Pneumonia is an infection in the lungs - it can be caused by a virus or by bacteria. There is also a third type of pneumonia that is caused by fungi. Because of the infection, fluid (pus and mucus) collects in the alveoli (air sacs) and that is why people associate pneumonia with having fluid in the lungs. With the infection and the fluid, the linings of the alveoli swell and become less elastic, making it harder for the oxygen to get through.
Most pneumonias are caused by a virus. These types of pneumonia cannot be treated with antibiotics. Antibiotics will not kill viruses, nor will they shorten the length of time you are sick. It can be frustrating to find out that you have pneumonia and your doctor not give you anything, but that is how it works with viral pneumonia, unfortunately. Viral pneumonias are, however, usually the less serious of them all.
Bacterial pneumonia is the type that is treated by antibiotics. Fungal pneumonia is treated with anti-fungals.
You can also get pneumonia called aspiration pneumonia. This happens when someone inhales a liquid, food, or chemicals. Many elderly who cannot swallow properly, as well as people who have had strokes, can develop this type of pneumonia easily.
The symptoms of pneumonia can include:
- laboured breathing
- rapid breathing
- painful breathing
- coughing
- fever, chills
So, can someone die from pneumonia? We heard in the news that actor and comedian Bernie Mac died of complications from pneumonia. He was only 50 years old. Most deaths from pneumonia are among the elderly or people with chronic illnesses. Bernie Mac fell into that second category. Apparently, he had sarcoidosis, which made him more vulnerable to illnesses like pneumonia.
When someone dies from "complications of pneumonia," they have died from sepsis, which is the body's toxic response to infections, like pneumonia. In the United States alone, sepsis kills one person every two minutes. For more information, visit SepsisAlliance.org or go directly to their page on pneumonia: Sepsis and Pneumonia.
Can pneumonia be prevented? In some cases, yes. When a person has undergone a general anesthetic, often they can't understand and don't like it when their nurses are getting them out of bed just hours after surgery, if it's possible. That's because people who don't move around enough and have had anesthetic can develop pneumonia. The same thing happens if you have a cold. Even though you don't feel like moving around, you should. If an elderly person chokes easily on food, he or she needs to be able to take their time to eat and not be rushed, which ill increase the chances of aspirating food or liquid. In terms of viruses, high risk groups are being encouraged to get vaccinated against certain types of pneumonia. Vaccination doesn't eliminate the risk of developing it, but vaccines do reduce the possibility.
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56 comments:
Wow, of all the things I worry about, pneumonia was never one of them!
Sheesh, who knew?
I believe Bernie Mac died indirectly from sarcoidosis, a conditiion I also suffer from. Sarcoidosis is a very poorly understood immune disease that weakens the body's immune response, can appear anywhere with the body but frequently affect the lungs. Patients, such as Bernie Mac, are often given prednisone to paliate the myriad symptoms of the disease. Unfortunately, prednisone also further weaken the immune system and the patient can easily contract infections such as pneumonia, which I also contracted among many other infections.
This pretty much answered all my questions. My mom is in the hospital right now with pneumonia. She has it really bad. She also has bad asthma, COPD alon with many other conditions.
Our household was shocked today when someone suddenly died. Your
blog about pneumonia was very helpful. THis is what we think happened. It started with a sore throat, then a lot of coughing and also chills. Has we understood what was happening we would have rushed him to the Hospital. We feel terible that we didn't know how sick he really was.
Omg! I feel so bad about that! My friend just died and every one says that this is why she died.
My 91yr old father is in the hospital right now suffering from pneumonia. He can barely breathe or eat, your information here has helped me understand what is going on with him. Thank you.
I am very pleased that this information is helpful. It makes writing this blog very worthwhile. Thank you for leaving your comments.
My brother just passed from aspirating pneumonia. He had special needs and was 45. He had pneumonia 3 times in the last 6 months and this time he didn't make it I can't help wonder if there was any way for him to recover from this?
I'm sorry to hear about your brother. Sadly, once pneumonia develops into sepsis, the chances of surviving drop with time.
An old friend of mine broke her rib anthem doctor said that if she doesnt do the breathing excersises it could cause her lungs to colaps and then she could get pneumonia and possibly die is all that true?
