There are 5.4 million people who have Alzheimer's. It cost 183 billion dollars in annual costs. Alz's is the 6th leading cause of death.
To get something you never had, you have to do something you never did.' When God takes something from your grasp, He's not punishing you, but merely opening your hands to receive something better. Concentrate on this sentence... 'The will of God will never take you where the Grace of God will not protect you.
WE LOVE HIM BECAUSE HE FIRST LOVED US
1 John 4: 9-10

Mom and Dad Happy Times.

Friday, November 11, 2011

Aspiration Pneumonia

Good Morning All. It has been a busy few weeks. I actually got some work done around the house. And I did paint mom's room so I could move back into it. Since it used to be mine. Taking her stuff off the walls and out of the closet was the hardest. I just did not know what to do with it. I will give the pictures back to the family members who gave them to her I guess. I split up her cloths , gowns and personal stuff with my sis.
Mom died from Aspirating on her food which gave her Pneumonia. I wanted you all to have a little info so you would know what happens when aspirating. It seemed so painful for mom. The doc said sometimes you do not realize the person is aspirating but with mom you did she would almost choke to death. We felt so sorry for her. If only she could of told us what was going on. We thought she had a cold . She would cough even when not eating. The poor thing. I wonder just how long she was doing this. We will never know.
I got a job yesterday driving a Transit Bus which I did before so it will be good. Took the drug test and now waiting on that to come back than will start training. Hopefully I can remember everything it has been a few years since I drove a bus. Hope all is well with you and yours. Have a great Veterans Day and Thank you Veterans for all you have done for us.
Aspiration Pneumonia is the reported cause of death of a high proportion of Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients
Aspiration pneumonia is inflammation of the lungs and airways to the lungs (bronchial tubes) from breathing in foreign material.
Aspiration pneumonia occurs when foreign materials (usually food, liquids, vomit, or fluids from the mouth) are breathed into the lungs or airways leading to the lungs.
This may lead to:




  • A collection of pus in the lungs (lung abscess)
  • Swelling and inflammation in the lung
  • A lung infection (pneumonia
Pulmonary aspiration is the entry of material (such as pharyngeal secretions, food or drink, or stomach contents) from the oropharynx or gastrointestinal tract into the larynx (voice box) and lower respiratory tract (the portions of the respiratory system from the trachea (windpipe) to the lungs). A person may either inhale the material, or it may be delivered into the tracheobronchial tree during positive pressure ventilation. When pulmonary aspiration occurs during eating and drinking, the aspirated material is often colloquially referred to as "going down the wrong pipe."
Consequences of pulmonary aspiration range from no injury at all, to chemical pneumonitis or pneumonia, to death within minutes from asphyxiation. These consequences depend in part on the volume, chemical composition, particle size, presence or absence of infectious agents, and underlying health status of the person. In healthy people, aspiration of small quantities of material is common and rarely results in disease or injury. People with significant underlying disease or injury, especially hospitalized patients, are at greater risk for developing respiratory complications following pulmonary aspiration because of certain factors such as depressed level of consciousness and impaired airway defenses (gag reflex and/or respiratory tract antimicrobial defense system).
As the lumen of the right main bronchus is more vertical and of slightly wider diameter than that of the left, aspirated material is more likely to end up in this bronchus or one of its subsequent bifurcations.

7 comments:

  1. Karen, I am so glad to see that you posted. I have stopped by and wondered how you were doing. I think that you are amazing. A job already? That's really wonderful. I know you will be great at greeting your riders each day. They may never get to know you well enough to know what you have been doing since your last driving job, but I would tell them that you have had the hardest job in the world. You have been physically and emotionally tested and have healing to do from that experience. No money or "real" job could ever pay you for the reward that you received for being there for your mother. Hugs from Beckie

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  2. Karen,

    I am so impressed with you--your attitude as a caregver and your cheerfulness. Thanks for explaining what happened to your mom and will tuck this in my memory with my AD loved one's journey.

    Also, glad you got a job, easier one, with pay. Your mom would be so proud to know how you are adjusting.

    Hugs,
    Carol

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  3. Oh Karen, it must have been so difficult for you to go through your mom's things and get the room back to 'your room'..... You did it though, and that's great!

    Thanks so much for the information you shared with us...

    Congratulations on your new job..... I know you'll do an outstanding job!!!

    You have inspired me from day one ....on the care you gave your mother.
    Hugs,

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  4. So.... another episode of your life has begun. AND, it didn't take you long to get back into the work force. Congrats on that. I would hate to have to go through my mother's belongings after she passes but I reckon the parasitic brother and sister living in her house has already done it!!!
    Also, thanks for that information. I would never think of such a thing happening. How awful for her but unavoidable. Take care. XO

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  5. So glad to hear that you got a job and things are going good for you. You did such a wonderful job in caring for your mom.
    You really are an inspiration.
    I hope you will continue with your blog. You will probably come across some good stories to share from your experience driving a bus!

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  6. hope this will post,,, good job and your new normal.. and yes that happens alot with A/D. I am leaning towards a nonemotional and no passon job... this new director little weezle has put out my fire at work,, keep us updated.

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  7. Dear Karen,
    I have been thinking a lot about my Mom as I prepare to host Thanksgiving next week -- I really miss her a lot at holidays. As you know, she died of Alzheimer's in January 2010.

    My Dad, who had Parkinson's, had a problem with repeated aspiration pneumonia episodes. We had to keep him from eating certain foods or drinking normal liquids -- he could only have thickened liquids, which he hated. But keeping to the different diet did help slow down the incidents of pneumonia.

    He never had trouble swallowing, or any outward sign of the aspirating -- but his doctor ordered a swallow test, thank goodness, and discovered this was happening.

    Eventually it was congestive heart failure and kidney failure at the end, but aspiration pneumonia is often not diagnosed; it is good to let people know about it, as it really is quite common in the elderly, especially those with any chronic illness.

    I'm glad you are back in "the world" and beginning a new job. Good luck with that!

    I wish you a blessed Thanksgiving, and peace.
    You are one of the bravest and best.
    Cass

    ReplyDelete

Thanks for visiting my blog and I love reading your comments. Please come back soon. Karen

The Early, Mild to Moderate and Advanced stages of Alzheimer's in the brain.

The Early, Mild to Moderate and Advanced stages of Alzheimer's in the brain.

Seven Stages of Alzheimer's

1. No sign of congnitive impairment. 2. Very mild congnitive decline. 3. Mild congnitive decline. 4. Moderate congnitive decline. 5. Moderately severe congnitive decline. 6. Severe congnitive decline. 7. Very severe congnitive decline. (Congnitive pertains to the mental process of perception, memory, judgement, and reasoning, as contrasted with emotional and volitional processes.)

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