My dad

[ForMyPapa]

Hello, Everyone:

I haven't posted here in a while, but a year ago, my dad who was in his late 70s then had severe pneumonia (ARDS) in the hospital and had been in the ICU for almost 3 months.

I just wanted to share that since then he has been discharged and has been home since last June. In the beginning, he couldn't walk for long, eat normal food, or drink water, but thanks to all the amazing therapy he received at home and due to his resilience and efforts, he is now walking and going to work, practicing golf at a golf range and eats and drinks almost everything (except very sticky mochi). We feel so lucky and grateful.

However, at his last follow-up appointment this week, the doctor said the bottom of his lungs developed fibrosis and now it's like he has interstitial pneumonia and inflation makers are up again, so he has to be back on a higher dosage of steroids. I am just wondering if anyone had persistent pneumonia like this? At the moment, my dad feels good and his oxygen level is like 98 if he is sitting. But he needs a break periodically when walking very fast. When I look up interstitial pneumonia, it says there is no cure and it sounds very scary. He continues to do PT twice a week and takes all the medications his doctor prescribes. Is there anything else I can do to help improve his condition? Anyone's experience and advice will be appreciated.

Thank you!

[BigH63]

Hi. I had bilateral pneumonia amongst at lot if other life threatening conditions ( see my story)

I have been left with fibrosis on both lungs at the bottom. I left hospital in 2023 end of Feb from start if Jan that year. My sars are generally ok but I struggle getting enough oxygen when walking and I have to stop to gain my breath back and energy. So far the only thing is I keep trying and increase my duration slowly. I have a respiratory consultant meeting in March to have a lung function test and see where my infection markers are. I have worn a mask since coming out if hospital when in place where others are, it’s protected my well but obviously it curtail me and my partner from enjoying life.

As for intestinal pneumonia I have no knowledge of that sorry.

Good luck

[Sepsur]

I can only offer my own experience which is a subjective understanding - firstly, symptoms of pneumonia include a cough, difficulty breathing, a high temperature and chest pain - I have had at least 15 bouts of pneumonia since leaving ICU not all of these have been caused by a bacterial infection - although this has been the most common - treatment has included IV antibiotics and oral antibiotics when less severe.

ICU often leaves us immune compromised, I have comorbidities which exaggerate this issue.

One of the most persistent infections was a ‘communal pneumonia’ and an aspergillosis infection - this probably took a year to shift. Obvious issue was that I started to lose weight & couldn’t get rid of a persistent cough ( a cough beyond my usual post ICU cough which happened most times I ate, drank or laughed)

Hospital do not routinely check for any fungal infection which are the route of most community based pneumonia - the elderly and immune deficient are most vulnerable to this.

[FamilyHistorian]

wow he is doing well. As a result of my time in icu I got Pulmonary Fibrosis. Incurable! I came almost 5 years ago and will be 77 in a couple of weeks. I don’t have his exercise regime I used to keep an eye on my O2 levels which were rarely above 90 so I have a norm for me