Re: Update.../Emma...now its NO sleep

[Guest guest]

Jan,

Unfortunately I called the pharmacist and only ONE of her pills can even be cut

in half (and

its a tiny one anyway of course) and NONE of them should be crushed. Otherwise

I would

totally try that!! She doesn't seem to have a problem with putting the pills in

her mouth

(at the start anyway) since I give them to her with ice cream but once she gets

them into

her mouth its like she doesn't know what to do. And when I say swallow she

doesn't know

what that means. Unfortunately I haven't been able to think of another word or

way to

describe it. Its after a few trys of this that she gets frustrated and starts

spitting the pills

out or trying to refuse them all together. Although funny enough pills went

fine this

morning!

Now we have new issues...Her doctor increased her dose of Provigil from 100mg

every AM

to 200mg starting yesterday and she didn't sleep all night last night!! The aid

said she

was in and out of bed all night talking to herself but wouldn't leave the

bedroom or lay

down because she " needed to be available " . I also think she is brewing a UTI

but of course

when I WANT her to pee she cannot. I waited the whole day yesterday and sat her

on the

toilet quite a few times and never a drop. So now I don't know if its the med

change or a

possible UTI thats making her act goofy. She is however in a pretty decent mood

(especially for someone who hasn't slept much in the last 24 hours!!) this

morning so thats

a plus!!

Emma

-- In LBDcaregivers , Janet Colello wrote:

>

> Emma,

> I don't know if this will help with your grandma to take medication, but it

works with

my husband.

> At times he refuses pills and other times he will not open his teeth to get

the

medication in. He is on Nectar Thick liquids and I mix " Thick It " in with his

juice to thicken

it in an 8 oz cup. I order " Thick It " online and have it delivered. I have a

little measuring

cup like off of a cough syrup bottle and I pour a little of the juice into the

cup from the

mixture in the 8 oz cup and take a wide mouth baby syringe. Found in; " Janet's

bag of

tricks " In the " Links " under Home Safety and LO Safety.

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/

group/LBDcaregivers/message/61214. I crush the medication and stir it into the

small

cup of juice and suck it into the syringe and stick it in the side of my

husband's mouth and

plunge it into the back of his mouth and it drains into the back his throat and

it's easy to

give to him that way, even if his teeth are closed. He doesn't resist taking it

that way, he

can also follow it with a drink from the 8 oz cup if he wants.

> It's an idea anyway for you. My husband usually shoves a spoon coming toward

him

away, but he doesn't mind the baby syringe.

> Jan

>

> emsyfay wrote:

> Just wanted to give a little update for those that were concerned about my

fainting etc.

I

> went and saw the PA at my doctor's office yesterday and he said since it was

an isolated

> thing and I recovered so quickly that the fainting spell was probably nothing,

sometimes

> people just faint. If it happens again then we might need to look closer.

However he did

> diagnose me with a heart murmur! Said that this also was probably nothing

(said it was

> most likely an " innocent flow murmur " which is VERY common and no big deal)

but is

> sending me to have an echocardiogram just to be sure. SO the plot thickens!

> I also went to the chiropractor and she told me my back (from neck to hips!)

is a train

> wreck! I could have told her that! My hips are not level and my neck curves in

exactly the

> OPPOSITE direction that its supposed to. She said my x-rays look like those of

a person

> who was in a car accident. I had to explain that there was no car accident,

I'm just one of

> the clumsiest people alive and have gotten whip-lash 2 times from falling. So

I am going

> to be having 2-3 adjustments with her a week for a little while and I am on NO

exercise

> and NO lifting (yeah right!). But at least I feel a little better after one

treatment and will

> hopefully feel even better after more.

> Grandma is still having a hard time with pills but is eating SLIGHTLY better.

I think we're

> up to 700 calories a day on a good day! If I can just get her to stop LOSING

weight I'll be

> happy. Discovered this morning that she does not know what " swallow " means. I

think

> this is a BIG part of the problem with getting pills down. She CAN do it and

says it

doesn't

> hurt but if you ask her to swallow a pill she then cannot do it. I'm not sure

how to get

> around it as I can't think of a different word for swallow or a different way

to explain it

so

> she understands. Definitely frustrating.

