Crohns Disease - June 19, 2009
There are various definitions of Alzheimer ’s disease including:
- “The slow onset of memory loss leading to a gradual progression to a loss of judgement and changes in behaviour and temperament.”
- “A living death”
- “The global impairment of higher functions, including memory, the capacity to solve problems of day to day living, the performance of learned percepto-motor skills (for example tasks like washing, dressing and eating), and the control of emotional reactions in the absence of gross clouding of consciousness.”
Memory Loss
Memory loss occurs in all cases of Alzheimer’s disease. The most recent memories are the first to be affected, the things we’ve done in the last few hours or days. Later, as the disease progresses, the past memory also deteriorates.
The fact that memory loss is such an important feature of Alzheimer’s, the testing of a person’s memory is an easy and cheap method of diagnosing the condition. Questions asked should be extremely basic, for example:
- What day is it today?
- How old are you?
- Where are we now?
- What year is it?
- What month?
- Count backwards from 20 to 1.
These questions will test a person’s short term memory, and also orientation; disorientation being another problem experienced by Alzheimer’s suffers.
Disorientation
Disorientation, or not knowing who or where you are, is closely connected to memory loss. Typically, an Alzheimer’s sufferer will forget birthdays, become unsure of what day it is, and even forgets their own name. You can understand why Alzheimer’s has been called ‘a living death’.
Because it is the short-term memory that goes first, suffers who go out alone have often returned to a house they lived in years ago, thinking they have come home.
Disorientation inside the home can become a problem too but not until the disease is in its later stages. It is important that nothing is moved or changed in the home to preserve continuity. If their environment and routine remains unchanged, an Alzheimer’s sufferer will remain more content and confident; change the environment however and their confusion and disorientation becomes readily apparent. This is why treatment at home rather than in hospital is preferred and transfer to hospital should be a last resort.
Personality Change
One of the cruellest aspects of Alzheimer’s disease is the change in personality many people experience. Often, the general behaviour and personality of Alzheimers suffers in the later stages will be in complete contrast to their usual behaviour they exhibited in earlier life.
Mood swings, from being ecstatically happy to extremely sad, verbal and sometimes physical aggression, and extreme anxiety and nervousness often affect the Alzheimers sufferer and, of course, the carer who can help best by offering continuous reassurance and patience.
Personal Hygiene
Personal hygiene often becomes a major issue with the sufferer forgetting to wash and bathe. Body odour, and stained and soiled clothing and hands can be a cause of great stress and result in a cruel loss of dignity.
Communication
During the early stages understanding simple speech remains unaffected, but finding the correct words can be a problem and the Alzheimers sufferer will often leave sentences unfinished. The taking of messages particularly over the telephone can be difficult and this is often one of the first signs of dementia.
As the disease worsens communication will become more difficult as comprehension skills decrease. Eventually their whole speech can become gibberish until eventually the Alzheimer sufferer will cease to talk altogether and will withdraw into his or her small world.
Sleep
Although the amount of sleep required by an Alzheimers sufferer is unlikely to change, their sleep cycle may do. So, instead of wanting to sleep at night and be awake during the day, this could become reversed. This isn’t a problem of itself except for the carer who will have his or her nights disrupted.
The carer is advised to keep the patient active and awake during the day as much as possible, even though it is tempting to seize an opportunity to do some chores and enjoy some peace and quiet should the sufferer fall asleep. A warm drink at bedtime may help, although any problems with incontinence should be considered. Ensure there are no other reasons for the restless nights, such as joint pain or night cramps. In the event the latter are a problem, administer mild painkillers. In the worst case scenario, many people use a night sitting service to ensure the sufferer is closely supervised while the carer gets a few nights of undisturbed sleep.
Malnutrition
Eating and drinking can be a problem with Alzheimer suffers. More accurately the lack of food and drink and the resulting malnutrition is the problem.
A sufferer may develop an irrational fear of the food you are providing, or they may simply forget or refuse to eat. Two likely causes of the latter are ill-fitting dentures, especially if the sufferer has lost weight; and constipation. A well balanced diet with plenty of roughage and a high fluid intake will help prevent constipation.
General Advice For Carers
It is difficult to judge who has the worse time, the Alzheimers sufferer or the carer. In the early stages of the disease it is probably the sufferer, in the latter stages it is undoubtedly the carer.
Help minimise disorientation by not moving anything in the home. To do so will make their confusion worse.
Admit an Alzheimers suffer to hospital as a last resort. Once you do so disorientation and confusion will increase markedly.
Do not let a sufferer out alone, they may have difficulty finding the way back home.
Do all you can to help the sufferer maintain dignity.
- A warm drink or a tot of their favourite alcoholic drink may aid sleep at night. - Try to keep the patient active and awake during the day.
- Keep a cold drink nearby to remind the sufferer to take fluids.
- Keep disruption to routine to a minimum to prolong the Alzheimers sufferer’s independence as long as possible.
Closely supervise medication. It is very easy for the Alzheimers sufferer to forget they have taken their medication, and take it repeatedly. Alzheimer’s disease is progressive and incurable, although there are drugs that can slow the progression. It is one of the saddest diseases in that it is difficult to care for or regularly visit someone who no longer knows your name or recognises you.
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Gluten Problems - May 24, 2009
The major complaint of those who use the Atkins diet is the intestinal problems that are associated with reducing carbohydrates. These problems can include constipation and diarrhea. These symptoms can happen to anybody at some point, but those who follow a low-carb diet are especially prone.
