Mumsnet Talk

has anyone else had it and know how long it will last? I've been given antibiotics, diclofenac and codeine, but have no idea how long it will take to work - anyone able tell me more before I am overwhelmed with the urge to google (which is usually a Bad Idea, is it not?!)

iirc you shoudl start to feel human in 48 hours but allow 4 weeks of full recovery (assuming you get rest)

oh lordy - at 4 weeks, am not even in with a chance of any time off work!!

Stay in bed longer than you think you need to

Stay sat on the sofa longer than you think you need to

Stay indoors longer than you think you need to

If you don't you will regret it

you definitely need to rest
you will make yourself much much worse otherwise and it will take ages to go

I've had pleurisy and takes ages for you to feel normal again. plenty of rest is needed.

Get plenty of rest - as other posters have said, get far more than you think you need.

Eat well - lots and lots of raw fruit and veg, vegetable juices and fruit smoothies. Plenty of water and cut out processed foods - basically make it easy for your body to digest the food you eat, so you're not wasting energy.

Avoid smoky atmospheres and try to keep your atmosphere free from artifical air fresheners/chemicals etc.

Try to have some fun - watch funny films or read a funny book; laughter really can have positive effects on your health.

Hope you start to feel better soon

get signed off work

I had viral pneumonia after swine flu, then got pleurisy a couple of weeks later. Be prepared to take a lot of codeine as it's the only damn thing makes you feel better in short term. You should feel on the mend in 2-3 days but it will be few weeks before you feel normal. I got light headed and dizzy if exerted myself. You also prone to every bug within hundred miles. I had fly jab for first time this year as precaution. Other posters are right, you will need lots of rest otherwise you will end up very ill indeed. Pneumonia kills 1 in 20 people. Even if you not is a risk group take extra care of yourself.

Fly jab? Meant flu jab sorry

ooh. stern advice - many thanks, all. and yes, I was really dizzy this morning which is what made me get to the gp, otherwise I'd have put it off much longer
trouble is I've just moved to a new job in sept, no sick pay other than ssp so I can't really afford to stay off. that said, I'm a teacher so could probably negotiate down to 9-3.30 til I recover...

You will not manage working imo

I am surprised you are still standing

i've got the laptop in bed, do I pass the no-standing test katy

Weirdly I had no idea I was so ill either so know what you mean. As a mum I think you are just prorammed to get on with it. However I would think taking one week off and properly resting will save maybe 6 weeks of feeling really rough and struggling on if you don't. I know it's hard with Christmas coming but I didnt rest enough hence the pleurisy and have only just started feeling better (6 weeks on) and if I had my time again would have done things v differently.

thank you wap, will seriously re-think, you've obv been in a very similar situation recently and it would be pretty fick of me not to take your advice.

You're spot on about mums being programmed to keep going and get on with it, three dc won't just appear dressed in uniform / fed / got to school without me doing everything I usually do. Poor dh just wouldn't cope with doing it all by himself... it takes a mum to do that lol

That's the spirit! Plan your week of rest. Call in favours from friends and family, internet order the shopping and do the bare minimum. Sleep lots, eat properly, focus on getting well not just getting by. I promise you is worthwhile.

I agree - you are being very sensible

Pull in favours, accept help, promise 'repayment' after Christmas

Seriously, being careful now could have long-term (6 months) effects later

gigglewitch teachers get full sick pay, you can't go into school this poorly, you'll end up in hospital!

all ab right - if you don't give yourself time to recover you will end up hospitalised

Breathing generally accepted quite important part of teaching

I had Pluresy a few month ago and i cried alot where my chest hurt so much, i am alergic to most painkillers, it was a miserable time. I feel for you gigglewitch.

codeine can be pretty constipating so lots and lots of fibre and fluids too.

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

pmsl @ ruby - "Breathing generally accepted quite important part of teaching"

TBH I don't feel all that revolting, just like there's something way too tight round my chest that stabs me when it feels like . I'm sure it's all the sympathy and good vibes that's making things better! I'm going to take tomorrow off and figure things out from there.

you need to stay off work otherwise you will end up in hospital.

My friend had this a few years ago and spent Christmas in hospital. She was there for at least a week (I think) and afterwards stayed with a relative a number of miles away for about a month so she could recover. Her DH did the morning school run and they got a nanny to do the 3pm - bedtime shift. Even after she came home they kept the nanny on for quite a few months. This is a hugely organised, frugal and hard working person who hated being away from her family.

Pleurisy and pneumonia are serious. Don't go to work