Caring for ALS pts

[virmm1, LPN]

We have a resident who was dxed w/ ALS last Oct. She is already in a w/c and wears O2 at night. She spends her days working jigsaw puzzles.

I want to know if the stages of ALS have any peticular order of sx as it progresses or is it like MS in that sx can vary by pt.

The information I'm finding gives the disease basics but not much else.

Also I would appreciate any suggestions from those of you experienced w/ ALS on what this nurse can do to bring this pt as much joy and happiness as possible since she may not have long to live. Any ideas on what the family needs are of pts w/ this dz.

[suzanne4, RN]

We have a resident who was dxed w/ ALS last Oct. She is already in a w/c and wears O2 at night. She spends her days working jigsaw puzzles.

I want to know if the stages of ALS have any peticular order of sx as it progresses or is it like MS in that sx can vary by pt.

The information I'm finding gives the disease basics but not much else.

Also I would appreciate any suggestions from those of you experienced w/ ALS on what this nurse can do to bring this pt as much joy and happiness as possible since she may not have long to live. Any ideas on what the family needs are of pts w/ this dz.

My grandfather actually died from it back in the 1960s. He was the first diagnosed case of it in Michigan. Each case will present differently. Some will affect speech first, others will have their respiratory dirve affected. Others will lose motor control. It is a paralysis of the lateral columns of the spinal cord and can proceed in any fashion. Of all of the family friends that have had it, as well as others, each case was quite different.

[11:11]

Ive taken care of a three ALS pts. All three were in varying stages so were different. I wasnt able to compare them for this reason.

The main thing to remember is it is a terminal illness as well as debilitating one, so both issues of dying and progressive handicap are present.

Also they their sensation can be very intact even when not able to move so pain can be an issue ie atrophy and neuronal-

HTH

11

[virmm1, LPN]

Thanks for the info.