Earth Clinic Mobile: Home Remedies for People and Pets

Home > Ailments > Lungs: Damage and Infection > Lungs: Damage and Infection Q&A > 72 year old man had collapsed lung eating very little

72 year old man had collapsed lung eating very little

Posted By Namaw (Al, US) on 04/22/2015

My 72 yr old husband had a collapsed lung, spent almost a month in hospital. Now that we're home, I don't know what to do to help him. He has no appetite at all, eating maybe a tablespoon of food per meal. To get him calories, I've been giving him reeses cups. He will eat eggs, but half an egg at a time several times a day. Same for cheese. He doesn't tolerate protein drinks like Ensure very well. Please, can you give me suggestions of what to fix for him that he could get max calories & nutrition in small portions? Nothing tastes good. He just ate a vitamin code capsule opened into a spoon of honey, but it took him 1/2 hr to get it down. Also, any ideas for regaining his strength would be appreciated. He is so weak.

Replied by Rsw (Uniontown, Oh) on 04/22/2015

Hi Namaw,

There is a dietary drink that was created by a chef for her very ill, hospitalized Father when she realized what they were feeding him through his feeding tube was basically junk. She has taken years to create a very healthy formula for people who are having a hard time getting their nutritional needs met in order to recover from illness. It comes in both a drink and is also made for feeding tubes. Here is the link to investigate whether you feel it might help your husband:

http://functionalformularies.com/liquid-meals/#sthash.lFo2t8bF.2yMRo9Zh.dpbs

Best wishes. Let us know how both of you are doing.

Replied by Mmsg (Somewhere, Europe) on 04/23/2015

Namaw, I have read somewhere, that in countries where malnutrition is rampant, they are giving Spirulina. Read up on it. And if you use it, start small.

Replied by Rickytroy (Manor, Tx) on 04/23/2015

It might be due to the medicines he is taking. You may consult his doctor and discuss the matter.

Replied by Namaw (Al) on 04/23/2015

RSW: Thanks so much. I just contacted them. Can you tell what the formula would taste like? The site didn't say, so I'll get their soup first. Thanks.

Replied by Rsw (Uniontown, Oh) on 04/23/2015

Hi Namaw,

I hope the soup will have a good taste for your husband. I have not tried these products personally, but saw several articles about the company and it's founder. I filed it in my mind for future reference in case anyone would ever need something that was nutritious and healing because when you are in the middle of a medical situation, it is difficult to research these things with everything else going on.

I hope your husband gets his appetite back soon and starts to feel better. Please keep us posted!

Replied by Namaw (Al) on 04/24/2015

Well, I'm getting my husband to eat. A boiled egg, instant breakfast, cheese, bacon, salmon cakes--not much at one time, but some every hour or so. He had terrible subcutaneous air while in hospital and then swollen legs and feet. The subcu air went when they put in the chest tube, the swelling got better with compression stockings. He is very afraid to sleep for fear the lung will collapse again.

My new question is this: all the bp readings/ blood takings were taken on his left arm and it is now very sore, the tournaquet was very tight as was the bp cuff. His legs are also very sore (from the swelling?)--any suggestions for how to treat this pain? I have put arnica gel on him, which he says helps a bit. He is skin and bones, todays weight is 124. normal for him is 133. He is also having continence issues, so is wearing depends. Thanks for everyone's suggestions and concern. I'm at a loss now what to do. So tired, a month of 20 hrs/day at the hospital has left me brain dead.

Replied by Mama To Many (Tennessee) on 04/26/2015

Dear Namaw,

Bless your heart, you need someone taking care of you a bit, too! Your husband is so blessed to have this nearly 24/7 care.

Regarding his pain...dehydration makes pain worse. So, keeping him hydrated is important. Hydration will also help to flush out the swelling Some options would be:

Dandelion Tea - this may help some with the swelling. Cranberry Juice would be another option. I would look for one with no artificial sweeteners. I accidentally got one with sucralose in it once and it made me very sick.

An Alkalizing drink - When you body is acidic, pain is generally worse. There are many ways to make the body more alkaline. The easiest way is 1/4 teaspoon in 1/2 glass of water a couple of time a day. If high blood pressure is a concern, you may want to try something different.

A list may be found here

Turmeric can help pain. I have taken 3-4 capsules every 2-4 hours for pain. Supposedly, turmeric can be constipating, so it should be taken with plenty of fluids. We have not experienced it that way, but it is a caution I have seen given.

If he could take an epsom salt bath before bed, that may help him relax and not worry so much about the lung. It also may help with the swelling and pain. I would love for you to get a relaxing epsom salt bath, too!

Thanks for keeping us updated.

God bless you both. I will be praying for you.

~Mama to Many~

Replied by Namaw (Al) on 05/14/2015

I had asked for help a month or so ago regarding my 72 yr old husband with a collapsed lung. He is still very weak and can't eat much at a time, but much better than he was. Today, my question is about his continuing arm pain. They did almost all the blood draws and blood pressure readings in the left arm. The left arm is still weak and painful, kind of shriveled. We go to the dr Monday, but I don't want a pain med I want a way to fix this. It's almost like nerve damage, he gets shooting pains as well as it being sensitive to the touch. Any suggestions? Thanks.

Replied by Mama To Many (Tennessee) on 05/15/2015

Dear Namaw,

So happy to hear from you again and that your husband is doing "much better! " Yay!

I have a few ideas you could try - one would be gently massaging some Extra Virgin Coconut Oil or Castor Oil into the arm a couple of times a day. Adding a drop or two of peppermint essential oil to one of those oils may help to stimulate circulation/healing and I have found it to be helpful for nerve pain.

