Pneumonia -- Grandma .. Worried :(?

Question

I live with my grandparents and my grandma is 76, she has been sick for several days. She has also smoked for 50+ years. She started running a fever of 102, we took her to the hospital, she looks so weak and fragile and when she starts to walk she would get dizzy, they said she had pneumonia but they never said anything about death, which I hope there won't be. They admitted her into the hospital, they said her lungs are horrible and that they are just having her there to observe her and if she's better by the morning she can go home, but I'm worried they just said that not to break any horrible news to us. Can anyone give me any advice or information or what may be going on and if there is hope that she will survive it? Thank you very much in advance. This is a scary situation, for all of us.

I'm not sure if this helps any, since I have seen it in may responses, but she is on constant fluids through an IV right now and they give her a nebulizer treatment every 20 minutes.

Answer 1

If there was any chance your grandma was going to die, the doctors would of told you and she would not be going home, she would be kept in and on antibiotics to beat the pneumonia, also fluids and nebulisers to help her breathe, i know it's hard but she should really try to give up smoking or at least cut down, as this would make her feel more comfortable, try not to worry they really wouldn't send her home if she wasn't ready

Answer 2

If it is simply pneumonia, then antibiotic treatment will take care of it.
The problem is that she is old- so there is no telling what other problems she might have- ranging from a poor heart, bad circulation (especially to the brain- which _might_ have caused the dizziness). Of course being a heavy smoker does not help at all.
Ideally they should first cure the pneumonia, then run a couple of tests on the lungs (spirometry) on the heart (ECG, excercise ECG, heart ultrasound) also a few tests on the kidney and liver functions.
If the problem is only pneumonia, then it can be cured relatively easilly, and no reason why she should not dance on her 100 th birthday.
If there are other problems... depends what they are, and how bad they are.

Answer 3

I understand why you're scared. You seem to care about your grandmother a great deal. If she's not on a ventilator or respirator, that's a good sign that her own body is able to fight it. The doctors will attempt to determine what is causing the pneumonia and treat it accordingly. Even if she goes home, she's still not out of the woods. She needs to be closely monitored to ensure that she's improving and not getting worse. There seems to be alot of hope in this situation--so don't give up. Try to stay positive for her. If she's not in the ICU spend as much time as you can with her to ensure she's been treated properly.

Answer 4

As she has smoked for most of her life, I am sure her lungs are in terrible shape, and I am not surprised she has pnuemonia as smokers are prone to that malady. At 76 years old, the hospital keeping her was appropriate so they could get a start on giving her antibiotics intravenously and boost her hydration status. It sounds like you caught the issue in time since her fever was only 102, had it been higher, I would have been more concerned. If she does as the doctors instruct and gets enough fluids and rest and takes the medications they give her....and of course, stops smoking, she should make a full recovery.

Answer 5

No, doctors don't work that way. If she were dying they would tell her and her family. So, wait and be patient and see how she is in the morning. But you do have to realize that she is elderly and her lungs ARE in bad shape. She isn't going to live forever like that. Every time she gets sick, she is going to get weaker and weaker. They will explain that to her---but she already knows. She knows smoking is bad and she chose not to quit a long time ago. My mother died at 71 from the same thing. Believe me. She is on borrowed time already. You need to come to terms with that.

Answer 6

No one wishes for their grandparents to pass away but sometimes the good Lord above has other plans. But to answer your question as best that i can , if you think she is that weak and the antibiotics do not help within a few days then get her to the emergency room but do not take her there yourself , you could wreck the car and that presents another problem , call the paramedics and have them check out her breathing and heart and pulse rates. Then let them decide how or if she needs to go to the hospital , this is always the safest way.

Answer 7

Your granny is in the right place and it sounds like she's getting good care already. If they do send her home tommorrow....give her lots of TLC (tender loving care) and she'll get past it. Especially if she's feeling lots of love.... and it sounds like there is a lot of it. As for the smoking.... If you can't get her to quit them.... At least take them from her until she's past this crisis. THey will only slow the healing process for her and she doesn't need that. If she needs some help.... get her some lollipops and cut off a straw and let her suck on those temporarily. Who knows, maybe it will lead to her quiting for good. But for right now, she needs to be sucking in good clean air only. (Which will be hard to make her understand....but!....). I'll say a prayer for Granny and will be thinking of her & you. Good luck to ya'll... Brenda

Answer 8

They are giving her fluids, adding medicine and helping to clear the congestion in her lungs. Waiting and uncertainty are draining; all your thoughts of love and caring, help. Take care of you.