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Breathing Issues, Weight Loss and Lack of Appetite
Hi everyone. My beautiful mother is about 3 years into her Parkinson's diagnosis. She had been doing quite well, with symptoms being not much more than a nuisance. In the last few months things have gotten significantly worse and I'm searching for direction as we haven't found answers with her doctors. I do have a request into Mayo for an appointment and am waiting to hear back - but in the meantime, am hopeful someone in this group might have some feedback. She is dealing with severe shortness of breath. She describes it as a very heavy feeling. She'll get extremely weak and almost like her legs are going to give out on her. When she lays down, it seems to get a little better, but it takes quite a bit of time before it does. It's been happening more and more frequently. I don't know if something is physically preventing her from getting air or if she is having anxiety/panic attacks - or both, with the former causing the latter and magnifying it. Also - she has lost her appetite and has gotten very thin. She eats like a bird and we can't seem to get her to eat more. I don't want to force her as there is obviously something preventing her from wanting to take in food. She says she feels very full - but is just getting to be skin and bones. She has dealt with constipation, so perhaps that is part of the problem? I'm really at a loss and am just so worried about her. Feeling so helpless and am just praying that we get into Mayo. In the meantime, does anyone have experience with these symptoms? (Her other symptoms have been shuffled walking, but she is still very mobile and able to do everything, some memory/confusion issues - but not severe, hallucinations from the medication - but not severe, very tired, very mild tremor - not severe at all.
Thank you in advance - greatly appreciate any feedback you have to offer. Also very happy to have found this group as I'm feeling so alone in this. Love my mom and would move heaven and earth to keep her feeling good.
Britt
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Hi Evelyn,
My Dad (who is in end-ish stage PD and dementia) also had weakness in the legs which led to a serious fall and broken hip. Once we got him home from the hospital we purchased one of those small pedalling gizmos you put on the floor in front of any chair...like cycling but my dad sits in a lift chair lazyboy while he's doing it. He is almost entirely immobile/bedridden except he has the strength in his legs to use a walker to the bathroom. One person on each side makes sure he doesn't tip over but the leg strength is amazing and I'm sure it's from the "cycling". They are quite inexpensive new and I'm sure even more reasonable pre-loved. Maybe it's worth a try?
Good Luck,
Monika
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1 ReactionHi Monica .. I have never heard of that but will definitely give it a look .. much better than a broken hip. Good for you Dad using it. Thanks.
Evelyn
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1 ReactionFirst - I am not a health care professional so anything I suggest here is mainly for your awareness and to help you talk with your Mom's doctor/neurologist/pharmacist. As far as getting calories into her without making it hard on her, there are sseveral drinks that are high protein, high calory but low volume so that she doesn't have to spend energy chewing and she doesn't need to fill her belly uncomfortably. For example, there's a drink I used when I was in a similar situation It's only about 4 ounces. I live in Germany so only know German products. The one I used had no gluten and no lactose , several nutrients , vitamins, minerals, etc. It's high in calories. (2000 pper 4 ounce bottle) The other things you might consider to get some calories into her -- Ice cream, egg custard- if she loves those things as much as I do, it would be easy. 😉 j or Yummy avocados! If she drinks coffee, maybe enrich it with heavy cream. You may want to consult a nutritionist. They would have a far better view on this. You don't want to over-do it and give her too many calories/fat than is good for her and nutritionists would have ideas on how to balance the nutrients she needs. and how much is too much, or not enough. They could give you things to be careful about so that your good intentions don't send you down the wrong road.
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