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gurgle in right lung

I am the caregiver for my Mother who has Pulminary Fibrosis among 4 other lung disorders.  She has had stints put in her heart and has leaky valves BUT we have been told that her heart failure has increased a level.  The Dr told me to adjust her Feurosimide according to swelling, blood pressure and lung crackling.  Her leg swelling is down, her blood pressure is 107/65 but I heard gurgling in her right lung.  It is better after an hour, but the gurgling was like when your stomach gurgles.  I hear her lung sounds by putting my ear against her back and having her breath.  What am I hearing?  I've never heard that before.  I've been looking it up on the internet and read the words "death rattle" - please tell me it could be something else.  AND is it a sign to increase her feurosimide for today?  Thanks.
4 Responses
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242588 tn?1224271700
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
The gurgling is caused by fluid collecting in your mother's lung and probably a sign of worsening heart failure.  She may require more furosemide but you should check with her doctor, before giving it.  He may have other ideas or want to check her serum electrolytes before proceeding.

What you heard is not the "death rattle".  That sound is more like a gurgling sound in the throat.
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Avatar universal
Hi I checked back here to see how your mom is, glad its OK
I know what you mean about feeling alone. I'm happy I could help, if only for a moment
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Avatar universal
Thank you so much for responding, yes I did call the Dr and all is okay.  I found this site and the Dr. wasn't in and the on-call Dr said they didn't know my mother well enough to hazard a guess.  But the Dr is back and said that this may happen from time to time and not to worry unless it persists.  I can't thank you enough for responding though, a person feels a bit alone at times like this.
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Avatar universal
It could definitely be something beside a "death rattle"
Why don't you cal;l the dr?
Have you, how did it turn out?
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