> Thanks for all your concern about my medical issues!!

> Emma

>

>

>

> Welcome to LBDcaregivers.

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Emma,

The first words I thought of other than swallow, was " get it down. " Don't know

if this will help.

Hugs,

Donna R

Caregave for Mom (after I brought her from WI to MI) for 3 years and 4th year in

a nh.

She was almost 89 when she died in '02. No dx other than mine.

Re: Update.../Emma...now its NO sleep

Jan,

Unfortunately I called the pharmacist and only ONE of her pills can even be cut

in half (and

its a tiny one anyway of course) and NONE of them should be crushed. Otherwise

I would

totally try that!! She doesn't seem to have a problem with putting the pills in

her mouth

(at the start anyway) since I give them to her with ice cream but once she gets

them into

her mouth its like she doesn't know what to do. And when I say swallow she

doesn't know

what that means. Unfortunately I haven't been able to think of another word or

way to

describe it. Its after a few trys of this that she gets frustrated and starts

spitting the pills

out or trying to refuse them all together. Although funny enough pills went

fine this

morning!

Now we have new issues...Her doctor increased her dose of Provigil from 100mg

every AM

to 200mg starting yesterday and she didn't sleep all night last night!! The aid

said she

was in and out of bed all night talking to herself but wouldn't leave the

bedroom or lay

down because she " needed to be available " . I also think she is brewing a UTI

but of course

when I WANT her to pee she cannot. I waited the whole day yesterday and sat her

on the

toilet quite a few times and never a drop. So now I don't know if its the med

change or a

possible UTI thats making her act goofy. She is however in a pretty decent mood

(especially for someone who hasn't slept much in the last 24 hours!!) this

morning so thats

a plus!!

Emma

-- In LBDcaregivers , Janet Colello wrote:

>

> Emma,

> I don't know if this will help with your grandma to take medication, but it

works with

my husband.

> At times he refuses pills and other times he will not open his teeth to get

the

medication in. He is on Nectar Thick liquids and I mix " Thick It " in with his

juice to thicken

it in an 8 oz cup. I order " Thick It " online and have it delivered. I have a

little measuring

cup like off of a cough syrup bottle and I pour a little of the juice into the

cup from the

mixture in the 8 oz cup and take a wide mouth baby syringe. Found in; " Janet's

bag of

tricks " In the " Links " under Home Safety and LO Safety.

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/

group/LBDcaregivers/message/61214. I crush the medication and stir it into the

small

cup of juice and suck it into the syringe and stick it in the side of my

husband's mouth and

plunge it into the back of his mouth and it drains into the back his throat and

it's easy to

give to him that way, even if his teeth are closed. He doesn't resist taking it

that way, he

can also follow it with a drink from the 8 oz cup if he wants.

> It's an idea anyway for you. My husband usually shoves a spoon coming toward

him

away, but he doesn't mind the baby syringe.

> Jan

>

> emsyfay wrote:

> Just wanted to give a little update for those that were concerned about my

fainting etc.

I

> went and saw the PA at my doctor's office yesterday and he said since it was

an isolated

> thing and I recovered so quickly that the fainting spell was probably nothing,

sometimes

> people just faint. If it happens again then we might need to look closer.

However he did

> diagnose me with a heart murmur! Said that this also was probably nothing

(said it was

> most likely an " innocent flow murmur " which is VERY common and no big deal)

but is

> sending me to have an echocardiogram just to be sure. SO the plot thickens!

> I also went to the chiropractor and she told me my back (from neck to hips!)

is a train

> wreck! I could have told her that! My hips are not level and my neck curves in

exactly the

> OPPOSITE direction that its supposed to. She said my x-rays look like those of

a person

> who was in a car accident. I had to explain that there was no car accident,

I'm just one of

> the clumsiest people alive and have gotten whip-lash 2 times from falling. So

I am going

> to be having 2-3 adjustments with her a week for a little while and I am on NO

exercise

> and NO lifting (yeah right!). But at least I feel a little better after one

treatment and will

> hopefully feel even better after more.

> Grandma is still having a hard time with pills but is eating SLIGHTLY better.

