Posted 2/4/19
Did you know the human tongue is a masterpiece of oral engineering? This multi-muscle marvel is the only muscle system that performs its functions without being supported by a corresponding structure or bone. It freewheels at will, moving a bunch more than you realize as you talk, sing, yawn, and whistle…but stays pretty much still while you sleep. Contrary to urban legend, all of the tongue and part of the lips and other parts of the inner mouth share real estate for the 2,000-10,000 taste buds. However, it does seem that parts of tongue do taste certain sensations better than others. The tip, in a cruel irony of creation, both does best for sweets and is most likely to be accidentally chomped while I chew. Mid-tongue seems to do well in the salty realm. Way back in the back, where catcalls fear to trod and the only predator is hot chocolate is home to the “bitter sector”. This wasteland is where Alzheimer’s patient’s pills seem to be drawn to like a cat to the nip! Ahhhh.
Mom had a decent day. No falls, 3 out of 10 anxiety, ate her whole food pyramid…and then it came time for nighttime pills. 🙁 Pam and I have discussed the need to have the staff get used to giving her pills instead of leaning on us to be the big, bad bearer of the bitter. So, I took a shot at it. The nurse did his best, but when a bitter pill hits the right spot of the tongue, problems ensued. Mom yanked all six soggy pellets out of her mouth…and the battle began. 45 minutes later, after trojan horsing these nasty little pharmablobs into various food items only to be found out again and again to be spit them out…I coaxed them down. Sigh. I understand that it is nasty…I do. But her 3-week good day streak was a stake. Missed pills equals missed sleep equals anxiety and exhaustion equals harder to take meds tomorrow…spiraling that I am not fond of.
Thankful tonight for delayed success… and the marvels of the tongue (but do selfishly wish she would forget the bitter buds at pill time)
#EndALZ