@floridahoo
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Jim Cowgill replied to the topic EXCESS MUCUS in the forum Living With ALS 5 months, 3 weeks ago
I sympathize with you. I think we all go through that phase. I tried Botox shots but they didn’t work for me. Scopolamine patches have been the most effective treatment for me. I also take Glucopyrrolate. At my last clinic visit, sage tea was recommended to reduce secretions. You will have to do trial and error to see what works for you. Rest…[Read more]
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Jim Cowgill started the topic Augmented Reality Can Help Communication in the forum Living With ALS 5 months, 4 weeks ago
Communication is one of the biggest challenges for pALS (persons with ALS). This impediment is further exacerbated if you are male and naturally lack communication and listening skills. Don’t feel guilty, my knuckle dragging brethren, science has proven that our y chromosome essentially blocks any ability to maintain any coherent conversation. F…[Read more]
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Jim Cowgill replied to the topic A cure and hope for ALS (also wanting to know about treating excess saliva) in the forum A Forum for ALS Caregivers 8 months, 2 weeks ago
I’ve tried many things for excess saliva including Botox injections. Finally, I was prescribed Scopolamine patches. They work great. I don’t know why doctors are not familiar with it.
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Jim Cowgill replied to the topic Tracheotomy in the forum Living With ALS 1 year, 1 month ago
I was bulbar onset, so I already had a feeding tube and was unable to speak. Prior to surgery, I could walk with great difficulty with a rollator. When I was in the hospital, I got an infection and was bedridden for several days. I was unable to walk after that.
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Jim Cowgill replied to the topic Tracheotomy in the forum Living With ALS 1 year, 1 month ago
Hi Sonsu. I pay $18 an hour for a CNA. Both of my nurses and wife had no prior ventilator experience. I am fortunate to have a robust long term disability policy through my former employer. Health insurance didn’t pay for nursing.
When I was discharged from the hospital, I went on hospice at my house. It was helpful to train my nurses and they…[Read more]
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Jim Cowgill replied to the topic Tracheotomy in the forum Living With ALS 1 year, 1 month ago
For me, life after the tracheostomy is so much better than right before. Sit down and discuss with your partner because it will be more work for them which they will probably gladly take on. I am fortunate to have a day and night nurse, but my wife covers weekend days and a couple hours weekdays. The first several days post surgery aren’t pleasant…[Read more]
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Jim Cowgill replied to the topic Calling all forum members with an ALS-related blog in the forum Living With ALS 1 year, 5 months ago
Better Living With ALS – the lighter side of ALS
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Amanda and
Jim Cowgill are now friends 1 year, 7 months ago
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Jim Cowgill became a registered member 1 year, 7 months ago
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Hello Jim,
Welcome to the forum! I am one of the forum moderators and a person living with ALS: I was diagnosed in 2010.
If there is anything specific you would like to see discussed on the forum, feel free to post a new topic in any of our forums or jump in on an existing topic. You can also search for past topics or discussions by typing a…[Read more]
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Hello Jim, and welcome to the ALS forum. I’m Amanda, one of the co-moderators of the forum. We are happy you have joined our online community. You will find that the ALS forum is made up of people with different associations with ALS. My family has an extensive history of ALS and we know that we have a genetic mutation in the SOD1 gene. I lost m…[Read more]
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