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New Here, Help my Dad Please

Question:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – My Dad suffered from glaucoma a couple of years ago and it’s so advanced that he’s almost blind.  About a year back, he started eating less and the problem slowly got worse.  Now he sometimes goes for 24 to 48 hours without food and hardly any water.  He was hospitalized recently, put on a drip and had a battery of tests conducted.  The doctors could find nothing wrong with him.  A psychiatrist was called in and she prescribed Ativan and Dogmatil, which he is still on.  The drugs seem to help, but only a little. When we ask him why he doesn’t eat, he says it’s because he can’t swallow, difficulty in breathing after eating, and extreme sore throat to the extent that he can’t bear the pain of swallowing.  He WANTS to eat and is always mentioning how hungry he is but "the food just won’t go down the throat".  When we try to persuade him to bear the pain, take his food and regain some strength, his usual answer will be "I want to get well and regain my weight but how can I eat when not even a drop of water will go down?" Has anyone come across a similar condition?  Is it really psychosomatic?  If not, why can’t the ENT specialists find anything wrong with him?  I read that some people have a swallowing reflex and coordination problem which causes shortness of breath after eating.  I notice a loud sound from his throat whenever he takes a gulp of water. Please help him.  He’s going downhill fast. Warning for ASED:   References to weight, height and diet follow. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * When he does eat, it’s usually bread dipped in a few half boiled eggs and a glass of milk.  He is 5 foot 7 and used to weigh 160+ pounds, now he’s down to 100 lbs.  If this goes on, I’m afraid he won’t survive for long.  Once again, your help and advice would be gratefully appreciated.  Thank you.

If your Dad is not eating and he is on Ativan my experience would lead me to believe that the drug (Ativan) is messing up his brain in a physiological way. At least that is what happened to me on the stuff. I seemed to be able to think ok, but I had one hell of a time putting my thoughts into words. And the condition lasted for months after I quit the drug. I was in such bad shape that I thought I must have had a stroke. I don’t reccomend that anyone who is not eating normally (full meals) ever take that drug. Seems to me that he should be fed by some other means (tube of IV), but then I am not in the medical business. I wish you well. Bert.

Response:

My Dad suffered from glaucoma a couple of years ago and it’s so advanced that he’s almost blind.  About a year back, he started eating less and the problem slowly got worse.  Now he sometimes goes for 24 to 48 hours without food and hardly any water.  He was hospitalized recently, put on a drip and had a battery of tests conducted.  The doctors could find nothing wrong with him.  A psychiatrist was called in and she prescribed Ativan and Dogmatil, which he is still on.  The drugs seem to help, but only a little. When we ask him why he doesn’t eat, he says it’s because he can’t swallow, difficulty in breathing after eating, and extreme sore throat to the extent that he can’t bear the pain of swallowing.  He WANTS to eat and is always mentioning how hungry he is but "the food just won’t go down the throat".  When we try to persuade him to bear the pain, take his food and regain some strength, his usual answer will be "I want to get well and regain my weight but how can I eat when not even a drop of water will go down?" Has anyone come across a similar condition?  Is it really psychosomatic?  If not, why can’t the ENT specialists find anything wrong with him?  I read that some people have a swallowing reflex and coordination problem which causes shortness of breath after eating.  I notice a loud sound from his throat whenever he takes a gulp of water. Please help him.  He’s going downhill fast. Warning for ASED:   References to weight, height and diet follow. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * When he does eat, it’s usually bread dipped in a few half boiled eggs and a glass of milk.  He is 5 foot 7 and used to weigh 160+ pounds, now he’s down to 100 lbs.  If this goes on, I’m afraid he won’t survive for long.  Once again, your help and advice would be gratefully appreciated.  Thank you.

Response:

I am so sorry.  I don’t have the answer.  I just wanted to tell you that I read your post and I am sorry for what you are going through.  The only thing I can tell you is to do what you are doing, give him love and show that you care. And try to encourage him to eat, whether it is only a few bites at a time. just putting in my opinion, Heather

Response:

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