Pneumonia - on antibiotics and pain pills and still having trouble breathing and!
Question: My mom has pneumonia - they think. Been bad the last 2 weeks. Her doctor put her on a 5 day antibiotic and a puffer but she didn't get any better. Went back to the hospital and they just think it's COPD, like her doctor. Went back to the hospital, different doctor. Thinks it's pneumonia. Gave her 10 days of antibiotics (today day 4), pain pills (will be finished tonight), and a puffer. They are all helping but the pain returns and she is still having trouble breathing. Like she is catching her breathe all the time. I rub her back with a rub, which helps a bit. Any ideas? When will the antibiotics start working? She is coughing up some of the mucus. He thinks she has pulled all the ligaments in her chest from all the coughing. It's been ongoing since mid October but really bad the last 2 weeks. Any ideas? Should I be taking her back to the hospital? or let the antibiotics try and do their job.(10 days).
Help! Concerned daughter.
Answers: My mom has pneumonia - they think. Been bad the last 2 weeks. Her doctor put her on a 5 day antibiotic and a puffer but she didn't get any better. Went back to the hospital and they just think it's COPD, like her doctor. Went back to the hospital, different doctor. Thinks it's pneumonia. Gave her 10 days of antibiotics (today day 4), pain pills (will be finished tonight), and a puffer. They are all helping but the pain returns and she is still having trouble breathing. Like she is catching her breathe all the time. I rub her back with a rub, which helps a bit. Any ideas? When will the antibiotics start working? She is coughing up some of the mucus. He thinks she has pulled all the ligaments in her chest from all the coughing. It's been ongoing since mid October but really bad the last 2 weeks. Any ideas? Should I be taking her back to the hospital? or let the antibiotics try and do their job.(10 days).
Help! Concerned daughter.
One thing in treating the elderly is consistancy....If she is seeing different doctors there can be a breakdown in communication...
One thing that may give her some relief at the moment is to prop her into almost a sitting position...It will relieve some of the stress on her chest....
I wish there was more I could tell you other than get her to the ER if it continues to worsen....
I will say a prayer for her...
Peace,
I would take her back or at least call the doc direct
dont mess around with that stuff it can be deadly so go to doc ASAP
Find a good pulmonary DR. She needs help asap, before she can't breathe, have they checked her heart? copd is likely. And antibiotic's don't clear that up, its a disease. She needs oxygen if she is struggling to breathe. And rubbing her shouldn't help her breathe. Getting the gunk out help...sounds like u need new Dr. and a different hospital.
Alot of sleep and alot of water, i know its ruff but the worst should be about over...
Does she have viral or bacterial pneumonia? How about bronchitis or asthma. I do not know if you live a larger city with large hospitals, or a small town with small community hospital. In my opinion, she needs a second opinion, in a University based larger hospital; preferably with a full staff of internist and most importantly a doctor who is a respiratory specialist. Good luck, I am an asthmatic, who has in the past had several bouts of pneumonia and bronchitis before I was finally diagnosed with asthma.
TELL THEM TO CHECK FOR PLURASY....fluid around the lungs, inside the plural cavity.
Hi, does your Mother have Heart trouble?, l only ask because Cold Weather- makes it worse. l am in Spain, got a bad chest ,problems breathing, l am on antibiotics, but sound like you are saying your Mother does- My Doctor said- Cold weather, brings on Asthma, and Angina, together with the Bad chest, l could have fluid in my lungs, my ankles have been swelling. , maybe she is the same and that is causing the pain in her chest?. I don't know babe???. The Scan will tell you more. l have been on antibiotics 3 days too, so they are barely working yet, l think they work more once you have finished the course. Hope that helped some what?. Love Jo xx
Hi sweetie I would take her back and be firm hugs
I'm somewhat of an EXPERT on this (I suffer Asthma COPD, and Chronic Bronchitis for the last 7 years. According to what you are describing I would say it sounds more like COPD than pneumonia. The dry coughing, Ask the pharmacist if she cna have something like Mucinex (you'll need to have a list of ALL the meds she's taking) To lossen the phlegm, If not then try the old vicks vaporizer, and the crap you put in with the water. If ya need anything else Contact me.