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Jlbial Asked October 2019

What to do when Mom is throwing up her food?

My Mom went into an assisted living center about 6 weeks ago. She has a problem with keeping her food down. Since she had moved in, Mom has lost 8 pounds and now weighs 84lbs. She is 92. I tell her to relax and eat slowly. She says she doesn’t like the food and she can’t help that it comes up. I bought her some Boost. Can she survive on 2 of those a day?

newbiewife Oct 2019
You should check to see if she's actully vomiting food that has gone into her stomach or is regurgitating food that has gotten stuck in her esophagus and not entered her stomach. Older people will sometimes have problems with esophageal movement, so the food does not progress down as it should, or with strictures in the esophagus or the muscle where the esophagus meets the stomach that opens to allow food in. It might require a scoping by a gastroenterologistto see what the problem is, but they can do a balloon expansion of the esophagus at the same time if they see stricture. My grandmother had this done in her 90s and my husband has had it done as well.

If she's vomiting food that's gone into her stomach, could it be medication-related? Changed meds, or changed timing of existing meds?

Hope you can get this resolved soon so your poor mom can gain back some weight.

Countrymouse Oct 2019
Has this been reported to your mother's doctor?

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Grandma1954 Oct 2019
Have you discussed this with her doctor?
There could be a medical reason she is vomiting.
How long after she eats does she vomit? And is she alone when this occurs?
A big problem would be Aspiration Pneumonia that can be fatal. As is possibly choking on vomit.
Is she on a soft diet or regular meals? Soft diet might be best until this is figured out.

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