I think we're

> up to 700 calories a day on a good day! If I can just get her to stop LOSING

weight I'll be

> happy. Discovered this morning that she does not know what " swallow " means. I

think

> this is a BIG part of the problem with getting pills down. She CAN do it and

says it

doesn't

> hurt but if you ask her to swallow a pill she then cannot do it. I'm not sure

how to get

> around it as I can't think of a different word for swallow or a different way

to explain it

so

> she understands. Definitely frustrating.

> Thanks for all your concern about my medical issues!!

> Emma

>

>

>

> Welcome to LBDcaregivers.

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Emma,

Please tell me why certain pills cannot be crushed. I didn't know that.

And why can't others be cut in half?

" emsyfay "

<emsyfay@...

m> To

Sent by: LBDcaregivers

LBDcaregivers@yah cc

oogroups.com

Subject

Re:

01/16/2008 07:37 Update.../Emma...now its NO sleep

AM

Please respond to

LBDcaregivers@yah

oogroups.com

Jan,

Unfortunately I called the pharmacist and only ONE of her pills can even be

cut in half (and

its a tiny one anyway of course) and NONE of them should be crushed.

Otherwise I would

totally try that!! She doesn't seem to have a problem with putting the

pills in her mouth

(at the start anyway) since I give them to her with ice cream but once she

gets them into

her mouth its like she doesn't know what to do. And when I say swallow she

doesn't know

what that means. Unfortunately I haven't been able to think of another

word or way to

describe it. Its after a few trys of this that she gets frustrated and

starts spitting the pills

out or trying to refuse them all together. Although funny enough pills

went fine this

morning!

Now we have new issues...Her doctor increased her dose of Provigil from

100mg every AM

to 200mg starting yesterday and she didn't sleep all night last night!!

The aid said she

was in and out of bed all night talking to herself but wouldn't leave the

bedroom or lay

down because she " needed to be available " . I also think she is brewing a

UTI but of course

when I WANT her to pee she cannot. I waited the whole day yesterday and

sat her on the

toilet quite a few times and never a drop. So now I don't know if its the

med change or a

possible UTI thats making her act goofy. She is however in a pretty decent

mood

(especially for someone who hasn't slept much in the last 24 hours!!) this

morning so thats

a plus!!

Emma

-- In LBDcaregivers , Janet Colello

wrote:

>

> Emma,

> I don't know if this will help with your grandma to take medication,

but it works with

my husband.

> At times he refuses pills and other times he will not open his teeth to

get the

medication in. He is on Nectar Thick liquids and I mix " Thick It " in with

his juice to thicken

it in an 8 oz cup. I order " Thick It " online and have it delivered. I have

a little measuring

cup like off of a cough syrup bottle and I pour a little of the juice into

the cup from the

mixture in the 8 oz cup and take a wide mouth baby syringe. Found in;

" Janet's bag of

tricks " In the " Links " under Home Safety and LO Safety.

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/

group/LBDcaregivers/message/61214. I crush the medication and stir it

into the small

cup of juice and suck it into the syringe and stick it in the side of my

husband's mouth and

plunge it into the back of his mouth and it drains into the back his throat

and it's easy to

give to him that way, even if his teeth are closed. He doesn't resist

taking it that way, he

can also follow it with a drink from the 8 oz cup if he wants.

> It's an idea anyway for you. My husband usually shoves a spoon coming

toward him

away, but he doesn't mind the baby syringe.

> Jan

>

> emsyfay wrote:

> Just wanted to give a little update for those that were concerned about

my fainting etc.

I

> went and saw the PA at my doctor's office yesterday and he said since it

was an isolated

> thing and I recovered so quickly that the fainting spell was probably

nothing, sometimes

> people just faint. If it happens again then we might need to look closer.

However he did

> diagnose me with a heart murmur! Said that this also was probably nothing

(said it was

> most likely an " innocent flow murmur " which is VERY common and no big

deal) but is

> sending me to have an echocardiogram just to be sure. SO the plot

thickens!