That's a good question and it's kind of true, but not quite. She needs to do breathing exercises to expand the lungs as much as possible because if she doesn't mucus or fluid can collect in the lungs. This could become infected, causing pneumonia. So, it's that the lungs will collapse but you want the lungs to be as effective as possible.
Also, yes, it is possible to die from pneumonia - the pneumonia can cause sepsis, which is what can cause death.
My brother just died from pneumonia. He got sick with what he thought was the flu and died a few days later. He was in his early 40's. We had no idea he was that sick but unfortunately he lived far away from us so we couldn't easily get to him to check on him. It has been a real shock and I'll grieve for him for the rest of my life. It doesn't seem possible that pneumonia could kill someone so quickly but my brother is proof that it can. Please, everyone, take care of yourselves and take flu like symptoms seriously.....it can easily turn into something worse.
My dad died 2 days ago. The coroner has said it was pneumonia - but he was in hospital with bilateral pneumonia in December and had his lungs drained etc. When he went home a week before Xmas he was put on oxygen 24 hours a day and we were eventually told it would take 8 weeks for him to recover so thought he would mend. My brother saw him at lunchtime and I spoke to him the evening before he died. He was about himself something to eat so had not lost his apetite. He spoke to others on the phone too. We knew he was not feeling great but had no idea he could die so suddenly. I know this is silly but I just need to know what he may have experienced all on his own that night. It is unbearable to think he was on his own; I so would have wanted to be there for him. He was about to have one of those buzzer alarms fitted so he could get help at night but it was too late. I wonder if he chose not to ring us or just couldn't. Would he have been struggling and panicking or would he have lost consciousness and died in his sleep? He was found by a carer who had started going in each morning since his return from hospital and a lovely 10 day stint with us over the festive season. How badly may he have suffered?
I'm very sorry to hear about your father. Your thoughts about what his last hours were like are perfectly normal. We all seem to wonder. However, I'm afraid I can't help you as I really don't know. It's entirely possible that he went to sleep and just didn't wake up. That happens very often and if he wasn't uncomfortable beforehand that you know about, it sounds likely.
I'm sorry. I wish I could be more helpful.
My great grandfather passed of what is referred to as three day pneumonia. He was healthy but worked on the lawn during a light rain. He died three days later. I offer my condolences to all here who's loved one passed. My sister lost two coworkers within 2 weeks from pneumonia. You don't realize how grave this illness can be until it's too late.
My son died in march...... went to 2 drs and to er 3 times with complaints of chest and back pain...sent away each time...only 1 xray done.informed us there was nothing to worry. about..no meds..no breathing treatments... his illness was not taken seriously by any of the medical staff we saw..I am a devasted and heartbroken mother....my son had illness that could have been treated at home with proper diagnosis. To those of you reading this..don't stop at a 2nd opinion..get a10th medical opinion if that what it takes.
Hi
My dad passed away today of Pneumonia. Unfortunately he died before anyone made it to the hospital.
My mum died in the Same hospital 4 years ago
I don't think he suffered - We were told that he went in his sleep.
It all started with a UTI 2 months ago..
last week he was normal " swearing and wanting to go home "
Today he has gone and weighed no more that a few stone
I miss him ..
Was good to read your blog..it helped
Ray
Basildon (UK)
My sister passed away in her sleep in March, 2014. She was a young 55. She was admitted to the hospital initially with bronchitis, was released and within 4 to 5 days was readmitted with pneumonia. There was talk of it being staph pneumonia, which was changed by the hospital. She was only in the hospital 5 or 6 days, sent home and passed away in her sleep no more than 5 days later. My heart is broken. I talked to her the night before she passed and she told me she may have to go back in as she was not feeling well. I begged her to go back that night, but she didn't go. I will always wonder if she picked up the staph in the hospital when she went in with bronchitis, but we will never know. I miss her more than words can say, she was so special to me. Heaven has a new angel and I know that is where she is. I just wish she had gone back, maybe she would still be with us. I don't think I will ever get over this. My heart is broken.
I'm so sorry.
