Bronchiectasis & Pneumonia

@charisscurry Does your Mom do airway clearance? This might help keep mucus from building up, giving germs a place to grow. Also, depending on her health, pneumonia in older people can come from aspirating liquids, either due to GERD (Reflux) or throat/vocal chord problems. Has she been screened for these issues?

I am current with my pneumonia vaccines and wound up in the hospital due to anemia. And also pneumonia much to my shock after an xray. The doctor did an accelerated treatmet.of antibiotics by giving the iv more often than previously and it was gone by day 3. I am 85 but still working on the anemia.

@dchristi Wonderful that you were cleared of pneumonia in three days on an accelerated treatment plan of IV antibiotics. Now if there were vaccines to treat a few other types of pneumonia. All the best with having your anemia treated!

@sueinmn yes she’s done the swallow test and bronoscopy 3 years ago. The bronoscopy did see food in her lungs. But the swallow test showed the food going down correctly.

@dchristi my Mom received her pneumonia vaccine back in January and I thought that would protect her from getting it. She’s had it twice usually once a year, just not last year.

@charisscurry Based on her bronchoscopy, it seems likely that the cause of her pneumonia could be either aspirating food or reflux then swallowing food. This can also introduce bacteria, leading to a later infection.

The usual best practice for recurrent aspiration pneumonia is Speech or Occupational therapy to address the underlying cause. Also, all food and drink consumed should be done while sitting fully upright and concentrating on eating or drinking.

Perhaps if you and she are able to identify when the pneumonia is starting, the doctor would be willing to prescribe antibiotics to be taken at the onset of illness, along with preventive measures.

@charisscurry if the swallow test showed no issues with swallow, but the bronch showed food in lungs, that suggests GERD. Has your Mom been evaluated for GERD? My GERD workup included an endoscopy and a 24 hr PH test. There are a few ways to do the PH test, so consult a gastroenterologist. Even for those of us with negative testing for GERD it is recommended we practices GERD precautions as there is such a strong connection between GERD and lung disease. Some of these are: sleep with elevated torso (wedge, elevated bed), don’t eat at least 3 hours before bed, small meals. For those with active GERD there are often dietary changes that are recommended as well.