Guest guest Posted April 16, 2006 Report Share Posted April 16, 2006 Aine, Good idea about using the source of liquid in this drougth. My dear man drools some, too. Worse at times than others. I sure hope someone knows what is causing it. Imogene In a message dated 4/16/2006 3:11:31 PM Central Daylight Time, aine_ann@... writes: My dad has had a problem with drooling for about a year. He had various tests and they reckoned that he's not so much producing excess saliva as simply not swallowing what he does produce. They said some wear and tear on the swallowing aparatus, but also speech therapist pointed out that he simply doesn't swallow ...... whether he just forgets or what I've no idea. There seem to be times when it clears up a bit, but for the last few days it's just been pouring out, continual stream from his mouth, soaking his clothes etc. I can't keep up with wiping it, and I'm sure the nh can't when I'm not there. The nh, GP, and ENT consultant that dad saw seem to be baffled by it and saying it's something they've not come across before and don't know what to do with. There's been some muttering about treating it with some patches that are used to dry up secretions in cancer patients, though they say that's normally a short term thing not for long term use. Any ideas? Is it something linked to LBD or something separate? Any idea what might help? [i did wonder about hiring him out to the water board in south east UK where there's already concerns about a drought this year .... ] Welcome to LBDcaregivers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 16, 2006 Report Share Posted April 16, 2006 aine_ann wrote: > My dad has had a problem with drooling for about a year. He had > various tests and they reckoned that he's not so much producing excess > saliva as simply not swallowing what he does produce. They said some > wear and tear on the swallowing aparatus, but also speech therapist > pointed out that he simply doesn't swallow ...... whether he just > forgets or what I've no idea. My father was diagnosed with Parkinson's, and had it for several years prior to his dementia. One of the first signs of it was drooling - it started as just a bit, and by the time he passed away (from pneumonia) 10 years after diagnosis but about 14 years after initial symptoms, it was a constant stream. One of the issues of Parkinson's is muscle rigidity which leads to difficulty in swallowing with eventually not being able to swallow at all, and that was the problem we ended up facing with Dad. Mom was guilted into a feeding tube for Dad's last couple months of life when a stroke plus the Parkinson's meant he couldn't swallow anything at all. His pneumonia was due to aspiration, in fact. I am not saying your dad has Parkinson's, but this may be at least a " Parkinsonism, " as Mom's neurologist calls it. > There seem to be times when it clears up a bit, but for the last few > days it's just been pouring out, continual stream from his mouth, > soaking his clothes etc. I can't keep up with wiping it, and I'm sure > the nh can't when I'm not there. At Dad's adult family home, they had terry " clothes savers " (isn't that a better name than " bib " ?) and it was something Dad had on all the time, changed when it became soaked. He drooled almost exclusively from the left side of his mouth and didn't even seem to notice it. The aides would wipe his face when they passed if they noticed he needed it. Otherwise, it was just there. When his chin/cheek would become raw from the drooling (worse at night because it would soak the pillow and sit against his face), we would put Desitin ointment (a zinc type of ointment used for diaper rash) on as recommended by a dermatologist to provide a barrier for the skin from the dampness. > Any ideas? Is it something linked to LBD or something separate? Any > idea what might help? [i did wonder about hiring him out to the water > board in south east UK where there's already concerns about a drought > this year .... ] Medicine to control frequent urination has the side effect of dry mouth and dry eyes. Does he have anything going on with his tongue, that is, perhaps doing some kind of tongue movements (thrusting, moving it around his mouth)? Dad often would have tongue thrusting relatively simultaneously to when his drooling (and probably difficulty with swallowing) worsened. I do wonder about his dental health, though the ENT might have checked that. Dad's drooling was worse when he had some problems with cavities that ended up needing to have a tooth pulled (we chose to do that rather than put him through a root canal). As we were told, ental caries and infection and diseased gingival tissues with gingivitis can markedly increase drooling. If he had hypersecretion (excessive salivation), that could be a side effect of a medication (most often tranquilizers, anticonvulsants and anticholinesterases). Nasal obstruction with chronic mouth breathing can make drooling worse. Tonsil and especially adenoid hypertrophy can be a reason for this, but obstruction of the nose for other reasons can contribute to it. Surgery is something that has been used for people with problems of constant drooling (as in those with cerebral palsy) but the problems that result from surgery and anesthesia may very well be much greater than those associated with the drooling for your dad. I know they were for mine and so it was an option we didn't consider. However, if aspiration of saliva becomes a problem at any point, one might need to reconsider. It's great to see you're keeping your sense of humor. I'll be