My wife has had Aspiration pneumonia 6 times now since may. She just got out of the hosp a few days ago. Of those 6 times, she was hospitalized 3 with this stay being her longest yet. Her lung doc has mentioned End Stage this time. She has no stomach but does have this pouch. She had gastric bypass back in 1985. Weird thing about all of this is we both quit smoking over 2 years ago. Just frustrated I guess and the thought of losing her is tearing me apart. She is just 54.Thanks for letting post here
Marjike...I think your name is beautiful!!! I also thank you for all this information. As I lay in bed with bacterial pneumonia, I am trying to take it easy, drink my fluids, take my medicine and not rush myself to get better. I can see that this can take time. I am 41-years-old and usually in GREAT health, but this has been kicking my butt. I can get up and walk around for maybe 5 minutes at a time, then it's back to bed to rest. I am usually very athletic and active, so this is truly a test for me to just 'be still' and patient in getting better. I am also a medical professional myself, so it is helpful for me to see how my patients must feel sometimes. Thank you for the wonderful information on this page. I am also so VERY sorry for those of you who have suffered loss. This might make some of you feel better...I can tell you that while I have been sick, I saw some of my dead relatives in what was like a dream (but also, NOT like a dream...seemed very real). This was a night my husband thought they had lost me. While I was "dreaming," it was VERY peaceful. I feel like those who died...THEY felt peaceful, too. I don't believe they suffered. May your heavy hearts heal soon, and may the Lord richly bless you.
My husband was diagnosed with Stage IV Malignant Melanoma in February 2011 and was given 6-9 months. He had a few hospitalizations, a stay in rehab, and then we had home care come into the house while I was at work. We were so proud of him, his strength, and progress. Just after Christmas, he wasn't sounding (respiratory) so good and I kept telling his visiting nurse and doctors that I thought he had pneumonia. They all ignored me or said, "Well, you know, he does have cancer." In mid-January 2012, he woke up on a Saturday morning (day after he had a blood transfusion) at 2:30am saying he couldn't breathe. The ambulance took him to the hospital for what we thought would be just another hospitalization. Diagnosis? Pneumonia. Then on Sunday, he threw a blood clot to his lungs and coded. They brought him back and transferred him to the critical care unit. He was there a few days, had a feeding tube placed (he was eating on his own before) and a stent of some sort. I never left his side the whole time he was in the CCU. Thursday morning we were talking, joking, he was watching TV, people were visiting him. At 10:30am, he made a joke, I said I love you, and he replied I love you. At 12 noon, he had passed away. How can someone be talking and joking and then less than 2 hours later, be dead? I'm still racking my brain on this 31.5 months later. I just don't understand. Maybe you can shed some light on this? Thank you very much.
Hello MH, thank you for reading my blog post and leaving a comment. i'm so sorry to read about your husband.
When I was working with patients, I did -sadly - see some die very quickly. THey were seemingly fine one moment and then gone within hours, sometimes without any indication that this was going to happen.
I can't comment on what happened in your husband's case because I don't know his history, nor do I have his records or any observations of my own. All I can say is that it does happen and it is so very shocking for the family when it does.
I'm sorry.
My step father was just diagnosed with healthcare associated pneumonia. He had bypass surgery in April 2014 and to make a long story short had 2 more surgeries between May 25 and July 25. He was in the hospital, nursing home, long term acute care facility and then rehab from May 25 through Oct. 8. He was sent home on IV antibiotics and a drain in his chest and diagnosed with sternal osteomyelitis. Now the last two weeks he has been hospitalized twice. The first time for SOB and crackly lungs. He went home on Levaquin and Daptomycin (which he has been on since about December 20) He was on Vacomycin from October 6 - December 12 but his kidney (he only has one) couldn't handle it anymore. Then after being home for about 10 hours he called because he had fallen and couldn't get up. When I got there he looked horrible! I checked his blood pressure and it was 60/43 so I called the ambulance. My main reason is he doctors seem extremely concerned and have asked me if he has talked about quitting treatment. He is 67 years old and also has COPD. They are now trying Miripin with Vancomycin for 2-3 weeks. The doc said if this doesn't work we are in trouble. I didn't want to ask what he meant by this in front of my dad. I realize he is very sick but would like some insight on this "healthcare pneumonia" and the severity of it. Should I be spending as much time as possible with him as this could very well be the end My brother and I administer the meds 3x day and take care of his 2 drains and picc line. But should I be preparing myself this could end badly?
