Swallowing and meds are related issues. So which one do I choose?
My MIL started coughing a lot with some choking. She has been on Seroquel which helps with extreme outbursts. Hospice recommends that I keep her on the meds but these days it is clear that she swallows better without any medication. So here's my dilemma.....................discontinue medication (all meds make her drowsy at this point) so that she can swallow better
OR stay on meds to keep her calm but risk choking. Academically, I understand all this and am quite aware of puddings etc, thick-it, etc etc. We've also experimented with other meds, dosages etc.
Without meds she is angry, sometimes violent and is almost constantly awake................and she eats as much as I feed her with no choking.
With meds: she is a bit calmer, sleeps better, but chokes easily when fed.
Which is the more humane choice?
I feel like her life is in my hands :(
Right now she is screaming and swearing at the poor aide who came to give her a bath.
Hospice team and I have worked on this for quite a while. (She's been on hospice for almost 2 years)!!! No one expected her to live this long - including me. We are still trying to adjust meds etc but in the end it's a losing battle. Very low doses............and she's right back to pocketing food etc. I'm still experimenting with meal timing, dosage timing and amts, etc etc.
Just venting.............it's so grueling sometimes.
I don't mean to sound disrespectful but ..............will this ever end????