Serious Question About Feeding Tube Posted: 12-01-05 01:07am
Hello, my grandmother is suffering from a
condition where she has a swallowing
disorder and her food goes into her lungs,
she just got out of the hospital and we
are getting very little food down her, the
doctor doesn't expect her to live much
longer if she doesn't eat more, she is
very sharp mentally and her speech is
great, she was originally diagnosed by
this doctor as having alzheimer's but I
have got a second opinion and he says that
she doesn't have it because she would not
be able to carry on conversations and
wouldn't know who anybody was, but she
recognizes everybody as they enter the
room and talks very good, my question is,
since she is very sharp mentally and is
nowhere near brain dead would it be in our
best interest to insert a feeding tube?
I have also heard that if she had a
feeding tube and was getting more food she
might be able to fight this off easier,
please give me any input on what you think
about this situation. Thank you!
|
matthewm107
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 01 Dec 2005 Posts: 3
Posted: 12-01-05 01:13am
I also forot to mention she has not lost
any other bodilby functions either, she
still gets up and uses the bathroom and
refuses to use the diaper she has on.
|
fatfamily02
Extremely EHEALTHy
Joined: 20 Jul 2005 Posts: 3050 Location: Georgia, USA
Posted: 12-01-05 01:43am
Where does the feeding tube go. Down her
throat or into her belly somewhere?
I dont have any idea--if I did I might
have a few suggestions--
god bless gramma
|
matthewm107
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 01 Dec 2005 Posts: 3
Posted: 12-01-05 02:14am
Thank you for the kind words, it would be
going down her nose.
|
fatfamily02
Extremely EHEALTHy
Joined: 20 Jul 2005 Posts: 3050 Location: Georgia, USA
Posted: 12-01-05 14:16pm
I am thinking that, that would be taking
away her life--maybe if they could give
her something into her stomach. But if
it is in her nose--it will make her
remaining days miserable and I dont think
most pple would want that. Would it be a
temporary thing--or for the remainder of
her time?
Would she even be able to talk--you said
she loves to talk to pple when they come
in!!?
|
nelda
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 13 Oct 2005 Posts: 33 Location: canada
Posted: 12-01-05 21:42pm
I have worked with the elderly for many
years.Quite often someone will not eat or
eat very little. When this happens you
can purchase a drink called "boost" or
"ensure" for them to drink.It is high in
calories and vitamins and comes in many
different flavors.It is something like a
milkshake but is very nutritional. You
can buy it at any grocery or drug store.
One lady that I have been caring for
lately is 92 years old and has had a very
poor appetite for the past couple of
years. She drinks 2 cans of boost a day
and she is doing great.
|
aleut4
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 02 Dec 2005 Posts: 10 Location: ohio
Hello Posted: 12-06-05 12:14pm
God bless you for trying to find answers
for your grandmother! I think all the
suggesting given already is great! I to
am a nurse for the elderly! I have seen
giving a med to help increase appreite.
Plus assisting in feeding does help. But
one must think a feeding tube will help
but there is so many steps to take before
that should be put in place. Ask other
people you know that is having the same
problem what they did to help their loved
ones! Milkshake puts weight on people
real fast too.
