My father is very ill with some kind of lung fungus. Mushrooms growing in his lungs? ?!


Question: My father is very ill with some kind of lung fungus. Mushrooms growing in his lungs.? .?
He's in ICU now and I'm wondering if anyone can tell me about treatments for such a thing. We almost lost him two nights ago when (although he was on oxygen) he couldn't get the oxygen distributed through his body. That's so very scary. He's only 60. If anyone has experience with this, I need some answers please.Health Question & Answer


Answers:
Ask the doctor what the cultures are growing. Most likely aspergillus. There is IV and oral medication for this, but if your dad has other illnesses, he could subcome to the underlying illness, as in heart, lung problems, diabetes, COPD, asthma or is a smoker. These all contribute to not getting better because if he's had them a long time , over the years, the body can't cope with the damage, even though just daily living you can adjust to changes over time, Eventually, the body just wears out and you get sick to a point that is irreversible. He may be told to make lifestyle changes, but he has to adhere or he'll just keep getting sicker. I'm sorry your daddy is sick. Be with him as much as possible.. The medications he uses for asthma, if steriods can contribute to mold/fungus growth. Is it occupational.? Has he had a chest CT scan or pulmonary function test or bronchoscopy. Talk to his pulmonologist or ICU doctor , or even the nurses. When his oxygen levels stabilize on room air , or without supplemental oxygen, he should be getting better. Asthma is serious as you know now. Does he use asthma meds routinely or sporadically like most asthmatics.? If he is really very ill, they would have intubated him and put him on a ventilator. I'm glad to know he will get better. Usually asthmatic patients can't speak in full sentences, get short of breath easily. You just have to know the early warning signs of an asthma flare. The outcome is good and you just need to know if there is any permanent lung damage. does this help.?Health Question & Answer

I don't know anything about mushrooms growing in the lungs. I do know about 'Vally Fever'. This is a fungus that can be inhaled into the lungs in a manner of a spore. The medical name for it is coccidioidomycosis.

I contracted this, and had half of a lung removed on my left side. From what I understand by researching, coccidioidomycosis is prevalent more towards the southern edge of Texas, New Mexico and Colorado.
I did oil exploration in all three of these areas in the early '80's.
My case is lucky. I had a 3-1/2 centimeter nodule in my lower left lobe.
(1-5/8's inch size diameter) The lower left lobe of our lungs is small. There are only two lobes on this side, due to the heart being so close.
(S'what I was told anyway!) The right side has three lobes.
In my case the mass (Nodule) was encapsulated in inert material. A needle biopsy proved inconclusive results. (I WILL NEVER DO THAT AGAIN!! They can only deaden the outside tissue of the body, in this region. The doctor indicated he could not give me a 'twilight' type of sedative. He needed me to be fully coherent, to inflate my lungs to the same capacity everytime. Everytime he put me through the CAT machine, and pulled me out, only to insert the needle a little further. The CAT scanning guided him. That was 23 minutes of SHEER TORTURE! I am a combat 'Nam vet, and put up with pain well, but THIS won't happen again! lol!) After removal, and a biopsy, it was found that the whole mass was inert through, and through. No stem cells were attached anywhere inside the outer lining for the lungs (Pleural Membrane), and the doctor said he didn't need to perform this procedure, later to me. He said he was sorry. I told him it WAS necessary, and he did a great job! (He did! I would recommend him to anyone, anytime! Really nice, intelligent, mild mannered person)

Sorry, I digress. back to subject.
When you get a disease like this, you meet a lot of people with the same. There is another gentleman in my town, who was around the age of 64 when he had this procedure done. He also had an issue with another organ in his body. It took him a while to recuperate, but he made it. It was really touch and go for a while, his wife said.

Ordinarily I don't expound my beliefs on here. I wouldn't want anyone's beliefs shoved on me. However..........do you believe in the power of positive thought.? Can you get to where your Father is at.? Go to his side and pray. (Even if you don't believe. It can't hurt, right.?) Be with him as much as possible. Show him how to fight. How to fight this, and not give up. In his condition, he isn't getting the oxygen his body and brain require. This makes him very tired, and his will could ebb. Be his strength. Talk to him, even when he's asleep. He will hear you. Give him a reason to fight.

1.http://phoenix.about.com/cs/health/a/val...
2.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coccidioido...
3.http://www.dhpe.org/infect/valley.htmlHealth Question & Answer



The consumer health information on youqa.cn is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment for any medical conditions.
The answer content post by the user, if contains the copyright content please contact us, we will immediately remove it.
Copyright © 2007-2012 YouQA.cn -   Terms of Use -   Contact us

Health Q&A Resources