Wow- your dad has gone through a lot. Of course, I can't say for sure but it sounds to me like he has sepsis: infection, pneumonia, low blood pressure.
I've seen the sickest of people pull through and those who I expected to be fine, deteriorate very quickly, so it really is impossible to say what may happen here. But, if I were in your shoes, I would assume the worst and hope for the best. I know that this isn't much help and I do wish I could offer something more concrete. I'm sorry.
I am 67 year old male, in excellent health and very active when I got a cold which went into my chest and couldn't breathe. First trip to hospital by ambulance ER sent me home. Second trip 3 days later was admitted with very bad bilateral bacterial pneumonia. Lost 18 pounds in one week, given antiobotics intravenously for 10 days and sent home. Have been home for 2 weeks, regaining weight, still weak but can walk farther every day. Last day in hospital blood pressure dropped from 125/82 to 98/63.
Pulse at 55
Why did it drop so suddenly? Doctor joked about having Bp of baby. BP still at 110/65.
Lungs still have fluid and coughing green stuff.
Should I demand to see specialist or will this just take time?
Hi Larry - I really can't give you advice as to whether or not you should seek further care or wait; that would not be fair to you since I don't know you or your medical history.
That being said, I always suggest that if someone is concerned about their health, it is best to be safe than sorry. If you are concerned enough to ask for advice, perhaps this means you should push for more assessments.
Thank you for writing this. I just found out that my 66 year old brother died in his sleep from pneumonia. He had been coughing and I told him to go to the doctor but he never did. I live 1500 miles away from him and couldn't check on him, I feel so guilty.
Please don't feel guilty. We can't make our siblings do things they choose not to do. I'm so sorry that this happened.
I am so glad I found your blog. My 76 year old mother died a few months ago (May 2, 2015). The cause of death listed on her death certificate - pneumonia. I am having a terrible time accepting this and beat myself up over it every day. She lived with me due to having dementia. About 18 hours before she passed away she ate a huge supper (3 helpings) and later was outside chasing her kitty around in the yard. During the night she told me she couldn't sleep and was burping a lot. I didn't think much of it due to those 3 helpings at supper having a lot of green peppers and onions. In the morning she told me the same thing - she didn't sleep much and was gassy. I asked her if she was in any pain and she replied "no". Just tired and uncomfortable. I gave her her morning meds, gave her a glass of water and told her to go back to bed. Soon thereafter she began coughing. I gave her some more water and then some cough syrup. I also checked to see if she had a fever; which she did not. She also was prone to panic attacks and it seemed to me she was having one so I had her breathe in through her nose and out through her mouth with me several times. This seemed to calm her down and help somewhat. I had to leave for a business appointment for about an hour and a half (she could be left alone for short periods of time with no problem) and told told her if she was still not feeling up to par I would take her to the walk-in clinic when I got back. She was ready to go when I got home and told me she was feeling very weak and out of breath. She walked to the car with my help and my boyfriend drove us to the clinic at 11:15 am. As soon as we arrived she began to throw up a small amount of pinkish phlegm. The nurse took her vitals - no fever, blood pressure was 110/60 but her pulse and respirations were way off and her blood oxygen level was crazy low. They whisked her into ER and she was dead by 2:15. How can someone go from eating a huge supper and running around the yard to dying from pneumonia within about 18 hours? What did I miss? I had her to the doctor less than a month earlier for a check-up. She was up to date on her pneumonia vaccination. Earlier that week I had her to her optometrist on Tuesday, a home health care aide visited her on Wednesday, and I took her to the dentist on Thursday. She died on Saturday. All those health care people who saw her that week apparently didn't think she was ill either. Oh yeah, one more thing - the attending physician in ER showed me her chest X-ray. He said her lungs were filled with tumors (he said most likely malignant) as well as pneumonia. He didn't think the cancer originated in her lungs but didn't know where. How can someone with cancer go to the doctor numerous times throughout the year and not have it diagnosed? She had regular mammograms, Pap smears, and had both a CT Scan of her abdomen and a colonoscopy 2 years ago. I am devastated and feel responsible since I was supposed to be taking care of her. Have you ever heard of pneumonia killing someone so quickly?
