12. Competing with the Sun and Moon

12. Competing with the Sun and Moon

Question: My father is 60 years old, a smoker, and has worked as a stonemason. According to chest CT scans and other tests, he was treated for pulmonary tuberculosis for nine months, but with very little effect. Last October, he developed atrial tachycardia, fever, and sweating, and underwent cardiac radiofrequency ablation. Due to persistent low-grade fever followed by high fever, several hospitalizations in military and civilian hospitals were ineffective. Possible causes include connective tissue disease, lung infection, tuberculosis, or rheumatoid-like conditions. Now he has difficulty breathing and is bedridden. How should TCM help him recover?

Answer: People who work as stonemasons for a long time should first rule out silicosis. The X-ray findings of this disease are easily mistaken for tuberculosis, and 80% of patients eventually develop cor pulmonale and heart failure. You can bring your father to my clinic for a detailed assessment and then tailor treatment based on his specific condition.

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