A Frustrating, Flowing Fountain 😩
I feel so weak to know how to deal with this new frustrating challenge.
It says on one of the ALS resources sites:
"ALS patients who experience swallowing problems often notice that they seem to salivate more. The fact is, they may not be salivating more, but the saliva is pooling in the mouth because of an inability to swallow it. Excessive saliva can be one of the most frustrating symptoms of ALS to manage."
I couldn't agree more with that last sentence! In the last few months my excess saliva and drooling has been a super frustrating reality! I have a hard time believing that I used to salivate this much as sometimes it feels like my mouth is a mini Niagara Falls! 🥺
It certainly doesn't make me the most desirous to be around people. 😞I don't want to become a total recluse, but how does one manage in public with a perpetual flowing fountain of drool (especially when It's getting harder to wipe it myself)? I didn't sign up for this!
I've tried a few natural remedies and a couple medications, but nothing seems to help. Reclining back almost flat in my chair seems to slow the flow a little, but it's also hard to hang out with others or attend functions in that position. I guess I could keep the suction catheter going in the corner of my mouth all the time, but that might be a little loud and distracting!
I sometimes say that if we could figure out how to collect and market saliva we would be rich! We would welcome any good ideas. Lol 🤣
Even though I laugh and try to keep going, having so much excess saliva is extremely humbling and embarrassing. This challenge seems to necessitate putting aside all pride and dignity.
I've dealt with a fair amount of pride in my life. So, I tell myself that if the Lord can use this humbling, difficult journey to help prepare me and my family to be dead to pride and other besetting sins (as hard as the trial may be), so be it! Heaven is coming and this world is not our home! But sometimes those inner truths are hard to live out in the everyday struggle of wiping drool.
However, I was also encouraged in remembering that Jesus can relate. On the cross He was stripped of all dignity, even his clothes. His arms were nailed so that He couldn't wipe his nose or His drool. He was totally helpless. He knows what I am going through. Totally.
It says in Isaiah 53:3-4 (CSB):
“He was despised and rejected by men, a man of suffering who knew what sickness was. He was like someone people turned away from; he was despised, and we didn’t value him.”
“Yet he himself bore our sicknesses, and he carried our pains.”
Lord, I have no strength of myself to make it through this! As it says in Your Word, thank you for carrying my trials and sickness. Thank you for being my very present Help in trouble (Psalm 46:1). I need you, Lord. I need you to strengthen me to be able to deal with this frustrating, flowing fountain. Thank you that you will!
Try not to worry about it, Shelly. You notice it far more than anyone else. Until I read your blog I had no idea it was a problem for you. All of us are just so glad you are able to come in your wheelchair and be present for church and other occasions. You are a courageous woman!
ReplyDeleteI’m situated in the mission field on a distant continent and have carried you on my heart and in my prayers as the Spirit has reminded me. You have been such an encouragement to me personally and I admire you much, an example of faith that won’t let go.... hang in there. Heaven is coming sooner than we think And later than we wish but it’s coming and we’re told that we will exclaim that heaven is cheap enough and that we will not really be able to recall our trials and tribulations down here.... which blows the mind when what you’re dealing with is so big and threatening to overshadow everything if it wasn’t for Gods grace. I consider you a friend and a sister in Christ, and I hope to meet you one day. God bless and sustain you today. Xx
ReplyDeleteDear friend Shelly, you are and always be a pleasant person to be around. Nothing can change that, not even your "flowing fountain". ❤️ But, I can imagine how hard it is to deal with the swallowing issue. One day, when I was about 6 years, I was eating a banana and talking with some of children of the neighborhood outside of my house. I had given couple bites in my banana when a wasp landed in it. Without noticing it I opened my mouth and gave another bite. In a moment I felt the terrible pain on the inside of my throat. It was the wasp sting. I could not swallow my saliva for couple days. It was such a short time, but was enough to cause a great impression on my mind. But you are dealing with this every day. I loved what you wrote about Jesus knowing everything you are going through. This is the truth! And, he is preparing a place for us where all our difficulties will vanish. "There is a land of pure delight, where bliss eternal reign. Infinite day excludes the night and pleasures banish pain. We’re trav’ling to Immanuel’s land. We soon shall hear the trumpet sound and soon we shall with Jesus reign, and never, never part again.
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