Hello Melody - I'm so sorry to read of how you lost your mother and at how fast it happened. Sadly, pneumonia can lead to sepsis, which in turn can move so very quickly. when someone dies from an infection they actually die from sepsis, the body's toxic response to infection.
What happens is when people get an infection, like pneumonia, a bladder infection, or even in a cut, their body's immune system tries to fight it. However, in some cases, the immune system goes into overdrive and starts to attack the body itself, rather than just the infection. The medical director of Sepsis Alliance compares it to friendly fire. When this happens, if the sepsis isn't recognized and treated quickly enough, it develops into septic shock and can cause death. For some people, this occurs incredibly fast.
Please don't blame yourself for what happened. It truly sounds like there is nothing else you could have done for your mother. It sounds like you did your best and took great care of her.
Hi there it is 4:15 am where I am and I am currently hospitalized with pneumonia. See it all for really bad 6 days ago I knew something was not right before that but the first day I had a fever of 103.8, I am stubborn and my so called guy told me to just take medicine and I will be fine because he is playing video games. Well the fourth day my friend made me come to this god awful place. I have had fevers here that cannot be stopped with any kind of pain medicine or fever reducer, last night about 3 am I had a migraine that I wished would have done me in, the only thing that saved me from that was a fever coming back and getting up in the 102.0 area. I am also getting another migraine I know this is not normal and not a one will put extra effort to help. They seen this only by X-ray yesterday at least for not they went as far as doing a blood culture for infection on both sides of my body, still waiting on results of that but I honestly think this is gonna kill me. I feel as if I can't fight another fever my body is giving up my ribs, spine, and entire body are in non stop pain. If this sounds like a type you have dealt with please tell me I don't have anyone to help.
My sister passed away on thursday night , today i found out it was from pnemonia n sepsis , i am in pieces and cant stop crying atm , she had a chest infection n was seen by gp on the wednesday , and she passed away thursday night , i hadnt seen her in a while n feel so guilty i should have seen her , i miss her so much
I lost my sister to pneumonia n sepsis thusday , it was so quick , i cant believe it , im in such a low place right now
My mom died on December 5, 2015. I strongly feel it was due to sepsis from a terrible bacteria infection from the complications of pneumonia. She was 68 years old. She went into the ER on November 9, 2015 with clinical symptoms of severe shortness of breath, chronic cough, high fever, no appetite, coughing up bloody sputum and hallucinations. The ER Doctor sent her home with the diagnosis of Bronchitis and the antibiotic Amoxicillin. My moms medical history was a stroke in 2011 due to having a heart disease called artherosclerosis. She has had 9 stents put in. She took the ER doctors word for it and went home with this diagnosis to only suffer longer. She suffered further for another week. She only got weaker, more lethargic, no nutritient due to no appetite, she could barely stand up. My sister brought her back exactly 7 days to the same ER. This time they did an X-ray. This xray showed a pneumothorax, it was her left lung full of fluid. Also, her right lung showed some infection as well. She was then transferred to a hospital that has a thoracic surgeon on staff. This surgeon performed Chest tube to drain the fluid from her left lung. She also had a hole in her lung. This was on a the Thursday (a week) before Thanksgiving. They left 2 drain tubes in her left side rib cage so the pus could drain some more. They removed quart of pus in the surgery room. Then, the surgeon removed the tubes that following Tuesday even though the hole in her left lung still was not healed. Also, No suturing was performed on the quarter size holes that the tubes come out of either. These holes were huge and they led all the way into her lungs. Talk about a open pathway for a bug to climb up and into her lung and making itself at home, especially in a hospital environment. She is fighting a bacteria infection already and I strongly believe this added to the problem (another one on top of the one she was fighting already.) Anyway, on the Tuesday before Thanksgiving the hospital gave my mom the boot out the door whether or not she was eating or not, dressing herself or not, or even walking or not. She was very very sick still. Me and my siblings begged them to keep her. Well she went home for a day and had to go back by EMS due