Does anyone else have this???? - Alzheimer's Disease & Dementia Message Board

mrsg1202 · 08-22-2006, 08:51 AM

My dad is 88 years old and has dementia. I don't think he has AD because he does remember all of us and knows who each of us is, but he can't remember 5 minutes ago. One of the things he does now is burp continuously. We have brought him to all types of Drs. and nothing is wrong physically. Now I think it may be nerves. Has anyone else out there experienced this problem and if you did, what did you do about it? Thank you.

Martha H · 08-22-2006, 09:46 AM

Hello - Alzheimer's is just one of the many types of dementia. My Mom has 'old age dementia' but to all intents and purposes it is exactly the same as Azheimer's disease, she is following the list of 7 Stages you will find at the top of this Board. I would say she is in stage 6 or nearly there.

Burping is one of thos reflexes we all try to control in public - and a dementia patient doesn't have those inhibitions any more. It can also come from swallowing air while eating, drinking fizzy drinks, talking and eating at the same time, eating certain foods. I don't think you can do anything to have him try to be more discrete about it, but maybe reducing certain foods or drinks will help.

Are you taking care of him at home? That is a hard thing to do. I took care of my Mom for 5 years and it was very very stressful. Now she is in a good nursing home and quite happy there.

Good luck!

Martha

LuvMyLilDoggie · 08-22-2006, 10:07 AM

Does he have pain in his chest? I had my dad to the ER a couple of times due to chest pain which lead to constant burping. After the second trip to the ER, it was determined that dad had severe acid reflux. Since dad was unable to tell us exactly where his pain was because of his AD, we had to look for signs like if he was touching or rubbing his chest or saying his stomach hurt. Only then would he admit that something was wrong.

My grandfather had AD. The last time he was admitted to the hospital, the doctor asked us when was the last time he had a heart attack. We all told the doctor that he never had one. The doctor told us that he had several, at least 4 or 5. None of the family ever knew. And we were all his caretaker at one point or another. So persons with dementia can suffer pain or discomfort and no one around them know it.

This is not to scare you, just to let you know that this can happen.

AD is just one form of dementia. For years my dad could tell you all of our names but couldn't dial the telephone or remember that he had let the dog out 10 minutes ago. And then he forgot what month it was (on one test, when asked what month it was, he said July. It was October). Now he is starting to forget our names so his AD is getting worse. He's forgotten how many children he has. He is 80 years old. He was diagnosed about 3 years ago. He's had it for more than 10 years.

I would say watch your dad closely. Often, body language speaks louder than words. If he's clutching or rubbing his chest or if he's wincing, get him to the doctor. Acid reflux could be causing the burping.

Or he could be swallowing too much air with his food.

Love, Barb

BarbaraH · 08-22-2006, 12:10 PM

Hi -

Another possible cause of burping is gallbladder trouble. That can simmer without much distress and only become painful when it occasionally flares up.

Your father's short term memory problems could signal a circulatory blockage so his brain gets too little circulation, a stroke, or just one of the old age dementias, like AD. At his age, none of those medical problems would be surprising. I'd also suggest you read the 7 Stages of Alzheimer's sticky and see if anything is familiar to you from your grandfather's behavior. If so, copy and print the information on that sticky, highlight all you've observed in your grandfather, and take that to show his doctor. My mother's doctor had care for her for about 35 years, yet could not/would not acknowledge she had memory problems and maybe AD until I took him the list and insisted he read what I brought. I told the doctor that according to that list, my mother was already at stage 2 to 3, so I needed to know what was likely happening to her. Only then did the doctor say AD. It was helpful to me so I'd have an idea what to expect.

Hope someone in the family has your father's DPOA (durable Power of Attorney) already so can make financial, business, and medical decisions for him.

Sorry you need to be here, but you're certainly not alone.

Wishing you well - Barbara

cyt · 08-22-2006, 01:29 PM

Hi, yes, my FIL was having that problem along with passing gas. I got him some Gas-X and it seemed to help. Good Luck! C