Sometimes he gets bad hickups during eating amd then throws up. Today he got hickups, started gaging. He did not throw up food, but rather coughed up thick mucus only. The episodes last at least 20 min. What can I do? I'm so scared !
Kmkinne, has your husband always been a fast eater? Some people just eat like they are in a race. My sig-other starts coughing because of his high speed devouring of food. Don't know why he eats like that, he never had to fight off siblings when it came to dinner time.
Have hubby's primary doctor check to see if he has acid reflux. One of the symptoms is feeling like you want to throw up because the acid from the stomach has what one would think gasoline would taste like.
I believe food related hiccups comes from getting too much air into the stomach while eating.
I came here to say what Daughterinlaw56 said: your husband needs a swallow study done immediately! Difficulty swallowing that goes along with dementia/Alz. is known as dysphagia. Contact his doctor and have a talk about setting this consult up asap. If he continues to eat fast like this, not chew his food properly and get hiccups, he can aspirate food into his lungs and get aspiration pneumonia which can become deadly. To cut down that risk, feed him foods like soups or thickened pureed foods that you put into the blender. Try making him a milkshake with added protein powder as well. It's easier to swallow foods like this which means he'll have a lesser chance of choking! If he wears dentures, they may not fit properly & he could be having trouble chewing as a result; so you could look into that possibility, if it exists.
Also, a person should see a doctor if hiccups become chronic and persistent (if they last more than 3 hours), or if they affect sleeping patterns, interfere with eating, or cause reflux of food or vomiting.
The following are some of the permitted foods for people with swallowing issues: Pureed breads (also called “pre-gelled” breads) Smooth puddings, custards, yogurts, and pureed desserts. Pureed fruits and well-mashed bananas. Pureed meats. Souffles. Well-moistened mashed potatoes. Pureed soups. Pureed vegetables without lumps, chunks, or seeds.
Check out this link on the subject: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/dysphagia/symptoms-causes/syc-20372028
Be sure to click the DIAGNOSIS & TREATMENT button as well.
Here is a link about preparing foods for people with dysphagia:
Also, you say the time he's choked, you had to perform the Heimlich maneuver on him........PLEASE get the swallow study done for him right away, ok? It's a very dangerous situation you've got going on that requires immediate attention. Sending prayers your way and a big HUG too.
Wishing you the best of luck helping your husband with this situation!
Is he choking on the food? If so how about cutting food into bite size pieces? You may benefit from a swallow study, that may give some ideas on the texture his food needs to be.
No. Today he didn't today, although that has happpened one time and I had to do the hymelik (not sure of apelling) hug. He ate ok, just fast, then started hickuping terribly. Then gagging, and spitting up mucous. We ate at a reaturant and was driving home when he started hickuping a very short time later. I had to pull over on side of road until he was ok.
Have hubby's primary doctor check to see if he has acid reflux. One of the symptoms is feeling like you want to throw up because the acid from the stomach has what one would think gasoline would taste like.
I believe food related hiccups comes from getting too much air into the stomach while eating.
Also, a person should see a doctor if hiccups become chronic and persistent (if they last more than 3 hours), or if they affect sleeping patterns, interfere with eating, or cause reflux of food or vomiting.
The following are some of the permitted foods for people with swallowing issues:
Pureed breads (also called “pre-gelled” breads)
Smooth puddings, custards, yogurts, and pureed desserts.
Pureed fruits and well-mashed bananas.
Pureed meats.
Souffles.
Well-moistened mashed potatoes.
Pureed soups.
Pureed vegetables without lumps, chunks, or seeds.
Check out this link on the subject: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/dysphagia/symptoms-causes/syc-20372028
Be sure to click the DIAGNOSIS & TREATMENT button as well.
Here is a link about preparing foods for people with dysphagia:
https://www.uhn.ca/PatientsFamilies/Health_Information/Health_Topics/Documents/Pureed_Foods_for_people_with_Dysphagia.pdf
Also, you say the time he's choked, you had to perform the Heimlich maneuver on him........PLEASE get the swallow study done for him right away, ok? It's a very dangerous situation you've got going on that requires immediate attention. Sending prayers your way and a big HUG too.
Wishing you the best of luck helping your husband with this situation!
Will check out links
Today he didn't today, although that has happpened one time and I had to do the hymelik (not sure of apelling) hug.
He ate ok, just fast, then started hickuping terribly. Then gagging, and spitting up mucous. We ate at a reaturant and was driving home when he started hickuping a very short time later. I had to pull over on side of road until he was ok.