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Welcome to my web site where I offer suggestions
and hope for those who are coping with chewing and swallowing
difficulties. Few people recognize the impact of the loss of the ability to eat on
their quality of life. Think about the role that food plays in life,
from a social as well as nutritional standpoint. Try to imagine what
it would be like to smell food and not be able to eat it. What would
it be like to watch other people eat and not be able to join in?
These are the problems that people with dysphagia deal with
constantly.
Sometimes the loss of the ability to chew and swallow is
progressive, as in neurological diseases such as ALS (Lou Gehrig’s Disease)
and
Parkinson’s Disease. Other times
the loss is sudden, as in esophageal and pharyngeal cancers or
stroke; and sometimes the loss is temporary, as in pancreatitis or
dental problems.
When swallowing problems become severe, a feeding tube can be
implanted in the stomach so that
specially-prepared liquid food supplements can be poured directly
into the stomach. This is a relatively simple surgical procedure
that allows for maintenance of health and weight. Some people put
off getting a feeding tube because they mistakenly think the
procedure will prevent them from chewing or swallowing anything. They
don’t realize that the feeding tube merely supplements nutrition
and hydration that the affected person cannot maintain otherwise.
I wrote the Dysphagia Cookbook to help people in all stages of
dysphagia. The recipes in the book are labeled S, G, or P to
indicate soft, ground, or pureed preparation. More importantly, the
book deals with maintaining the important rituals of dining. I
remember someone asking, “Well, can’t the affected person eat baby
food?” Well, yes. But with creative preparation and presentation, a
person can enjoy flavor, color, texture, aroma, variety, and eye
appeal that baby food can’t provide. In addition, creative food
preparation provides the opportunity to maintain joy and dignity for
those whose pleasure in food has been limited by dysphagia.
This site includes recipes from The Dysphagia Cookbook as well as
hints on preparing and using special kitchen equipment to increase
the ease of preparation. The site also serves as a forum for
discussing chewing and swallowing problems and solutions. I have
included educational opportunities as well as links to other
dysphagia sites. I hope this site will stimulate creative thinking
on managing a difficult life problem. |
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