I sometimes get nerve pain in my arm that come from my back. (I think a nerve in my spine gets pinched.) I put peppermint essential oil on the back and it is helpful.

Some find Candied Ginger to help with sciatica. (I do! ) Sciatica is a nerve pain. So I am wondering if ginger might help his nerve pain.

I really admire the perseverance you have shown in caring for your husband! He is so blessed!

~Mama to Many~

Replied by Namaw (Al) on 05/16/2015

He is also dealing with the kidney stone issue, taking magnesium and he is amazed at how the mag relieves the other pains he has. He's always laughed at me for taking supplements--now the shoe's on the other foot! We've always used coconut oil as lotion, so I'll have to add the peppermint. The mag has helped the arm, it seems.

Replied by Namaw (Al) on 08/08/2015

I'm back. My DH had a collapsed lung and spent 28 days in hospital several months ago. Was finally strong again, then passed the 2nd kidney stone & the lung collapsed again. This time he had fever, so we went to the ER. They admitted him, put in a chest tube and later did a pleurodesis to attach the lung to the chest wall. Home in 5 days, scans say it's attached and all is well. Except that he has generalized achiness and feels warm to me (no fever per thermometer, but he's wrapped up in ablanket and it's 85 degrees). He says his throat is also sore and his lower legs are swollen. He's eating fine and wearing support hose. Anything else to try?

Replied by Mama To Many (Tennessee) on 08/08/2015

Dear Namaw,

Glad you are back. You are such an encouragement--you ask questions and try stuff and report results! And you persevere! And you take great care of your husband.

Is he able to take warm baths with epsom salt? It is a go-to for many things in my house. 1 cup epsom salt or 1 cup baking soda, or even 1/2 cup of each.

Peppermint tea has a cooling effect. But he could drink it warm. It may also help the throat.

Vinegar Tea is another one. Some of my older sons request it when they are sick as they find it so helpful. Put 1 T. Raw Apple Cider Vinegar and 1 T. honey in a mug. Add 6 ounces very hot water.

Keep us posted!

~Mama to Many~

Replied by Steve (Nevada) on 08/08/2015

Something so common as getting vitamin D3 level right in the body can so often solve these issues in one swoop. If it's possible to get his D3 blood level checked it would be good. If not 10,000IU/day is recommended for people who are ill. It may take a couple of months of supplementing D3 to work. Quite often the hospitals will prescribe 50,000IU/day of D3 to ill patients.

Replied by Namaw (Al) on 08/09/2015

Well, here we are after 4 days home from the hospital. He's eating well, but nothing tastes good. He has a low-grade fever (99.6 or so). He was achy and sore until this morning, got up feeling better. As the day wore on, tho, his throat is getting sore. He had nebulized ipratroprium bromide (atrovent), several rounds, while in the hospital but refused any more b/c he felt it was too much. Now he's saying that his throat still hurts from that breathing treatment. His chest is lots better, it feels like it's 'sticking' but that's what the pleurodesis does--sticks the lung to the chest cavity so it won't collapse again. They used doxycycline for that procedure--could that cause the sore throat?

I'm at a loss, he should be past the drug side effects after 4 days. He does the epsom salts, sits outdoors to watch the hens peck (even in this heat), and vit d, plus I've been feeding him the most nutrient dense foods I can prepare.

Oh, by the way, back when he was at his lowest we had a healing service at church, anointing w/ oil and laying on of hands. THAT made more difference than anything yet.

Thanks for any input and the encouragement. I'm getting to the point I can't miss more work, I've missed 45 days this year. Plus, he's an active, vibrant man--he wants to do things and it bothers him to be stuck.

Replied by Anon (US) on 08/10/2015

Just a guess, could be low b vitamins or low zinc or both. Magnesium (epsom salt) lowers vitamin D. So if you are trying to get his mag levels up take it with D-3 and K-2. Magnesium makes everything work better.

Replied by Namaw (Al) on 08/31/2015

Well, we had another collapsed lung. He's had 2 rounds of pleurodesis, once with doxicycline and again with talc. My issue today is his phosphate level. They say it's low and put in an iv to get more. What can I do to raise his blood level? from what I read, low levels are due to malnutrition/starvation. Yep. But what can I do? Also, as for protein powder, does anyone know of a brand that actually mixes well? Thanks.

Replied by Timh (Ky) on 09/01/2015

Whey, Creatine, and Branch Chain Amino Acids (BCAA) are the most common and popular for recovery. There are many types by many manufacturers so you must do the shopping for yourself (and w/ some help from the vendor). Whey Protein Nutrition Bars are probably the most convenient. The "Micronized" form of Creatine seems to be a favorite nowadays as a powder mixed w/ juice or milk.

Replied by Namaw (Al) on 09/07/2015

Hi, I'm back.

DH had the lung collapse and 28 days in hospital back in March/April, then another and in hospital 8 days & a doxicycine pleurodesis, 15 days later back in for a third time for another 8 days. They did a talc pleurodesis this last time. Now we've been home 11 days and he's still lacking energy and can't stay warm. He's had fever off and on (to be expected from the procedure), but he's shivering even when his temp is good. He's eating, but not much at a time. Protein powder, salmon, eggs, soups. What else can I do? He's very sore from not moving very much, but his oxygen is too low to move very much at all. If anyone has experience with this, please be advise me. Thanks

Replied by Timh (Ky) on 09/09/2015

N: Here is a list of nutrients for recovery & energy.

1. Quercetin

2. Alpha Lipoic Acid

3. DMG

4. Selenium+Vit-E+CoQ10

5. Raw Bovine Pituitary Glandular

6. Raw Bovine Liver Tablets

7. Ribose

8. NADH (Coenzyme-1)

Back to Lungs: Damage and Infection Q&A