> I also went to the chiropractor and she told me my back (from neck to

hips!) is a train

> wreck! I could have told her that! My hips are not level and my neck

curves in exactly the

> OPPOSITE direction that its supposed to. She said my x-rays look like

those of a person

> who was in a car accident. I had to explain that there was no car

accident, I'm just one of

> the clumsiest people alive and have gotten whip-lash 2 times from

falling. So I am going

> to be having 2-3 adjustments with her a week for a little while and I am

on NO exercise

> and NO lifting (yeah right!). But at least I feel a little better after

one treatment and will

> hopefully feel even better after more.

> Grandma is still having a hard time with pills but is eating SLIGHTLY

better. I think we're

> up to 700 calories a day on a good day! If I can just get her to stop

LOSING weight I'll be

> happy. Discovered this morning that she does not know what " swallow "

means. I think

> this is a BIG part of the problem with getting pills down. She CAN do it

and says it

doesn't

> hurt but if you ask her to swallow a pill she then cannot do it. I'm not

sure how to get

> around it as I can't think of a different word for swallow or a different

way to explain it

so

> she understands. Definitely frustrating.

> Thanks for all your concern about my medical issues!!

> Emma

>

>

>

> Welcome to LBDcaregivers.

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Norma,

Whether or not a pill should be crushed or cut has to do with how the body

processes it. I

don't know the details for many specific meds but I do know that how a pill is

formed

effects how the body processes it. For example a pill called Depakote (an anti

seizure

med) is enteric coated, meaning it has a hard shell that makes it so that the

pill takes a

long time to digest and does not dissolve until it is in the intestines. This

kind of pill

should never be cut or crushed because it can ruin its effectiveness. Some

pills are

designed to be time-release and so crushing or cutting ruins that time-release

effect and

the body digests the whole dose instantly instead of digesting it slowly over a

period of

hours. In general if a pills is scored across the middle than it is ok to cut

it in half but that

doesn't always mean its ok to crush it.

So it depends on the kind of medication but you should ALWAYS ask your

pharmacist

before crushing or cutting pills. It probably won't hurt your LO if the pills

are cut or

crushed when they shouldn't be (unless it is a stimulant or something with a

stimulant side

effect) but cutting or crushing some meds can render them completely

ineffective.

So thats what little I know...hope that helps!

Emma

> > Just wanted to give a little update for those that were concerned about

> my fainting etc.

> I

> > went and saw the PA at my doctor's office yesterday and he said since it

> was an isolated

> > thing and I recovered so quickly that the fainting spell was probably

> nothing, sometimes

> > people just faint. If it happens again then we might need to look closer.

> However he did

> > diagnose me with a heart murmur! Said that this also was probably nothing

> (said it was

> > most likely an " innocent flow murmur " which is VERY common and no big

> deal) but is

> > sending me to have an echocardiogram just to be sure. SO the plot

> thickens!

> > I also went to the chiropractor and she told me my back (from neck to

> hips!) is a train

> > wreck! I could have told her that! My hips are not level and my neck

> curves in exactly the

> > OPPOSITE direction that its supposed to. She said my x-rays look like

> those of a person

> > who was in a car accident. I had to explain that there was no car

> accident, I'm just one of

> > the clumsiest people alive and have gotten whip-lash 2 times from

> falling. So I am going

> > to be having 2-3 adjustments with her a week for a little while and I am

> on NO exercise

> > and NO lifting (yeah right!). But at least I feel a little better after

> one treatment and will

> > hopefully feel even better after more.

> > Grandma is still having a hard time with pills but is eating SLIGHTLY

> better. I think we're

> > up to 700 calories a day on a good day! If I can just get her to stop

> LOSING weight I'll be

> > happy. Discovered this morning that she does not know what " swallow "

> means. I think

> > this is a BIG part of the problem with getting pills down. She CAN do it

> and says it

> doesn't

> > hurt but if you ask her to swallow a pill she then cannot do it. I'm not

> sure how to get

> > around it as I can't think of a different word for swallow or a different

> way to explain it

> so

> > she understands. Definitely frustrating.

> > Thanks for all your concern about my medical issues!!

> > Emma

> >

> >

> >

> > Welcome to LBDcaregivers.

> >

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

Emma,

Thanks very much. I did know about the time-release meds (though I forgot

when I asked the question).

