Thanks to everyone who answered my plea. I am staying with him this week (family is on a rotation schedule) and I was really concerned by the way this was affecting him emotionally, too. I will see if he will try the seltzer water and we have upped his water intake. He is very reluctant to try anything out of the ordinary unless the doctors suggest it, so here's hoping.

My best to all of you. I may be back to ask more questions...