My 93 year old father had a dry cough 5 months ago, which quickly turned into a productive cough. His appetite started to decrease and he started losing weight. After 2-1/5 months he had a chest X-ray which showed pleural effusions in both lungs - so possibility of pneumonia. 5 days of antibiotics and he started feeling much better. He continued to improve over the next 2 months. Suddenly he started feeling weak and coughing again. We had a trip planned and did not tell me about the cough returning and the weakness especially in his legs. We flew to Florida last week and he was extremely weak when we got there - he was having a hard time walking. To shorten this story, it is now day 6 of our trip and all he does is sleep. He hardly eats and told me he has lost over 20 pounds since October
He will not go the the Doctor when we return home. He is so weak I have to help him undress and walk (he now uses a cane). We go home on Tuesday. He will not be able to take care of himself but he refuses to talk about it. I am at a loss !
What is happening is that food/liquids are going into the lungs instead of into the stomach. Thus, the coughing. As others had mentioned, get your Dad to the ER stat. There are tests one can take for aspiration issues, and sometimes physical therapy can help.
My Dad had passed from Aspiration Pneumonia [which was something I never heard of before]. We all though Dad's cough, which he had for many years, was due to sinus problems [post-nasal drip].
Hope your Dad starts feeling better.
Get him to the ER!
Recurring pneumonia is a very real situation, especially when they are only on antibiotics for 5 days with no follow up.
Pneumonia is a very real killer, my 52 year old sister died from it.
Please don't take no for an answer.