" emsyfay "

<emsyfay@...

m> To

Sent by: LBDcaregivers

LBDcaregivers@yah cc

oogroups.com

Subject

Re:

01/16/2008 09:27 Update.../Emma...now its NO sleep

AM

Please respond to

LBDcaregivers@yah

oogroups.com

Norma,

Whether or not a pill should be crushed or cut has to do with how the body

processes it. I

don't know the details for many specific meds but I do know that how a pill

is formed

effects how the body processes it. For example a pill called Depakote (an

anti seizure

med) is enteric coated, meaning it has a hard shell that makes it so that

the pill takes a

long time to digest and does not dissolve until it is in the intestines.

This kind of pill

should never be cut or crushed because it can ruin its effectiveness. Some

pills are

designed to be time-release and so crushing or cutting ruins that

time-release effect and

the body digests the whole dose instantly instead of digesting it slowly

over a period of

hours. In general if a pills is scored across the middle than it is ok to

cut it in half but that

doesn't always mean its ok to crush it.

So it depends on the kind of medication but you should ALWAYS ask your

pharmacist

before crushing or cutting pills. It probably won't hurt your LO if the

pills are cut or

crushed when they shouldn't be (unless it is a stimulant or something with

a stimulant side

effect) but cutting or crushing some meds can render them completely

ineffective.

So thats what little I know...hope that helps!

Emma

> > Just wanted to give a little update for those that were concerned

about

> my fainting etc.

> I

> > went and saw the PA at my doctor's office yesterday and he said since

it

> was an isolated

> > thing and I recovered so quickly that the fainting spell was probably

> nothing, sometimes

> > people just faint. If it happens again then we might need to look

closer.

> However he did

> > diagnose me with a heart murmur! Said that this also was probably

nothing

> (said it was

> > most likely an " innocent flow murmur " which is VERY common and no big

> deal) but is

> > sending me to have an echocardiogram just to be sure. SO the plot

> thickens!

> > I also went to the chiropractor and she told me my back (from neck to

> hips!) is a train

> > wreck! I could have told her that! My hips are not level and my neck

> curves in exactly the

> > OPPOSITE direction that its supposed to. She said my x-rays look like

> those of a person

> > who was in a car accident. I had to explain that there was no car

> accident, I'm just one of

> > the clumsiest people alive and have gotten whip-lash 2 times from

> falling. So I am going

> > to be having 2-3 adjustments with her a week for a little while and I

am

> on NO exercise

> > and NO lifting (yeah right!). But at least I feel a little better after

> one treatment and will

> > hopefully feel even better after more.

> > Grandma is still having a hard time with pills but is eating SLIGHTLY

> better. I think we're

> > up to 700 calories a day on a good day! If I can just get her to stop

> LOSING weight I'll be

> > happy. Discovered this morning that she does not know what " swallow "

> means. I think

> > this is a BIG part of the problem with getting pills down. She CAN do

it

> and says it

> doesn't

> > hurt but if you ask her to swallow a pill she then cannot do it. I'm

not

> sure how to get

> > around it as I can't think of a different word for swallow or a

different

> way to explain it

> so

> > she understands. Definitely frustrating.

> > Thanks for all your concern about my medical issues!!

> > Emma

> >

> >

> >

> > Welcome to LBDcaregivers.

> >

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

Emma, I seem to recall that at one time someone on here suggested giving pills

followed

by a liquid with straw, that the sucking motion with a straw leads more directly

to

swallowing. I tried going back to look it up but the servier is too busy to

accomodate me

right now. Placing the pills as far back on her tongue as she will allow may

help.

What about saying down the hatch, into your tummy, down it goes, giving her the

steps

like into your mouth down, your throat, make up a little rhyme to say or sing.

With your

writing skills and Carol's penchant for alliteration/rhyming we should be able

to come up

with something!

All the best.

, Oakville Ont.

Mother, age 92, died Aug. 12/06 after 13 year decline from PDD

> > Just wanted to give a little update for those that were concerned about my

fainting

etc.

> I

> > went and saw the PA at my doctor's office yesterday and he said since it was

an

isolated

> > thing and I recovered so quickly that the fainting spell was probably

nothing,

sometimes

> > people just faint. If it happens again then we might need to look closer.