to shortness of breath as if she was drowning. She went back to the same community hospital and they did an xray again and found both her lungs were filled up with fluid. She then was transported right back to the hospital that kicked her out just before the holiday. This time this hospital only put a antibiotic IV in her for 5 days to try and dry up the fluid from both her lungs. They discharged her after only 5 days to a rehabilitation facility. My mom was feeling optimistic saying, "Doctors tell me I'm going to make a full recovery, im at least eating more etc. Then, this same night 12/4/2015 she went into pulmonary cardiac arrest. She was recucitated and brought to the same community hospital again and here they did another X-ray and her lungs were full of the infection still /again??!! Then on 12/05/2015 she was taken off life support at 12:30 pm. And she passed on to the heavens with her parents at 2:05 pm on 12/05/2015. My mom drowned in her sleep alone in the nursing home where she was just suppose to be there for a few days for rehabilitation. My whys are this; Why oh why didn't the ER doctor get an xray on a 68 year old suffering from high fever, chronic cough, coughing up bloody sputum, and hallucinating? Why weren't her chest tube holes properly taken care of so they did not get infected? Why did the hospital release her when she was severely sick still on both occasions? My mom was treated like a number not a loving human being. She died a horrible death, and she suffered the last 3 weeks of her life. Heart broken and need answers so I can have closure and move past this and get on with my life. My mom was done wrong!!!! I advise everyone to get a private autopsy. I wish to god every single day that I would have thought of this before she was taken off to the cremation facility��
My step dad was diagnosed with pneumonia 3 years ago.Went back and forth to Dr's offices and hospitals until they said he had stage 3b non small cell adenocarcinoma. He had 35 radiation treatments and they say it's in remission. Yet for atleast a year now he's been in and out of the hospital with pneumonia over and over..they says it's clearing up and send him home after about a week and give him antibiotics.Hes had a 2nd pet scan and they said they can't tell what is cancer and what is pneumonia because they both light up. He has been wheezing and short of breathe for almost 3 years now.Hes been in the hospital for the last 2 weeks being treated again for pneumonia but no other results.I don't understand why this doesn't go away if he doesn't have cancer anymore and I don't see how he can go on and on with pneumonia. CAN THEY REALLY NOT TELL THE DIFFERENCE ON A PET SCAN?
My aunt passed away last Sunday.She was at a nursing home for the last 5 months.She just got out of the hospital 2 days before,they found fluid on her abdominal wall,and drained it.My question is,she told me she was thirsty to I have her some water.For dinner I gave her chicken broth a few seconds later she started to cough,I kept asking her if she was OK.I got the nurse and she listened to her lungs and said she hears crackeling, they took an X-ray,and found out it was pneumonia, I keep thinking this is my fault,as she was fine until she drank the broth.Plus her oxygen level dropped into the 80 s,after about a half hour,her oxygen went back up to 95.Sat. Afternoon they had her up in a chair,and she was talking, then the nurse noticed her breathing wasn't labored anymore,and her head fell,and she was gone.She was 83 has had pneumonia a few times at the nursing home,and we were told by Drs. That she had cancer in her female parts,but she always refused to have tests done.She also had afib. I'm still mouring over her loss,as we were very close.
I have been reading just about everything I can find on pneumonia my lovely sister died on Friday from this illness this is what happened she was short of breath and finding it hard to walk so I took her to the docs who said chest infection and gave her antibiotics next day she seemed a little better then on the Wednesday I went round she looked grey and was having trouble breathing sent for the doc again who then sent us to hospital their they did all kinds of test and put her on oxygen her levels where very low only 80% they said she would be in about five days on antibiotics we where having a chat and she seemed fine when I went I said see you tomorrow luv you and she said the same to me the phone rang at five to six in the morning she had passed away they found her on the floor in her room I walked my sister in there and promised her she would be ok I cant get my head around this
I too lost my brother 5 days ago to pneumonia. He was 45 and also lived in a different state than me . I wish I knew ...sorry for loss. It's like losing part of yourself. 11/02/1970 03/24/2016.
