As with all of us with Parkinson’s as part of our lives, things don’t always go smoothly. I know that I am a more emotional person these days and it can be a challenge coping with things from time to time.
This week one of my work colleague’s mothers is dying and that has affected me. I have been trying to support her from the time I found out she was unwell and giving her advice both as a friend and with my professional experience. Her Mum has a rare condition which is similar to Parkinson’s in it’s presentation, but much faster moving. From diagnosis to this point has only been a matter of months. I feel for my colleague and her family and I suppose it brings home to me that this thing that inhabits my body will progress. Sometimes that is hard…
I have had an issue with a very dry mouth this week and not just my mouth, but even my throat. This is making it really hard to swallow with absolutely no saliva at times. I was walking down the corridor today and I literally could not swallow and was gagging and nearly sick. It was quite scary. I wonder if that means that things are progressing? I hope not!
I talked to one of the Speech Language Therapists that I share an office with and she suggested sipping dark grape juice throughout the day as apparently this helps with increasing saliva. Also, running a face cloth under hot water and breathing through it also helps to moisten the throat. She suggests to do this before bed and in the morning before work and if possible during the day. She also suggested sucking on ice chips might help.
I think I will contact the Parkinson’s Nurse and see if she thinks there is anything to be concerned about. Perhaps I should ask if I should see my Neurologist?
I try not to over-react, but there is a lot going on right now and I just hope things are not taking a downhill trajectory.
I hope to be back to my usually more positive self tomorrow.
My journey with Parkinsons 
A speech pathologist visited me when I was in hospital and gave me a tube of Biotene gel to use. They also make a Biotene mouthwash for dry mouth. My condition was a drug side effect, I think. The Biotene was not very expensive.
Sucking a hard lolly also helped. I didn’t want to put on weight, so I used a brand of sweets called Sugarless from the pharmacy. They tasted great but the downside was they created a wind problem for me. 😞
Wishing you all the very best with your health issues. I hope they can be resolved sooner rather than later.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks. I might get hold of my Parkinson’s Nurse attached to my Neurologist and see what she thinks. I sucked on some lemon honey lozenges I had in my drawer at work and that helped a bit.
LikeLike
Oh dear, not the best time, but one of many challenges you will face.
My husband was reccomended water thickner, you get this in sachets, it is quick to make up and you are able to swallow it,or get it around your mouth, it mositions the mouth and throat or helps you swallow meds.
He also has a mouth spray for a quick fix.
He can also havè too much saliva and choke on water.
He had a swallow xray organised by his speech language therapist, it showed quite alot of changes with saliva, swallow etc, was well worth it.
All the best.
Xx
LikeLike
Hi Robyn. Thanks for the ideas. I had a bit of problem with dry throat in our morning meeting. One of the things my Speech Language Therapist colleague suggested was sucking on icecubes. Tried it this morning and it worked a treat. Also, been drinking dark grapejuice all day. Went to the specialist today and definitely being lined up for knee replacement. Should be able to get done under the hospital system though, so won’t have to pay. Which is a relief!
LikeLike