Pneumonia keeps coming back (stage 4 esophageal cancer)

Several times I woke up at night coughing like crazy. No one told me not to sleep flat. I now keep my bed up at about 5 degrees with one pillow. Some go up to 40 degrees with several pillows. No one told me this until Gary from this group advised it. Very helpful.

I'll assume at stage 4 he has not had an esophagectomy. But still, whether going thru treatments or not... or just due to the solid esophageal tumor (if still substantial or just hanging around)... when he aspirates... HE'LL KNOW IT!! Even if no aspiration of food particles into the lungs, just having an acid reflux episode in the middle of the night certainly grabs your attention! Nasty... and it's going to be awhile before he falls back asleep.

Hospitalization usually follows an aspiration event, to monitor and clear the lungs, and to start a course of antibiotics. Has this happened for him?

But learning to sleep on your back, and elevated at 30 to 45 degrees... very important. And following bedtime prep rules helps too... no eating or drinking at least two hours before bedtime... we want the stomach as empty as possible. Maybe some Tums or Gavisvon at bedtime will help too. Many do this... in addition to their PPI meds.

Thanks for the posts. No he hasn't had an esophagectomy. He sleeps with bed elevated. The pneumonia stents in the hospital is because he gets weak....to the point he can't walk. It took 2 EMS and 2 firefighters to get him out of our house last time.
It's difficult because when Drs listen to his lungs...they don't see anything. Even a regular xray doesn't. It takes a CT to show it.
I was just hoping for some magic answers I guess. Each time it takes a little more out of him.

Praying for relief.

My cousin is suffering from this kind of cancer, and he just got pneumonia and yes it spread to the lung . 😞 I don’t know how to help him , he’s scared and what can I say to comfort him ? I’m scared.

Praying for him, hugs.

@foxynatalia, I'm sorry to hear about your cousin, who is dealing with the added complication of pneumonia. Was he admitted to hospital? How is he doing?

I hear pneumonia is not uncommon among EC patients. I also have EC diagnosed in mid June with adenocarcinoma stage 4 with spread to the spine and minor spots on the liver , and several chest lymph nodes. Having been a long term smoker, I’m grateful that there is no lung or bronchial involvement. Back 10-12 years ago I was having reflux and frequent aspiration episodes during sleep, and had an endoscopy which revealed I had Barrett’s esophagus.the reflux resolved itself and hasn’t occurred in years, even after the onset of EC. This may be because I have been sleeping in a recliner for years. I have long been blessed with a robust immune system and haven’t had a respiratory infection in years- and to this day never caught COVID even though my wife did twice and most of my coworkers did. Being in the middle of chemo and immuno-therapy I’m aware my immune system could be compromised and so I need to keep my distance from anyone who has a cold.
At my last appointment with my pulmonologist, he recommended I get the pneumonia vaccine, and I will ask my oncologist if I should get the vaccine while in the middle of chemo. or not.

My cousin died on 8/14 /24 it was not pneumonia it was fluid that was blocking his lungs from fully breathing. They started off with a chest tube to drain the liquid. He just didn’t get better. This cancer is the worst 🥺

Your post gives my quite the fright. 5 days have passed since getting home from the hospital. Due to hiccups and aspiratingI called my oncologist friday (on way to get the x ray he wants) for medicine to stop the aspiration
He called yesterday to say he sees no infection but much fluid. So that explains why my oxygen saturation at rest is 79-85. He put me on a diuretic and I’m monitoring with pulse oximeter. I’m wondering what is causing the lungs to build up fluid. Flirting with a 5- day hospitalization following any chemo Or immunotherapy session isn’t a comforting thought in light of what happened to your cousin, may God bless his soul.