However he

did

> > diagnose me with a heart murmur! Said that this also was probably nothing

(said it

was

> > most likely an " innocent flow murmur " which is VERY common and no big deal)

but is

> > sending me to have an echocardiogram just to be sure. SO the plot thickens!

> > I also went to the chiropractor and she told me my back (from neck to hips!)

is a train

> > wreck! I could have told her that! My hips are not level and my neck curves

in exactly

the

> > OPPOSITE direction that its supposed to. She said my x-rays look like those

of a

person

> > who was in a car accident. I had to explain that there was no car accident,

I'm just one

of

> > the clumsiest people alive and have gotten whip-lash 2 times from falling.

So I am

going

> > to be having 2-3 adjustments with her a week for a little while and I am on

NO

exercise

> > and NO lifting (yeah right!). But at least I feel a little better after one

treatment and

will

> > hopefully feel even better after more.

> > Grandma is still having a hard time with pills but is eating SLIGHTLY

better. I think

we're

> > up to 700 calories a day on a good day! If I can just get her to stop LOSING

weight I'll

be

> > happy. Discovered this morning that she does not know what " swallow " means.

I think

> > this is a BIG part of the problem with getting pills down. She CAN do it and

says it

> doesn't

> > hurt but if you ask her to swallow a pill she then cannot do it. I'm not

sure how to get

> > around it as I can't think of a different word for swallow or a different

way to explain it

> so

> > she understands. Definitely frustrating.

> > Thanks for all your concern about my medical issues!!

> > Emma

> >

> >

> >

> > Welcome to LBDcaregivers.

> >

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

,

The straw thing might work. The singing/rhyming thing probably not though. She

is

hyper sensitive to being treated " like a baby " and quickly gets verbally abusive

and refuses

to do anything if she even THINKS I'm treating her like a child. Its a good

idea though!!!

Emma

> > > Just wanted to give a little update for those that were concerned about

my fainting

> etc.

> > I

> > > went and saw the PA at my doctor's office yesterday and he said since it

was an

> isolated

> > > thing and I recovered so quickly that the fainting spell was probably

nothing,

> sometimes

> > > people just faint. If it happens again then we might need to look closer.

However he

> did

> > > diagnose me with a heart murmur! Said that this also was probably nothing

(said it

> was

> > > most likely an " innocent flow murmur " which is VERY common and no big

deal) but

is

> > > sending me to have an echocardiogram just to be sure. SO the plot

thickens!

> > > I also went to the chiropractor and she told me my back (from neck to

hips!) is a

train

> > > wreck! I could have told her that! My hips are not level and my neck

curves in

exactly

> the

> > > OPPOSITE direction that its supposed to. She said my x-rays look like

those of a

> person

> > > who was in a car accident. I had to explain that there was no car

accident, I'm just

one

> of

> > > the clumsiest people alive and have gotten whip-lash 2 times from falling.

So I am

> going

> > > to be having 2-3 adjustments with her a week for a little while and I am

on NO

> exercise

> > > and NO lifting (yeah right!). But at least I feel a little better after

one treatment and

> will

> > > hopefully feel even better after more.

> > > Grandma is still having a hard time with pills but is eating SLIGHTLY

better. I think

> we're

> > > up to 700 calories a day on a good day! If I can just get her to stop

LOSING weight

I'll

> be

> > > happy. Discovered this morning that she does not know what " swallow "

means. I

think

> > > this is a BIG part of the problem with getting pills down. She CAN do it

and says it

> > doesn't

> > > hurt but if you ask her to swallow a pill she then cannot do it. I'm not

sure how to

get

> > > around it as I can't think of a different word for swallow or a different

way to

explain it

> > so

> > > she understands. Definitely frustrating.

> > > Thanks for all your concern about my medical issues!!

> > > Emma

> > >

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[Guest guest]

I think pills can't be cut/crushed for a variety of

reasons. time released pills can't be crushed or they

wouldn't be time released anymore. pills that would be

a gastric irritant shouldn't be crushed. I would heed

the pharmacist's advice.

Engles

SEIU-UHW Shop Steward

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