In addition to the thickeners, some of these companies also carry pre-thickened liquids and other foods designed for safer and easier swallowing. SimplyThick is a good choice if you are diabetic.
• Thick-it & Thick-it 2 • www. thickit. com
• ThickenUp • www. nestlehealthscience. us / brands / Resource / home
• SimplyThick • www. simplythick. com
• Thick & Easy • www. hormelhealthlabs. com / brand / thick-easy /
Cookbook Suggestions
Below are some readily available cookbooks with emphasis on swallowing difficulties:
• Achilles E & Levine T. The Dysphagia Cookbook. 2003. Cumberland House Publishing.
• Best J. Down Easy: A Cookbook for Those with Swallowing Difficulties. 2012. JudyBestCookx.
• Larson J. Preparing Puree Meals: Comprehensive Guide and Puree Recipe Book for People with Swallowing Difficulty. 2017. CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform.
• Mercer SL & Grachuk A. Safe Swallowing with Dysphagia: A Puree Cookbook for Dysphagia- Related Lifestyles. 2015. CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform.
• Weihofen D, Robbins J, Sullivan P. Easy to Swallow, Easy to Chew Cookbook: Over 150 Tasty and Nutritious Recipes for People Who Have Difficulty Swallowing. 2002. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
• Wilson JR & Piper MA. I Can’ t Chew Cookbook: Delicious Soft Diet Recipes for People with Chewing, Swallowing, and Dry-Mouth Disorders. 2003. Hunter House, Inc.
• Wolff D. Essential Puree – The A to Z Guidebook with 67 Pureed Recipes for the Dysphagia Diet. 2016. Gourmet Puree LLC.
• Woodruff S & Gilbert-Henderson L. Soft Foods for Easier Eating Cookbook: Recipes for People Who Have Chewing and Swallowing Difficulties. 2007. Square One Publishers.
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Alternative Nutrition: What do I need to know?
All or most of nutrition and hydration can be provided in liquid form via a feeding gastrostomy tube. A feeding tube may be indicated if there is evidence of recurrent aspiration pneumonia, greatly increased duration of mealtimes, progressive weight loss, or dehydration— despite efforts to optimize feeding, trouble swallowing coexisting with depressed alertness, or clinical evidence of frequent aspiration or significant silent aspiration. Little is known of the role, timing, and benefits of tube feeding in PSP, CBD, and MSA, particularly in people with advanced disease. Since aging and nutritional deficiencies may severely compromise a person’ s potential to confront PSP, CBD, and MSA, it is unclear whether early and aggressive nutritional therapy may delay its progression. Feeding tube placement may be indicated if the swallowing impairment far outweighs other aspects of the disease. Placement of a feeding tube does not eliminate the potential for aspiration pneumonia, as gastric contents and saliva can still be aspirated. Additionally, for enjoyment purposes, people with a feeding tube may continue to eat and / or drink.
What is a feeding tube?
A feeding tube is a soft plastic tube that is inserted into the gastrointestinal( GI) tract to provide an alternate route for nutrition, liquids, and medications.
Feeding tubes may be inserted through the nasal passageway for short-term use( nasogastric / NG tube). But for those who require long-term use, the tube is placed directly into the stomach through the abdominal wall. Although usually placed in the stomach, the tube can alternatively be inserted further down in the digestive tract— in the jejunum. The type of tube and location of placement is determined by the physician and other medical considerations. The tube can either be placed surgically with a gastrostomy tube( G-tube)