My dad had been in a lot of pain and admitted to hospital on the 21feb. After weeks of treatment they said his fracture in his back was getting better and sent him home on the 22 March. They was only concerned about the amount of pain. He was re admitted on the 25th the hospital still said his infection markers were improving. It was all about controlling the pain but he died on the 27 March from pneumonia and I just can't get my head around it
My father passed away March 21, 2016. he had been in a nursing home about a year and a half. He had copd, and had been on oxygen for probably the last few years. Went to visit him on Friday March 10 th, took him a fish fry, he ate 3 pieces of fish and 6 pieces of shrimp, more than I have see him eat in months. By 12:30 am sat morning he was being taken to the er. He was admitted to ICU with pneumonia, by Sunday Des said he was doing much better, they were going to send him to a regular room. I left for 35 minutes, when i returned he had an episode where he could not breath the had him on what I think is called a bipap, he was no longer glint to a regular room. On Monday he told me he has never felt so sick, he wondered if he would make it through this, I assured him he would. He had another bad episode with breathing trouble by 8 pm Monday night, by tues morning when several drs walked in the room I knew things could not be good. They told me he was at the point of having to be intubated, which they had discussed with him the past few days and he said he did not want that. Dr s said all they could do besides intubated him was keep him comfortable. They told us they did not expect him to last through the day, but he did, talking. Very little. The dr asked him if he was ready to go to heaven, he responded not today, maybe tomorrow. He hung on for another six days, passing away at 2:30 pm Monday the 21 st. I feel like we just gave up and let him die, the dr said their was nothing else they could do, but keep him comfortable why? After seven days of antibiotics they kept saying he is no better and he is dying. What did he die of, why couldn't they fix this. I feel like we just pumped morphine and adivan to him until he was just gone. What exactly took his life why couldn't they help him. I am heartbroken and just do not understand how ones dies pneumonia in this day and age. Pleas anyone, answers?
I'm hoping you are able to answer my question. My dad recently passed away from pneumonia but it all seemed so sudden. He had a chest infection and seemed ok on the Sunday but by Monday morning my mum found him dead on the dining room floor. He must have opened the garden door and took in some cold morning air and as he walked away he must have blacked out or suddenly died as we found him on his back, his colour was blue but looked peaceful.
Would he have died without pain or discomfort? And would it have been sudden?
There was no mention of sepsis in autopsy.
Sorry to be so graphic only I am struggling to come to terms with this.
Hello Mel. I'm so sorry for your loss. I'm afraid I can't really say what might have happened because there are just too many things that could have taken place. If he looked peaceful, I like to think that is how he went, something fast and sudden. If he blacked out, it's not likely he felt any pain, if that is of any comfort.
This is for Anonymous who posted before Mel. I'm so sorry that this happened to you. But as I said to Mel, I can't comment or explain what might have happened because there are so many unknown things. Sadly, sepsis strikes quickly and if it's not caught in time, it takes lives. That's why it is so important to watch for signs of infection and to take all infections seriously. I'm am so sorry.
My brother passed away about a month ago he was 20 years old we had supper on Sunday and he went to sleep and he didn't wake up and he wasn't sick at all the autopsy says its pneumonia its hard to accept it coz he wasnt sick he just went to bed and never woke up
My Dad passed away last night. He'd been having trouble breathing when lying down and indigestion-like pains when he got up. My mum and I tried to get him to go to the doctor or ring an ambulance, but he wouldn't allow it. I absolutely wish I'd 'pulled rank'.
He finally went to a doctor on Saturday morning, was immediately taken to hospital and was diagnosed with pneumonia. He had COPD,took oxygen 16 hours a day, and so I knew it was quite serious. The specialist gave us 'the talk' and we felt well-informed but never dreamed it would happen to our dad. There was no room in ICU, where the doctor said he would prefer him to be, so he was put on a regular ward, right at the nurses' station, and they were keeping an eye on him hourly.
Like others have mentioned, he was just fine when we left him at 6pm Sunday night. Apparently he went to the bathroom at about 9.45pm, went back to bed, tucked himself back in and went to sleep, perhaps. Fifteen minutes later they checked on him and he was already gone, having passed away about 10pm.
It is unbelieveable, but whilst I accept it, my mother keeps saying something must have 'been wrong', and that they missed something or gave him the wrong pill. So I am here because I needed to hear that sudden death from pneumonia is not only possible but seems to be much more common than I thought. I might be able to set my mother's mind at rest. Thank you so much for the blog.
