Probably the most annoying symptom of this Parkinson’s disease is the drooling. At least to me.
The drooling comes and goes but happens mostly when his medication is worn off. If he has the wriggles he’s not drooling. It annoys me immensely. Maybe because it is something I have absolutely no control over.
I sometimes want to slap him alongside the head and scream at him,” SWALLOW IT! It’s only saliva!” But I stop myself. I know he’s not doing it to annoy me; he cannot help it or control it. When he is somewhat present, here in the moment as opposed to his mind being elsewhere, he will grunt to get my attention to catch the drool before it runs down his chin. Then, when it goes on for too long, he gets annoyed at my constantly wiping away the drool. We can’t win.
I sometimes shrug my shoulders in submission and let it go. It runs down his chin, into/onto his collar, down the front, you all know, a real mess. I have to sit on my hands to keep from grabbing a tissue again and again. It has gotten so bad lately that I found putting a small cereal bowl in his lap, cradled amongst the folds of a long bib, helps to catch some of it. Otherwise, it literally puddles in the bottom of the bib and I have wads of tissues there to absorb it.
I only use bibs that have a waterproof barrier. Sometimes, when the bib in use is soaked on top, I will attach a small washcloth or hand towel on top with clothes pins or clips. This lets it still be able to have the waterproof barrier protect his clothing but also have dry cloth able to absorb.
Because of the need to be able to keep washcloths or towels handy to attach as bibs, even though not waterproof, I have sewn “BIB CLIPS”, alligator clips sewn onto webbing to hold the cloths in place. Clip type clothes pins work in a pinch but look clumsy, sometimes fall off, and annoy him if they touch his neck. These alligator clips are plastic. They work like the clips used in a dentist’s office but are larger and easier to handle. I made the webbing adjustable in a Small and Large, so it fits all sizes, child to heavy adult. These are now on my website.
I keep a set in his carrier on the wheelchair and one in my purse. If we go to a restaurant (a rare treat for both of us), I use it to attach the restaurant napkin or one of the washcloths from home I always carry. I’ve even used them on myself to hold the napkin – I’m always dripping something onto my blouse.
You may find them on my website: www.caregiversaide.com
