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My father was completely independent until last Monday when his legs became weak and gave out. It turns out the weakness was because he was developing aspiration pneumonia. He has been in the hospital all week and currently can't move his body, just his arms and legs a little. We can't understand most of what he is saying. All of this is from muscle weakness from the infection. I really need to hear some positive stories of people that have regained their independence after a bout with serious pneumonia.
Thank you in advance for taking the time to share positive stories.

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I can give you the time line for recovery from pneumonia for a young woman. When I was 29 I went through a very stressful period. I was wiped out, completely exhausted, so I went to the doctor, he could not find anything wrong beyond a low grade fever. He sent me for labs and I went home.

Two days later I was coughing so hard that I vomited. Off to ER. As soon as the doctor there listened to my chest, he diagnosed pneumonia. I was put on O2 and Ventolin in the Hospital and IV antibiotics. I was sent home with Ventolin and antibiotics and told to rest.

I was diagnosed in mid June and was weak all summer. I had to use the Ventolin to climb the 6 stairs in my split level home. Just getting dressed was exhausting. I coughed so hard that I tore my intercostal muscles, that was excruciating. It took me 6 months to fully regain my strength.

And crazily I worked during this time. I was not contagious and could not afford to take time off. My office was on the second floor of a building and luckily there was a landing 1/2 way up. I had to stop to catch my breath.

Why have I told my story? Because recovery from pneumonia is long and hard, even for young people. It will be that much harder for your dad. If he is determined, he can regain his strength, but it will take a long time and a huge effort. He will have to change his diet to foods he can swallow.

For a senior, we have a very good family friend who is 87, 2 years ago he was hospitalized with pneumonia, we did not think he would make it as he has heart disease too. He was caring for his wife full time. When he went into the hospital, she was brought in too, as she needed 24/7 care. Eventually she was placed in a nursing home and he recovered. No longer having to be a care giver, but being allowed to be a husband again, gave him the fortitude to recover.

As with heart disease, depression can set in, as it feels like you are not making any progress as it is a slow, long hard recovery period.
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My husband caught pneumonia the night after having a triple hearty bypass while in the hospital. They had nurses, respiratory therapists and lung specialist around the clock working closely with him.

He lost his appetite (they gave him ensure to keep his strength). Stayed in the hospital for 21 days. Doing fine now.

God bless your dad.
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How old is your father? What prognosis did his doctor give him? Will he be having PT? I think you need to prepare your mind that his recovery (even a 3/4 one) will be slow if he is of advanced age. Many on this forum have experienced the shock of a sudden decline of a LO. I hope you get helpful answers -- may you gain peace in your heart no matter the pace of recovery or outcome.
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My husband developed aspiration pneumonia in Nov. 2018, and I was told by the ER Dr that I needed to get my family here ASAP, as he wasn't going to make it through the night(his blood pressure dropped to 48/27), which of course I did, and we all said our goodbyes, and kept a vigil all night while they worked on him in ICU. Well, he made it through the night, and eventually went from ICU to the Pulmonary floor of the hospital, where again I was told the prognosis wasn't good, and that my husband probably only had a few more days to live. I opted at that time to take my husband to our local Hospice facility, as I didn't want him to die in a hospital at that point, where he stayed about a week, and was then told by staff there, that because he hadn't died yet, they were having to kick him out(unless I wanted to pay out of pocket an enormous amount of money per day to keep him at their facility), at which time I brought him home, although by this time he was completely bedridden. He has been in a hospital bed in our living room since Dec. 2018, and under Hospice care the entire time, where he was still able to interact with me, and the family.

