elderly client rolling tongue/coughing

[lilgecko29]

Hello, 1st time posting, I just started working with a patient that does not speak and is also receiving Hospice care. Lately he has started rolling or twisting his tongue and coughing repeatedly. I thought it could be medicine, which is grind ed up and put into smoothie and got a larger piece stuck, but he is still doing this, tried moisting mouth and massaging, is this something normal in end of life or could this be an issue?

[toomuchbaloney]

Hello, 1st time posting, I just started working with a patient that does not speak and is also receiving Hospice care. Lately he has started rolling or twisting his tongue and coughing repeatedly. I thought it could be medicine, which is grind ed up and put into smoothie and got a larger piece stuck, but he is still doing this, tried moisting mouth and massaging, is this something normal in end of life or could this be an issue?

It could be dx related too.

[roser13, ASN, RN]

Do you have fellow nurses to approach/consult with this issue? An online forum really should not give answers specific to direct patient care. Not to mention approaching the MD regarding end of life behavioral expectations?

I would hate hate like hell to think that a loved one of mine was being cared for on the basis of an online forum concensus

[vintagemother, BSN, CNA, LVN, RN]

Tongue rolling can be a side effect from psychotropic meds. We assess our Pts for this and other signs of psych med adverse effects upon admission and q6 months afterwards.

https://www.google.com/search?q=tongue+rolling+medication+side+effect&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&hl=en&client=safari

I googled in an attempt to find a good online resource about the link between tongue rolling and several reputable sources popped up, but they have to do with the meds my Pts are commonly on such as haldol and olanzapine. Not sure if your clients are in psych meds, but you may want to research their meds in your drug book to find out if they are linked to this.