Hypoxia and Medicine

What is wrong with him? Post-pneumonia.?

My dad spent one month in the hospital with h1n1/viral pneumonia. He originally went there for what his doctor told him was pleurisy. After four days right before discharge he went into some sort of relapse and they found he had viral pneumonia and tests later found he had H1N1. Now he is at home and he is having some complications. 1. He has a high heart rate. His heart rate at rest is anywhere from 98-105. When he was on oral prednesone his heart rate at rest would stay anywhere from 105-120 at rest. He finished his cycle yesterday Sept 05 2009. He has been on some sort of corticosteroid for the past 2 months so it's probably still in his system. When he just stands up and walks a few feet his heart rate jumps. When he is sitting to eat his heart rate maintains itself in the 120-140 range, usually doesn't surpass 140. He doesn't try to do much more because his heart rate will just increase and he cannot shower because once he did and it hopped to the 160s. 2. He has trouble defecating because of the pain that is caused when he goes. He is able to produce but it's just very painful. I think he has hemorrhoids. He does use some suppositories but I do not see their effectiveness. 3. He says his rectum feels like it is burning or like it is irritated. As well as his penis and testicles. He is sedentary for the majority of the day. 4. His diet is free of spices and grease; my mom makes sure of this. 5. He eats a lot but has a very picky appetite, he'll only eat what he wants. 6. He is 5'6, 220 pounds, and he is 48 years old. 7. He has mild shortness of breath and barely ever gets chest pain. 8. He is taking xopenex, lysinopril, mucinex and was on solumedrol at the hospital and on prednisone at home thru oral consumption. MY questions is what is wrong with him? We have been to the pulmonologist many times and he tells us that his pneumonia is still there and he is in much better condition than how he was at the hospital. Two cardiologists have told him that his heart is fine and is working correctly. He was on Level 3 respiratory aid with a mask with a huge bag on it. But the night before, thanks to God, they had to remove all that oxygen and put him back on the most basic machine. He is somewhat pale but I can see some color in his face. Any ideas of what it could be? He has had cancer, anemia, and HIV AIDS testing and they all are negative. His doctors say they don't know what is causing all this. I really hope it is the anti inflammatory steroids that he was on and his body reacting to it. He does have the 'moon face.' He has a pulse oximeter and it reads: Saturation: Anywhere from 93-97 Pulse: 98-140 [As mentioned above.] Please doctors on here give me some insight. He has a dry cough no production and doesn't really cough a whole lot throughout the day.

Public Comments

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2. your dad needs to follow up with his pulmonologist.