Chocolate

Dennis has begun throwing up again at night. We are trying to decide if we should move his Nexium dose to later in the day, or keep him from eating for at least an hour before he goes to bed. The latter would be more difficult because there are days he is in bed by 4PM. Today he has a visit with his doctor, so we will have an opportunity to discuss some options. We also know that in the long run, we are the ones who really know Dennis best.

I bring this up because last night he asked me to come to bed to be with him at 6PM. I wasn't ready, and told him I would come at 7 if we could watch something we agreed upon. Then Dennis noticed that hockey was on, and I begged off and plopped myself in front of our other television. Naturally, every few minutes he was calling for me, because he had thrown up, again, and wanted me to clean up his mess.

One time, as I was cleaning up the latest smelly vomit, he asked me for chocolate. Now chocolate is not his friend on so many levels; chocolate makes him drool more, vomit more and he manages to get it all over his face, the sheets and the pillows. Eating it at night makes no sense, what-so-ever.

So what was my response? First laughter, then a solid "NO", and finally the statement, "you can have your chocolate for breakfast!"

Always, growing up, I wanted chocolate in the morning. Mother always said "no, you can have chocolate on Friday evenings only.

Is there some irony in this situation?

Until later,
Ann and Dennis

More on Stomach Issues

Dennis is still trying to figure out all the acid reflux, throwing up and nausea. I thought it was all the same thing, but evidently each symptom is different and distinct.

Yesterday he looked up feeding tube problems on the Internet, and came up with a few solutions that he tried today.

He had the feeding slowed down, but half shutting the valve on the feeder. This was suppose to help with nausea. He also laid down while being fed, and this was suppose to also help with nausea. So when I came home he was in bed being fed. He wasn't nauseous. But as soon as I got him out of bed, he felt the acid reflux hit him.

Tonight we will see about the vomiting. He has an appointment with a GI specialist, but it's a month away. He is completely tired of this, and I can't say that I blame him. I am tired of it, too.

Until later,

Ann and Dennis