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My 83 YO wife with AD has numerous health problems and over the years, I have managed her medicine and her diet and medical care, as well as completely taking care of all the other household duties that I have time for! I don't resent changing diapers and cleaning up the feces from her and her clothes as well as the stool and the floor, after a unexpected bowel movement. I have become pretty adept at her twice daily bladder catheterization and making sure she gets her daily Budesonide inhaler to keep asthma at bay. And I set the alarm to help me remember to give her the Calcitonin-Salmon nasal spray to control osteoporosis. This is my wife and this is my life and I accept it, even though she could be a little more cooperative some times, but I understand that. I probably wouldn't handle it as well as she does. The hardest thing for me is when she is hurting or feels nauseated, or is freezing or various other problems that I feel sure are legitimate, but there isn't anything I can do to help! She is nauseated a lot because of her LPR from her intra-thoracic stomach. I give her Mylanta and Pepto Bismol, and Meclazine and non-acid or greasy diet to try to treat it, usually with very limited or no, success! It really hurts to hear her say she feels nauseated and I can't help!

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OldArkie - I commend you for being such a caring husband.

I can understand how frustrating it is to see a problem but not be able to do anything to fix it. It pains you to feel helpless.

I remember my mother's sudden decline into Alzheimer's. It was like a switch. One day she was fine, the next she couldn't remember anything. I remember feeling so frustrated with her for what she couldn't do anymore. I was angry at her for her losses.

It took a while but it dawned on me that I should look at the glass half full instead of half empty. I started naming all the things that she could still do and told myself that I should be glad she could still do them. I told myself things could be worse. It helped me to accept her condition and the changes/losses that followed.

I suppose feeling nauseated isn't so bad in the scheme of things. There are many worse things than that. She has more good moments than bad, right?
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Marenpd Nov 2021
chronic nausea is the worst! I wouldn't minimize how awful that is.
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Ondansetron is an excellent prescription anti-emetic that my husband has for extreme migraine nausea, and we've also used it for nausea caused by vertigo and sea-sickness. It's a tiny pill that dissolves under the tongue and works for 8-ish hours. Does not cause drowsiness but can make you a little more thirsty. And bless you for doing yeoman's work for your LO!
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You are doing such a great job with your wife, and are to be commended for sure. I don't know of too many men that would be doing all that you are for your wife. God bless you for that.
And being that you are a man, it's in your nature to want to fix things, so I understand your frustration in something that you can't seem to fix. However Geaton777 gave you a great suggestion for a medication that hopefully will help with her nausea. I would be calling her Dr. today to get them to call in a prescription ASAP for her, so her nausea can get under better control, and that can be one less thing you have to worry about.
Keep up the good work you're doing, and just make sure that you're taking care of yourself along the way as well, so you can continue on this journey with your wife.
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Well, I have to start by saying hats off to you for being such a caring, loving husband! Wish there were a million more like you.

Nausea: Mylanta and Peptol Bismol probably aren’t the best for treating a nauseous tummy. They are better suited to indigestion, or gas. Try GRAVOL instead, but know that it can cause drowsiness. It comes in many forms (swallow pill, liquid, liquid capsul, and melt on your tongue) so you can choose which would best for your wife.

If she is freezing, you could try a hot water bottle and move it from her feet to her tummy. I also love an electric blanket, because it heats up quickly, and then boom, you can turn it off, but there is still residual warmth.
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Her Dr should be able to g8ve you something for being nauseated.
Prayers

If you have Insurance, check about getting Home Health where a Nurse will cone check on you and an Aide will come 2-3 times a week to help you with a bath.

She is very lucky to have you stick by her side.

Prayers
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How sad but you are doing a fantastic job you are a fantastic husband and not many of you about but sometimes you need to have a bit of me time to charge your batteries do you have any family that could help? Is there any help/carers that would be worth looking in to even just fir the personal care ? it’s worth while contacting social services or your doctor to see what help you could receive before you burn yourself out I feel for you as I hold down a full time job and was trying to care for my mother but managed to get Carers in place which has been a big relief hope you get some help soon
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My husband also has trouble with his body temperature, if he gets cold, it takes forever to warm
him up. I warm his sheets and blankets in the dryer at night when I put him to bed. He doesn’t like socks to sleep in, so I bought a throw fleece blanket at Family Dollar for $5 and wrap it loosely around his feet. The warmth from the dryer does the trick and he feels so pampered and loved. It takes no extra effort on my part, just part of the nightly procedure. You have my prayers.
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Isthisrealyreal Oct 2021
You are a good wife and your husband is so blessed to have you.
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You can buy a body shawl from this site www.grampasgarden.com. They are microwaveable pads that you can heat to the temperature that she is comfortable, which will warm her up quickly. I use them for body aches and they're fantastic but they are heavy.. If you want something lighter weight there are plug in lap blankets in all sizes which you can buy on Amazon. How about trying the old fashioned remedies for nausea such as drinking flat Coca Cola or ginger ale or ginger tea, and /or nibbling on plain crackers. God bless you for all you are doing!
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OldArkie, have you tried aloe Vera juice for her stomach issues?

