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My 90 yr old Mom has pneumonia and I'm worried...
Lung Health | Last Active: Jan 23, 2020 | Replies (17)Comment receiving replies
Hi Merry.. Thanks very much for your reply. I very much appreciate it. Unfortunately, my Mom and I don't live near a Mayo facility as we live in CT. There are a number of good facilities in CT, such as Yale New Haven hospital. I have in fact spoken to her about my concerns, and have actually printed out and gone over with her the Diagnosis and Treatment pages from the Mayo Clinic website. She has told me she won't go to an ER unless here doctor recommends that she go. And she feels she would be betraying her doctor if she seeks a second opinion. I am also trying not to upset her. She tends to get upset with even the suggestion that her doctor might not be diagnosing and treating her in the best way possible.
John Q.
Replies to "Hi Merry.. Thanks very much for your reply. I very much appreciate it. Unfortunately, my Mom..."
@jquartic- I understand. I took care of my mom when she had Parkinson's Disease. That generation believed that doctors walked on water. I also live in New England and use MGH. Yale is a great hospital. I had to dial down what I wanted for my mom so that she wouldn't be upset too. It's really a trade-off, isn't it? And so frustrating! I guess it's just a waiting game now. It use to be so easy to talk to doctors without our parents or spouses knowing but that can't be done now. What have you decided to do?
I found this video about the difference between virus and bacterial pneumonia. You brought up and excellent question about telling the difference between the two.. This might help:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eJppC_W_LnQ
Has your mom started to feel better?
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@jquartic, I have a similar situation with my mother as well. It is a fine balance between getting the proper care and not upsetting her. My mom is battling bronchitis, which threatens to become chronic. I'm puzzled how the doctor can determine whether it is bacterial or viral without proper testing. My mom is reluctant to get a second opinion and feels this would challenge him. I'm considering asking her to get a referral to a geriatrician. This way it is not challenging the physician's diagnosis of this issue, but a request for over-arching elderly care. Might that be an option for your mom?