Is it common to get pneumonia frequently after having a stoke?
Unfortunately, pneumonia is one of the most common complications after a stroke. The cause is almost always "aspiration". In other words, your grandfather's mouth muscles are not coordinated enough to prevent saliva, food, etc. from going into the lungs.
If he is still being fed by a tube through the nose, as you have suggested above, that is not ideal. This far out from a stroke, if swallowing is a problem, he should have a PEG tube directly to the stomach. I would check with a Speech Pathology (who also sees patients for swallowing issues) to see if a PEG tube would be a better alternative. They may also have good advice for what to avoid putting in his mouth, how he should be situated (what angle he should be sitting at during the day and at night), etc. In general, patients do better when they are up at an angle, rather than lying flat on their back. Overall, having three aspiration pneumonias after a stroke is a bit unusual. If you are already seeing a Speech Pathologist, I would probably get a second opinion given the number of pneumonias that have occurred.
Good luck!
Thank you. I am at the airport now, on a transit, am on the way back to my hometown. Just got news my grandfather is not doing so well at hospital, his pneumonia has worsen and the doctor suggested I go back and be there for him. Once I see him I'll post more questions here if there's any. Thanks again for your answer
