Hi,

Thank you all for your suggestions. I really appreciate them!

Debbie, yes, my friend has had several barium swallows and there is evidence of aspiration. Bedside suggestions were made and my friend sent home with no further follow up. I suspect the friend's reflux plays a big part in her problems as well. I'm an OT myself, and try to help...but hard to do so through the computer. LOL

I will definitely let my friend read the suggestions about the continuous nerve blocks, etc. My friend is under the impression that she'll just need a local anesthetic and I've been cringing at that thought, esp since my friend has quite a bit of belly fat and I suspect some "digging around" will be necessary. I'd already made her promise me that she'd contact her pain specialist and tell her of the plans so she could offer suggestions.

My friend is in San Antonio, btw. If anyone knows of a super doc there, please let me know. Travel to see a really great doc is next to impossible due to my friend's severe disability, so she needs to stay local.

Thanks again for all of your help!

4-eyes