My mother who has COPD is suffering from a flare up and possibly, because of her symptoms, possibly pneumonia. No XRays or blood tests have been done since she is on home hospice. She got admitted because of CHF. They wont run any tests because she is a hospice patient. I dont agree, but then again dont want to take her to the hospital. She is on her second antibiotic, and it has been already 7 days since she started them. However, her cough sounds worse and coughed more at night. I can hear the phlegm, and she can not get it out. She has been sleeping for about 2.5 hours and makes a sort of a coarse gargling sound on and off! I am worried since I have read about the rattling death sound:(  Please advice! I already nebulized her at 3 am, and I also gave her 0.25 ml of morphine at 11 pm last night and at 3 am because I was told that morphine would help open the airways! Very worried:(
Thanks for your question she needs urgent medical management so take her to an emergency.morphine should not be given as it will retain the sputum .take a pulmonologists' opinion in the hospital, he'll start her on broad spectrum antibiotics like ceftriaxone and give her some round the clock bronchodilators. Nebulisation with albuterol and ipratropium and some inhaled corticosteroids.discuss the treatment modalities with the pulmonologistthanksfeel free to ask more questions