My husband has gerd and it helps keep his stomachs acid neutral or even alkalized, does wonders and has healed the esophagus lesions.

You can get expensive stuff at stores like natural grocers that tastes okay or you can get the cheaper stuff at Sam's and add it to apple juice, because it doesn't taste good. Same stuff just different processing I suppose.

One thing I have found, diets that don't have enough fat in them can cause body temperature to feel cold. Try adding more healthy fats and see if it helps. Walnuts, avocados, EVOO cold pressed, 1st run, and full fat dairy, like real butter are all good choices.

I know it feels counterintuitive for what she has going on, add more fats, just know they aren't all created equal. And I have felt the effects personally to know I am warmer when I do this. Hopefully it helps her too.

Your wife is very blessed to have you.
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electric blanket might help.

you are a good husband. The world needs more people like you.
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You are an excellent caregiver. Gingerale helps many people and I would ask her doctor for a prescription for zofran or promethazine, give her 1/4 to begin with, more if needed. Hugs to you both.
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A medical professional suggested bitters instead of antacids. Makes sense to aid digestion instead of the cyclic tamping down acid with mylanta, then having the stomach work to have enough acid to digest food. Btw, bitters are available where alcohol is sold.

https://www.healthline.com/health/food-nutrition/how-to-use-bitters
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Marenpd Nov 2021
I also take bitters for my digestion. It's striking to me how soon any discomfort settles down, I don't even notice until later and I think, "Oh, I've been feeling fine for awhile now!" LOL
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I battled LPR for years and I took digestive enzymes by source naturals they helped me digest (I’m only 50 and no dr could prescribe anything to help me) these worked wonders and worth looking into - hope this helps
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My dad stepped up to care for mom the same way you are caring for your wife. I was amazed to see this side of dad, especially when it came to cleaning up feces on her, the bed, the bathroom, the rugs, etc as he was a fastidious clean-freak all his life (retired biochemist / microbiologist). So I say the same to you that I kept saying to him -- Thank you! Thank you for stepping up in a way most men don't / can't / won't and being there for your wife. You are a much better person than I am because when it comes to anything that comes out of a person's body (except blood, for some reason I can handle blood), I go the opposite direction. And your patience and compassion is to be commended. Your wife is blessed to have you.
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I just answered this but it disappeared so here I go again. You are a saint that you can and will do what you are doing. Not all people can or will do this so bless you. I assume you have her medically checked. If nothing works, you just have to accept she is ill and miserable. You can't fix it but be kind and understanding and tell her you care and want to help - acknowledge her feelings. I wish I had better answers but I don't. Good luck.
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My mom that's now 92 and bedridden in our place takes Odansetron
for nausea and for her IBS she takes Bentyl in the generic brand for her stomach spasms.
God Bless All Of Us Caregivers!
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OldArkie: Imho, you are a STELLAR caregiver. God bless you.
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Hair dryer blowing on the feet, hands, while under the covers to warm the whole air space. Of course do this safely, not too close to the skin, and awareness that you don't leave the dryer covered up, instead hold it with air space for the dryer vent to be open!
It works so well.

There are specific meds for nausea. Don't over use the over the counter anti-acids! The stomach has acid for a reason. Use digestive enzymes supplements, or digestive bitters. From a good health food store, for quality.

Please consider a test for food sensitivities. Dairy, eggs, corn, wheat, soy are the obvious ones. Specific vegetables and fruits can set off all kinds of reactions in people. Send for a home kit, like Everlywell.

When I feel sick, I want company, or to be checked on frequently, but not touched. Yet others want to be left alone. And some like a hand held, back stroked, feet rubbed. You can't take away all the discomfort, but you can BE a comfort.
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