Most commonly dieters will experience diarrhea during the early days of induction. This is a result of the body getting rid of excess carbohydrates. It also marks the beginning of the ketosis process. So in actuality, experiencing diarrhea at the beginning of the diet is a good thing. It indicates that you are on the road to becoming a fat burning machine.
Constipation is a side effect of lack of fiber in the low carb diet. Whole grains, legumes and fruit are the normal sources of dietary fiber, and they are all restricted on the Atkins diet’s initial phases.
However, you shouldn’t be scared off from the low-carb way of life because of these issues. There are simple solutions that can prevent and help with these symptoms and allow you to continue with staying on the diet plan.
The first tip is to make sure to include the proper amount of low-carb vegetables in your daily diet. In the induction phase, you can eat up to 20 grams of carbohydrates per day. This is roughly equal to 3 cups of salad vegetables. Some people are tempted to use their carbohydrate grams on cheese or artificially sweetened soda. Eating acceptable vegetables is a vital part of maintaining intestinal health while following the Atkins plan. It’s also important to drink a minimum of 8 eight-ounce glasses of water per day and get exercise. Both of these steps can help with intestinal programs.
If you are experiencing constipation specifically, then there are many methods for relief. When you switch from a diet full of processed and refined sugar products, your body will need some time to adjust to this new way of eating. You’ll need to make sure to up your fiber intake with acceptable vegetables and fruits (certain fruits are allowed after the initial induction phase). You can also try a fiber supplement like sugar-free Metamucil.
Make sure you are eating enough fats and oils. Constipation can be a result of too little fat in your diet. Adding tablespoon of olive oil or flax oil to salads or other vegetables can help your intestinal health. Also, try to incorporate a variety of vegetables in your salad. Pale iceberg lettuce does not have much fiber in it. Try dark green lettuces or have a serving of dark green steamed veggies (broccoli, asparagus or spinach are good choices).
If these tips don’t work, try cutting out all salt from your diet for a couple of days. This includes pickles, mustard, diet soda, ham, bacon and bottled salad dressing. This will decrease your fluid retention and sometimes helps with bowel movements.
Diarrhea should not be a problem after the first week of the Induction plan. However, on rare occasion, it does persist longer. First, analyze your diet. If you are eating low carb protein bars or other sugar free products, eliminate them. They may contain sweeteners like glycerine, sorbitol and malitol which are known to cause diarrhea and gas. Homemade low carb desserts may also be a cause of problems. Most of them use maltodextrin, an artificial sweetener used in baking. Maltodextrin is made from corn and can cause problems for some people.
If you are not used to eating raw vegetables everyday, this may be a cause of diarrhea. Understand that your body will adjust to the vegetables and the intestinal side effects won’t last forever. Make sure you are chewing your raw vegetables thoroughly. Also, using lightly steamed vegetables rather than raw can be a solution to this problem.
Intestinal problems are common during the first portion of the Atkins diet. Keep in mind, however, that these problems will go away within the first few weeks of the new way of eating. If the problems persist, try the previously mentioned tips to get relief
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Irritable Bowel Syndrome - March 20, 2009
Dog is a male weimaraner, 120 lbs. He's overly large for his breed, plus about 15 lbs. overweight. Vet says to just keep trying to find a food that works, gradually switching him over. I've tried Eukanuba, Chicken Soup dog food, Canidae. Nothing works. Any suggestions? I can't afford, nor do I have time, to cook a special diet for him regularly.
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Gluten Problems - March 19, 2009
Hi i have celiac disease where you cant eat gluten (wheat) because you body can't break down the foods. But some doctors said that i can't have gluten (wheat) occasionally but the doctor that almost completely cured my friends chrones said i could have it once a week.
I dont know if this is true…what do you think and what will happen to me if i do occasionally have gluten (wheat)??
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Gluten Problems - March 19, 2009
Hi i have celiac disease where you cant eat gluten (wheat) because you body can't break down the foods. But some doctors said that i can't have gluten (wheat) occasionally but the doctor that almost completely cured my friends chrones said i could have it once a week.
I dont know if this is true…what do you think and what will happen to me if i do occasionally have gluten (wheat)??
Read More…
Gluten Problems - March 19, 2009
Hi i have celiac disease where you cant eat gluten (wheat) because you body can't break down the foods. But some doctors said that i can't have gluten (wheat) occasionally but the doctor that almost completely cured my friends chrones said i could have it once a week.
I dont know if this is true…what do you think and what will happen to me if i do occasionally have gluten (wheat)??
Read More…
Crohns Disease - March 19, 2009
I have had crohns inflammation since 1999. There used to be deep pain. The pain stopped in 2004. I have not had a stitch of pain since. I stopped the meds. I suffered a severe attack last month. My intestines are still severely inflamed but no surgery will be preformed as they do not cut out inflammation. This time the ulcers appeared on my mouth, neck and forehead. Can anyone tell me what happened to the pain in my ileum? Two GI Doctors told me they do not know why there is no pain. My mouth hurt from the ulcers. I am back on all drugs now, Prednison, Imuran and Remicade. Today I feel fine.
Common Sense: Thanks for the answer.
I copied and pasted my two CD questions from here and sent them to info@ccfa.org. I appreciate your help.
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Irritable Bowel Syndrome - March 19, 2009
I would hope this is a health yway thanx! :]
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Gluten Problems - March 19, 2009
Anyone else heard of this and does it work????
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Irritable Bowel Syndrome - March 19, 2009
I have been in agony for the last week, has anyone got any suggestion or remedies
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