curious to hear how things go. jacqui Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 16, 2006 Report Share Posted April 16, 2006 My mother used to drool too (and I heard it was part of LBD) - now she's not getting enough liquid. I visited today and there was dry spittle in her mouth - went and got her two small glasses of juice and she downed it in 2 minutes. Then drank all her lunch's cranberry juice, soda, and tea. Had to email the social worker for a 2nd time to request that the staff offer my mother a beverage every couple of hours - b/c she dehydrates fast. This doesn't help you and I don't know what I can say to help. Sorry... > > My dad has had a problem with drooling for about a year. He had > various tests and they reckoned that he's not so much producing excess > saliva as simply not swallowing what he does produce. They said some > wear and tear on the swallowing aparatus, but also speech therapist > pointed out that he simply doesn't swallow ...... whether he just > forgets or what I've no idea. > > There seem to be times when it clears up a bit, but for the last few > days it's just been pouring out, continual stream from his mouth, > soaking his clothes etc. I can't keep up with wiping it, and I'm sure > the nh can't when I'm not there. > > The nh, GP, and ENT consultant that dad saw seem to be baffled by it > and saying it's something they've not come across before and don't > know what to do with. There's been some muttering about treating it > with some patches that are used to dry up secretions in cancer > patients, though they say that's normally a short term thing not for > long term use. > > Any ideas? Is it something linked to LBD or something separate? Any > idea what might help? [i did wonder about hiring him out to the water > board in south east UK where there's already concerns about a drought > this year .... ] > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 17, 2006 Report Share Posted April 17, 2006 Jacqui, Thank you for relating your indepth experience with your dad's drooling. You covered many areas, and possibilities, of which I am happy to receive. But, on the other hand, sorry that you had a loved one go through it. But, you came up shining for the rest of us now facing the same problem. You didn't know your could shine, did you? Thanks, Imogene In a message dated 4/17/2006 1:04:55 AM Central Daylight Time, jacquiwa@... writes: aine_ann wrote: > My dad has had a problem with drooling for about a year. He had > various tests and they reckoned that he's not so much producing excess > saliva as simply not swallowing what he does produce. They said some > wear and tear on the swallowing aparatus, but also speech therapist > pointed out that he simply doesn't swallow ...... whether he just > forgets or what I've no idea. My father was diagnosed with Parkinson's, and had it for several years prior to his dementia. One of the first signs of it was drooling - it started as just a bit, and by the time he passed away (from pneumonia) 10 years after diagnosis but about 14 years after initial symptoms, it was a constant stream. One of the issues of Parkinson's is muscle rigidity which leads to difficulty in swallowing with eventually not being able to swallow at all, and that was the problem we ended up facing with Dad. Mom was guilted into a feeding tube for Dad's last couple months of life when a stroke plus the Parkinson's meant he couldn't swallow anything at all. His pneumonia was due to aspiration, in fact. I am not saying your dad has Parkinson's, but this may be at least a " Parkinsonism, " as Mom's neurologist calls it. > There seem to be times when it clears up a bit, but for the last few > days it's just been pouring out, continual stream from his mouth, > soaking his clothes etc. I can't keep up with wiping it, and I'm sure > the nh can't when I'm not there. At Dad's adult family home, they had terry " clothes savers " (isn't that a better name than " bib " ?) and it was something Dad had on all the time, changed when it became soaked. He drooled almost exclusively from the left side of his mouth and didn't even seem to notice it. The aides would wipe his face when they passed if they noticed he needed it. Otherwise, it was just there. When his chin/cheek would become raw from the drooling (worse at night because it would soak the pillow and sit against his face), we would put Desitin ointment (a zinc type of ointment used for diaper rash) on as recommended by a dermatologist to provide a barrier for the skin from the dampness. > Any ideas? Is it something linked to LBD or something separate? Any > idea what might help? [i did wonder about hiring him out to the water > board in south east UK where there's already concerns about a drought > this year .... ] Medicine to control frequent urination has the side effect of dry mouth and dry eyes. Does he have anything going on with his tongue, that is, perhaps doing some kind of tongue movements (thrusting, moving it around his mouth)? Dad often would have tongue thrusting relatively simultaneously to when his drooling (and probably difficulty with swallowing) worsened. I do wonder about his dental health, though the ENT might have checked that. Dad's drooling was worse when he had some problems with cavities that ended up needing to have a tooth pulled (we chose to do that rather than put him through a root canal). As we were told, ental caries and infection and diseased gingival tissues with gingivitis can markedly increase drooling. If he had hypersecretion (excessive salivation), that could be a side effect of a