On Aug.5th 2020, my husband suddenly took a turn for the worse and I was told by Hospice that he would be dead in 3 days. Well, it's now the 31st, and my husband is still hanging on. He hasn't eaten since the 5th, nor drank much, and he's definitely dying this time,(it's just a matter of time), but I am grateful that I have received an additional 21 months from the first time I was told he was dying. I would never have thought with the grim prognosis early on, that almost 2 years later he would be with me, and able to die on his terms. God bless you and keep you.
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MMWilson Sep 2020
Thank you for sharing your story with me.  Your husband is blessed to have you and his family.  God bless your husband, you and your family at this difficult time.
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I am assuming you have spoken to doctors? What have they told you of the prognosis for your Dad. It is difficult for me to imagine that only the pneumonia took a healthy and independent man down so hard, but it CAN do, and if he has been ill only since Monday that is quite honestly no time at all.
My worry here is if something is being missed. How old is your father? Generally Aspiration Pneumonia happens when there is a weak or no swallow reflex, and food is taken not to the stomach, but to the lung instead. A weak swallow as well as the weak gait for the legs could be indicative that there is some stroke activity. I am assuming the doctors believe that there is no evidence of stroke? I don't know about success stories. People do recover, of course from pneumonia, but age makes a huge difference in that likelihood. I think right now keep in close touch as you can with the doctors. They will give you more ideas about what to expect. Pneumonia is very dangerous and can be lethal, and in fact in days when old age and death were more accepted and expected pneumonia was called "The old Person's Friend" in that it would usher one out almost certainly before antibiotics.
I wish you and your Dad good luck. You will know more when two weeks have passed about where this is all going. Dependent on age recovery can be long.
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MMWilson Sep 2020
Thank you for your reply.  My dad is 87.  He was treated for Merkel Cell Carcinoma with radiation, then had physical therapy in 2019.  Then this summer he had shingles.  Both seemed to weaken him but he was still independent.  They have checked for recent stroke and talked about an MRI later to see if he might have had one in the past.  They are also looking at urinary and prostrate issues that may have caused this.  He will be going to a really good skilled nursing facility in Dallas this weekend.  We are very hopeful that he will recover.
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My father had pneumonia repeatedly over a period of 18 years.  He was tough, he had our support, and planned to live to be 100.   He died 6 months short of that goal.

Learn all you can about pneumonia, ask the nurses but better yet the doctors.

Learn all you can about aspiration, dysphagia and raise the issue of a videoscopic swallow test when he's up to it in the hospital, and if d'x'ed with it, ask for a handout on the levels of dysphagia diets.

Create a chart for him to interact with you; create several boxes so you can clearly point to one; add photos with written captions...e.g.,   "water", with a glass; "cold" with a blanket,   "hot", with a fan,....   the idea is for you to just point to something and he can blink his response, or nod.   That prevents him from having to use his muscles and limited strength.

Ask his doctors what his prognosis is, and whether there are any other medical complications to affect it. 

Do you know how he developed aspiration pneumonia, e.g. was he eating meats, drinking a lot of fluids?   Coughing a lot?  Choking?

I think one of the primary issues though is his mental strength.  Is he a fighter?
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MMWilson Sep 2020
Thank you, a lot of good things to think about and to do.  He is still in the hospital.  He did eat meat.  He did not cough a lot until the day before he was sick, seemed to start a cough.  No choking.  He is a fighter and we are hopeful he will recover.  We think he will move to a skilled nursing facility for rehab and speech therapy, etc by Saturday.  That will be hard because we won't be able to be with him 24/7 there.  Hopefully we are confident he understands by then, as the infection is getting better and he is able to talk a little now.  Thanks again for your reply, I really appreciate it.
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My 97 year old mother had aspiration pneumonia in the past and she pulled through just fine, we were so worried, she was hospitalized for 4 days with a UTI as well, doctors gave her IV Lasix. Lungs sounds were much better after a few doses and O2 therapy. Very scary situation. My mother is on pureed foods with honey consistency liquids which lowers her risk with safety protocol. An infection from a UTI, and pneumonia plus the hospital stay all play a role in body weakness. The doctors usually order a PT consult and she goes home with VNA, OT, and PT which helps her get back quickly to baseline. The hospital did a swallow evaluation, which showed a swallow delay. Met with a nutritionist and speech therapy which was quite helpful. Hope your dad continues to do well and recovers quickly.
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