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Medical Forum / Diseases and Disorders / Alzheimer's / December 2006Won't Eat
I believe my mother is entering the last phase of Alzheimers. For the past week, she refuses to eat and gets very combative if you try to feed her. She will grab hold of your arm and dig in her finger nails and won't let go. Is this not eating part of the progression of the disease or could there be other problems causing this. She rarely has a "good" day anymore and the loving woman who never cursed now curses like a trooper and is almost completely uncooperative. >I believe my mother is entering the last phase of Alzheimers. For the past >week, she refuses to eat and gets very combative if you try to feed her. [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] >and the loving woman who never cursed now curses like a trooper and is >almost completely uncooperative. I can certainly sympathize. We managed to get our LO out of bed by 3PM today to eat about 3 tablespoons of soup. I do know getting frustrated doesn't help. Sometimes you just have to do the best you can and then not get upset if you know your LO didn't eat enough to keep a knat alive. I'm sure you have already tried Ensure, etc. Anyways, good luck. BTDT. AW > I believe my mother is entering the last phase of Alzheimers. For the past > week, she refuses to eat and gets very combative if you try to feed her. [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > loving woman who never cursed now curses like a trooper and is almost > completely uncooperative. It's possible that she has enough cognitive ability left to realize that she absolutely hates being miserable, and wants to die. This is not uncommon in folks with a fatal illness. My mother stopped eating once she went into an assisted living situation, and refused to use her oxygen. Eventually she refused liquids. She was sick and tired, and at 79, ready to go. Sometimes the body is just shutting down and the patient has no desire or need to eat. I suggest simply offering her food on a regular basis, but not trying to force her to eat if she doesn't want to. I know that you may not be ready for her death, but if she is refusing to eat, it won't be far away. Since she has a fatal illness, it would be cruel to use any force to try to get her to eat. Consider what she would have wanted when she was in her right mind, and if she signed a do-not-resuscitate order or living will abide by her wishes. It's better that she die with dignity than for the family to try to keep her alive for a few more weeks or months of the same misery she's now in. Please consider calling Hospice in to help you now. They can assist you at home for the last several weeks, and can also provide counseling for you and your family. If she has insurance or Medicare, they will pay; if there is no insurance, Hospice services are usually free or at nominal cost. >>I believe my mother is entering the last phase of Alzheimers. For the past >>week, she refuses to eat and gets very combative if you try to feed her. [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] > Sometimes the body is just shutting down and the patient has no > desire or need to eat. Well, and swallowing becomes difficult; they lose the ability to coordinate the muscles. This causes aspiration, and is the reason why pneumonia is the most common cause of death for Alzheimer's patients. She may find eating frightening. Dana > Well, and swallowing becomes difficult; they lose the ability to > coordinate the muscles. This causes aspiration, and is the reason why > pneumonia is the most common cause of death for Alzheimer's patients. > She may find eating frightening. Thanks for mentioning that, since I forgot. And for reasons that I don't understand, often it's more of a problem swallowing liquids. I'm sure folks with dementias find a lot of things frightening, and even if you are able to get them relaxed, they won't remember and will become frightened again. All my advance directives say that I don't want any tube feeding, and that if I refuse to eat, I should be allowed to die. The NH used a thickening substance to put in Grayson's food before he died so he could swallow it. Gwen >> Well, and swallowing becomes difficult; they lose the ability to >> coordinate the muscles. This causes aspiration, and is the reason why [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > All my advance directives say that I don't want any tube feeding, > and that if I refuse to eat, I should be allowed to die. > > Well, and swallowing becomes difficult; they lose the ability to > > coordinate the muscles. This causes aspiration, and is the reason why [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > All my advance directives say that I don't want any tube feeding, > and that if I refuse to eat, I should be allowed to die. One of the things my late Mother found very frightening, was being enclosed for scans in the hospital. I was in shock the first time I saw it. She had to be put into a large cylinder type machine for a catscan or MRI (can't believe I've forgotten which - no pun intended) and it just freaked her out so bad it was heart wrenching. There wasn't much I could do because she was in so far, I couldn't stand there and hold her hand, even if the technician had let me. That's one I'll never forget. Charles R. Whealton Charles Whealton @ pleasedontspam.com >>>Well, and swallowing becomes difficult; they lose the ability to >>>coordinate the muscles. This causes aspiration, and is the reason why [quoted text clipped - 21 lines] > > That's one I'll never forget. My mom got an MRI as part of the diagnosis phase, to rule out mini-strokes. We found an "open" MRI, but my sister and I still sat there, each with a hand on Mom's leg. She'd always been claustrophobic, and feared needing just such a scan. She was already addled enough that she thought a report of "no mini-strokes" was *good* news. We, of course, were hoping that was it; better than Alzheimer's by a long chalk. Dana > >>>Well, and swallowing becomes difficult; they lose the ability to > >>>coordinate the muscles. This causes aspiration, and is the reason why [quoted text clipped - 32 lines] > > Dana Dana, I guess mini-strokes would probably be the least of the two evils. In the end, my Mother was gone in not much more than a year and mini-strokes were her diagnosis. In the end, they surmised it was a major stroke followed by a heart attack. She may have lasted longer with alzheimers, though let's face it, we'll never know which would have been better/worse for her. Charles R. Whealton Charles Whealton @ pleasedontspam.com Sometimes when they won't eat or cooperate with anything its a sign of dehydration or a uti.My brother in laws mom was exactly like that and was simply very dehydrated.For those of you who know me my mom is doing great.10 years now and seems to be at a stand still as far as progressing.Her doctor of 3 yrs.says he has really not seen any progression either.I know it will happen.But we have been so blessed so far.She eats like a horse and drinks more water than anyone in the house.Still walks with assistance.Asks to go to the bathroom and sleeps all night.So sorry to hear of those loved ones who are doing bad.It breaks my heart. How did everyone handle christmas?Ours was great.Had a houseful and my mom really enjoyed it.Oh but she was tired at the end of the day.She turned 86 on the 21st.She's not so much as had even a cold in 3 yrs.Just rambling so i will quit.LOL,Barb > I believe my mother is entering the last phase of Alzheimers. For the past > week, she refuses to eat and gets very combative if you try to feed her. [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > loving woman who never cursed now curses like a trooper and is almost > completely uncooperative. |
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