medication (most often tranquilizers, anticonvulsants and anticholinesterases). Nasal obstruction with chronic mouth breathing can make drooling worse. Tonsil and especially adenoid hypertrophy can be a reason for this, but obstruction of the nose for other reasons can contribute to it. Surgery is something that has been used for people with problems of constant drooling (as in those with cerebral palsy) but the problems that result from surgery and anesthesia may very well be much greater than those associated with the drooling for your dad. I know they were for mine and so it was an option we didn't consider. However, if aspiration of saliva becomes a problem at any point, one might need to reconsider. It's great to see you're keeping your sense of humor. I'll be curious to hear how things go. jacqui [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Welcome to LBDcaregivers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 17, 2006 Report Share Posted April 17, 2006 Hope everyone had a wonderful holiday. Several years ago I had heard that sweets increase saliva. I don't know if it is sugar, brown or white, fructose, etc., etc. When my PWP eats more sweets than usual, the drooling increases. Really. BTW, we eat a lot more nuts instead of sweets. Especially nut covered, caramel apples. (I could eat one (or two!) every day. Illinois Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 17, 2006 Report Share Posted April 17, 2006 my dad had the drooling, and it was found he had swallowing issues, he had to be reminded to swallow and even had to cough after every 3 bites to clear the food that had settled in teh back of his thraot that he didnt swallow. swallowing issues are commonplace for lbd ers fyi hugs sharon m Date: 2006/04/16 Sun PM 04:08:44 EDT To: LBDcaregivers Subject: Drooling - any ideas? My dad has had a problem with drooling for about a year. He had various tests and they reckoned that he's not so much producing excess saliva as simply not swallowing what he does produce. They said some wear and tear on the swallowing aparatus, but also speech therapist pointed out that he simply doesn't swallow ...... whether he just forgets or what I've no idea. There seem to be times when it clears up a bit, but for the last few days it's just been pouring out, continual stream from his mouth, soaking his clothes etc. I can't keep up with wiping it, and I'm sure the nh can't when I'm not there. The nh, GP, and ENT consultant that dad saw seem to be baffled by it and saying it's something they've not come across before and don't know what to do with. There's been some muttering about treating it with some patches that are used to dry up secretions in cancer patients, though they say that's normally a short term thing not for long term use. Any ideas? Is it something linked to LBD or something separate? Any idea what might help? [i did wonder about hiring him out to the water board in south east UK where there's already concerns about a drought this year .... ] Welcome to LBDcaregivers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 17, 2006 Report Share Posted April 17, 2006 Hi Aine_ann, My mother's drooling has really gotten bad in the past year as well. Mom has had her LBD diagnosis for seven years. She seems to be forgetting to swallow. She is also in the habit of keeping her mouth open all the time to breathe. The result is that the skin on her face becomes chapped and needs constant wiping. The caregivers leave a towel or washcloth on her shoulder so her clothes don't get soaked. When she was hospitalized a couple weeks ago with pneumonia for some reason her entire face around her mouth was very red and hot to the touch. I don't know whether this was due to excessive wiping by caregivers or if it was some other symptom or infection. They treated it with hydrocortisone cream and vaseline. After the redness settled down they discontinued the steroid cream and just keep a layer of vaseline on her face to act as a barrier against the saliva. The doctor also ordered a suction machine to have at home starting last week. It's only meant for helping remove excess saliva from her mouth, not any secretions back in her throat. It sure is tough watching someone you love get to this phase. Anne > > My dad has had a problem with drooling for about a year. He had > various tests and they reckoned that he's not so much producing excess > saliva as simply not swallowing what he does produce. They said some > wear and tear on the swallowing aparatus, but also speech therapist > pointed out that he simply doesn't swallow ...... whether he just > forgets or what I've no idea. > > There seem to be times when it clears up a bit, but for the last few > days it's just been pouring out, continual stream from his mouth, > soaking his clothes etc. I can't keep up with wiping it, and I'm sure > the nh can't when I'm not there. > > The nh, GP, and ENT consultant that dad saw seem to be baffled by it > and saying it's something they've not come across before and don't > know what to do with. There's been some muttering about treating it > with some patches that are used to dry up secretions in cancer > patients, though they say that's normally a short term thing not for > long term use. > > Any ideas? Is it something linked to LBD or something separate? Any > idea what might help? [i did wonder about hiring him out to the water > board in south east UK where there's already concerns about a drought > this year .... ] > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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