybe u should try baby food regular food might be to strong for his system right now.It always be the meds. there giving him. Good Luck to you & ur family.
2006-11-20 03:59:09 · answer #3 · answered by t10t15t66 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
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2016-10-22 10:21:11 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