jnikiel

Don - my Dad has a fantastic pulmonologist who I was lucky enough to talk to last week. He explained that it is due to surgery (my Dad had a pneumonectomy), and another poster was correct that the diaphram moves up into the chest cavity and pushes on the stomach as things are re-arranging, so it can commonly cause stomach acid to leak out to some degree. My Dad does not have heartburn, but the acid reflux manifests in the form of a shallow cough. He's taking Prilosec OTC now...glad to hear yours has cleared up.

Thanks, Cindi -- he doesn't seem hopeless, just discouraged. He doesn't talk about giving up, just that he wants to get better quicker. The more we get him doing everyday activities like he used to (writing checks to pay the bills, watching a football game, keeping notes about his progress), the less depressed he seems to me. He still jokes around in a good way, so hopefully he'll keep improving, though somewhat slowly. Thanks again for replying!

My husband had viral pneumonia all through June, and finally recovered well. Even though it was viral, they still did heavy-duty antibiotics on him, because the viral pneumonia weakens your immune system to bacterial infections. They did three shots three days in a row, then put him on Tequin, then Augmentin. He finally shook it after lots of TLC. Good luck to you - so glad you found a decent doctor!! Sometimes it takes a few tries.

Wow - didn't expect near the replies that you all posted! Thanks a million - you all are fantastic, caring people. I will print out the replies and let Dad read them...that should help him feel better, and give him encouragement that the appetite will come back, as will his strength. We got him off the anti-depressant and I noticed a change for the better almost immediately. I'll confirm tomorrow morning, to see if he had a better night's rest. I will encourage him to get up and around a bit more. The more we engage him in conversation and the daily goings-on, the better he seems. By better, I mean more alert, more active, better sense of humor. He's even cracked me up a couple times today, just like the old Dad! We go see the pulmonologist tomorrow after X-rays yesterday, so I hope he has a good report. Thanks again to you all - you've really improved my outlook! Take care and all the best to y'all - I'll be back! Anybody in Rita's path? Please stay safe. Jerilyn

Hi all - so glad I found this board. I've been looking for days and finally hit it! - Dad was diagnosed with lung cancer in July. - Left pneumonectomy Aug 24, 2005. - Surgeon felt he got all the cancerous growth, though a few suspicious lymph nodes. - Retained fluid, gained 10-20 pounds, so went into hospital again for cathertization, and put on Flowmax. - Catheter removed, back home. Up and down days where he catnaps a lot, but then stays up most of the day...walking, using spirometer. - Appetite was up and down early, but then has been mostly down for a couple weeks now. That's probably the worst immediate problem. No appetite, so doesn't eat much. Doesn't eat much, so very little energy. Very little energy, doesn't feel like eating or exercising. Gotta get him back on track! He is 81, very active before the surgery, walking 18 holes of golf at least twice a week. Now he walks to the bathroom and back and is very winded. Can't do steps yet. There are 5 of us grown kids taking shifts helping out him & my mom, who has relatively minor health problems as well - primarily arthritis, so can walk fine, but can't reach things with her impinged shoulders. Dad was doing most of the care-giving until this came on him. Would love any advice you all have to give, especially about appetite. I saw several posts related to acid reflux - I'll talk to him to see if his appetite symptoms align with that. Thanks very much!

Hi all - this sounds very close to what my Dad is experiencing after a left pneumonectomy. He always liked fine food before the surgery, but most days since he has had what he terms "no appetite". He says he just can't taste food at all, or it tastes bad to him. Certain foods sound good to him, but he tries to eat and there's no taste (or bad taste) and no enjoyment so he is hardly eating anything, which zaps him of energy, and he is discouraged at his slow progress. Doctor prescribed Remerol to stimulate appetite, but that's an anti-depressant (!!) causing a lot of wacky problems for him, though doesn't appear connected to the appetite. Does that sound familiar to those of you with acid reflux? We are looking for the root of the problem so it can be adequately treated, and so far the doctors don't seem to investigate much before they start prescribing. My Dad is 81, but very active before surgery, walking 18 holes of par-3 golf at least twice a week. O2 saturation levels are great, and doctors are impressed with the "numbers". Thanks a million - I'm glad I found you!