My mam has suddenly passed away with no symptoms. She had been out all day shopping, garden centre whist at their caravan. On return mam and her husband had an evening meal. At 19.45 her husband said she got short of breath and he gave her her inhalers. She then said she didn't feel well and he went to get glass of water. When he turned round she had slumped over. He tried whilst on the phone to the emergency services to carry out survival techniques until they arrived. They tried but she was pronounced dead at 21.15. Her husband believes she had gone before they even got there. My family and I believed it was an heart attack until the coroner called and told us bilateral pneumonia. It all seems so unreal and we never thought for 1 minute this could take life so suddenly. Devastating isn't the word for my family and I at the minute. Miss her so much and feel so guilty that we had no signs to be able to help her. She loved life and still worked at 71 part time. She always put others before herself and was such a giving person. It is so unfair. Love you mam xxx
I appreciated seeing this blog as it seemed like we were the only ones. My 35 year old wife died of acute pneumonia a month ago today.
She felt rough and appeared to have tonsillitis. She was feeling a bit rough all week, but was slow to go to a doctor. Thursday at 2 pm she went to the clinic and they diagnosed her with tonsillitis and gave her antibiotic pills and told her that she'd feel better in the morning. She went to sleep that night and never woke up.
The coroner said it was acute pneumonia though didn't know what caused it. Now I'm a widower with a 16 month old daughter.
My husband of 32 years passed away unexpectedly on March 7, 2017. The coroner stated that he died of Acute Aspiration Pneumonia with COPD and Hypertension as underlying factors. Does this mean he aspirated fluid from his Bi-pap mask into his lungs and then had a heart attack? I just want to be able to understand what it means and that he didn't suffer. I was at work when this occurred and he was napping! I miss him so very much!
I'm sorry to read about your husband. It must have been such a shock.
I honestly can't tell you if that is what happened - I wish I could. There are just so many things to take into account and it sounds like your husband had a complicated medical history. I know you miss him, I'm so sorry.
Thank you so much for your time and response to my question! I'm sure you're a very busy woman! The answer I seek will undoubtedly elude me for the rest of my life as no one will ever know as he passed alone! That and finding him will haunt me the rest of my days! Thank you again! God Bless You Always! :-(
My sister had pneumonia in August, 2016 and was in the hospital for three days. On the afternoon of March 2, 2017 she told my dad she felt like she was coming down with something. On the morning of March 3, 2017, her boyfriend found her in their bed - she died in her sleep. The autopsy says cause of death pneumonia - at 39 years old. I'm so shocked. How can this happen like this?
I feel your pain. My mum was 72, was admitted to hospital ... private care . After 3 days of being in a hospital was diagnosed with encephalitis. She went onto treatment. Recovered very well. She contracted pneumonia at hospital. Doctors didn’t diagnose her with pneumonia but with bronchitis. She had many struggles while at hospital. She was ina coma for only 9 days. We prayed her throughout her ordeal at hospital. God answered every prayer of ours. The night that she passed away, she spoke to us .. she seemed on her way to recovery. We were so confident that she will
Come back to us. She never did. She passed away 2 months ago. Her stay in hospital was only a month. We were heartbroken ... we never thought that she will not come back home. We requested for a private autopsy. We have more questions than answers. Her cause of death was pneumonia. We were in disbelief. Reading all these comments here , I believe that one can still show signs of recovery but have actually not recovered. Don’t blame yourself. I hate that I was not with my mum when she passed away. She was the kindest person. I hate to think that she died an agonizing death. Sorry about your loss.
After living with Alzheimer's Disease for over 12 years, my dear mother passed away in November, 2017 due to aspiration pneumonia. Even though I believed I was "prepared" for whatever ending Alzheimer's Disease brought, I was not prepared for how quickly it came on; how powerless I was to help; and the hundreds of hindsight questions that now fill every waking moment - were those last moments as physically horrific as I believe they were? Thank you to this forum for posting such brave and insightful personal stories.
Wow!! My wife was also 35 years old and also died with pneumonia.
Wow!! My wife passed away from pneumonia and she was also 35. She only last 48 hours in the hospital.
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