Pneumonia

[BiscuitBeast]

Evening all, I'm after some advice on pneumonia recovery please. I've had a chesty cough for 4 weeks (been shared between myself, DH, DS and DD). At the start of last week I thought the cough was improving, however, come Friday I was suffering terrible body aches, night sweats etc. I got amoxicillin prescribed by an online GP after a video conference call. Come Sunday evening I noticed my chest felt like cement and breathing more difficult. Took myself to A&E on through Monday as after an hour of getting children dressed, washed and fed I felt horrendous. X ray has shown pneumonia on left lung. I was home by lunchtime with 7 days worth of doxycycline and told to continue my amoxicillin. I've had complete rest since Monday, this afternoon has been the first time I've dealt with kids dinner and bed time. My breathing is still feeling harder having been up and about. That's normal though? Should antibiotics have helped with the heavy chest already? Aches and fevers have subsided but my breathing has really not improved - only on exertion though. Should I just carry on doing absolutely nothing for the next few days or should I go back and see a GP or the hospital? I really have no idea how long this illness stays around for. I'm early 30s, healthy and fit otherwise. Any advice would be gratefully received. TIA

[oatmilk]

Hello, I'd speak to your GP if you are worried, go with your gut on how your body is recovering.. hope you feel better soon x

[Musicaltheatremum]

Can't help but feel aghast that a medical professional would prescribe antibiotics without seeing the patient with that history. That is appalling medical care.
It can take a while for the heavy feeling to go though. If you are feeling more unwell or it's not going go and see your GP or walk in centre.

[PrincipalCelestia]

I had pneumonia in both lungs last year, I'm also otherwise fit and healthy and it wiped me out, I'm also young, was 27 when I had it.
The antibiotics kicked in to make me feel 'better' pretty quickly but the heaviness you describe continued with me for a long time... it was about 6 months before I felt truly better. Before that I was weak and breathless, lungs felt like they 'creaked'
An awful time. If you don't have a high temp I would assume you were getting better, but I'm not a hcp so give your gp a call to check.
Hope you feel better soon

[PrincipalCelestia]

Oh and I had a check up chest x ray after 6 weeks post antibiotics and my lungs were clear, so the weakness and heaviness in my breathing was just a recovery thing. Still miserable though!

[BarchesterFlowers]

I had pneumonia this winter, bad asthmatic. It took me a v long time to recover. Still not quite there tbh.

X-rays showed the same as yours. GP ordered them and said I would have been admitted if they had been done on day one rather than day four so it mst have been bad.

I had four lots of antibiotics, steroids and increased inhalers.

My GP saw me every fourth day, four times. I think you should be going back to see someone personally.

My temp was normal after two days but my GP insisted on seeing me regardless.

[Babymamamama]

I have had this. I was off work for six weeks and rested the whole time. I made a full recovery. My gp monitored me and saw me every ten days or so. She encouraged me to to take things very slowly as its a serious illness. Please look after yourself and try to delegate as many tasks as you can so your body has time to recuperate.

[BiscuitBeast]

Thank you all for your responses. I felt miserable last night with heavy breathing so shall take myself to GP this morning.
The online GP was Push Dr, apparently CQC commissioned or some such. I genuinely thought I had a chest infection that needed some antibiotics. The GP I spoke to strongly advised that if in 48 hours I wasn't improving on amoxicillin then to visit a GP to have an examination.
When I called my GP surgery to try and get an appointment on the Monday (all booked up) they too were appalled at my having received online meds.
Rest, rest and more rest. Got it. Will prove tricky now I've recently stopped working to look after DD and DS. Fortunately they have both attended nursery full time this week and DH worked from home.
Thanks again everyone

[Wallywobbles]

I've had it twice. 2nd time I was off for 3 months. And you need the kids in nursery for at least a month to get sufficient rest to start to recover.

[Bunnyfuller]

I'm (hopefully) at the tail end of walking pneumonia. I'm on the last day of Doxicyline tomorrow, and also lady day of steroids. My breathing is still pretty bad on exertion without the steroids, before they kick in for the day so I must admit I'm a bit nervous of coming off them. I don't feel as wiped out as I did, but can definitely only manage short bursts of things. I had a chest X-ray done on Friday but they said 2 weeks for the results, and I'd already been unwell for 4 weeks by then, on the abs for 4 days at that point.

[WhiteHairReally]

Another recovering pneumonia sufferer here too. Hospitiilised for five days four years ago. Second the 'complete rest' advice, despite, in my case, feeling a fraud and very very guilty.

Depressingly, I don't think I felt completely better for about two years, but I am much older (late 40s) than you. Once you've had pneumonia, I've found I'm much more prone to chest infections. You get given anti-biotics much more readily with a 'pneumonia diagnosis' on your records, which is another concern.

Currently GP has me going for regular chest X-rays, to see if the scarring on one of my lungs is permanent or temporary. My peak flow is utterly rubbish these days too.

Moral? Look after yourself, and I know that's easier said than done with young children. Good luck op.

[Bunnyfuller]

Update from me, back at docs yesterday, second lot of antibiotics now, feeling pretty shit and a hey tonight but I went to work today so am guessing I'm just wiped out? Waiting for dcs to come in from Guides and straight to bed for me, feeling rotten 😷

[MorrisZapp]

Bloody hell, that all sounds awful. How do you know if you have pneumonia? Is there a test?

[MichaelSheensNextDW]

No there isn't a test, diagnosis is made on what the patient reports (symptoms) and what the clinician observes (signs).
www.nhs.uk/conditions/Pneumonia/Pages/Introduction.aspx

[Bunnyfuller]

I have crackles in the lower lobes of both lungs, with a temperature and of course the damned cough. It was the crackles that told them it was more serious. I'm getting bloody awful cramps and diarrhoea from the erythromycin this evening now. Shoot me now.

[Babymamamama]

That sounds nasty. Sorry you're so unwell can you get signed off by your gp. Last thing you need is to be working. My pneumonia actually was diagnosed in a and e on the basis of what they saw on my chest x Ray. One of my lungs was greyed out indicating lots of infection/fluid I think. In case I've missed it on your posts have you had a chest x Ray. Things I found helpful apart from the antibiotics were sleeping fairly upright in bed propped up on pillows,plus sipping hot orange squash to soothe coughing and tickly throat. The antibiotics are so horrid but you really need them to knock this on the head.

[BiscuitBeast]

Hi all, I'm pleased to share that I'm feeling much improved. I've finished both lots of antibiotics and they have really worked well.
Other than feeling drained I'm back to feeling myself. Cough is minimal and heavy chest has lifted.
I got treatment at the best time to see it off quickly I think.
Sorry to hear you're still suffering Bunny. I hope it clears and you start feeling better soon x

[Bunnyfuller]

Babymama, yes, I had an X-ray last thurs. results not with GP yet. I bought some live yogurt today and the gastro side effects have diminished loads, so they definitely help. Trying for super early night tonight. Keep warm all!

[Bunnyfuller]

Glad you're on the mend, biscuit 🙂 Will there be any follow up with GP? Wondering if we get a free flu jab or pneumococcus having had this now as I think I've read we are more prone to getting it again?

[BiscuitBeast]

I had wondered if that could be the case, I hope not
I've had no correspondence with my GP as of yet. Perhaps once all my notes have been shared with them from A&E they may get in touch.
I shall do a little research around vaccines that may be useful from now on.
How are you feeling now? Any improvement?

[Allfurcoatandnoknickers]

Hello Biscuit beast- I had pneumonia over Christmas and only just feeling on the mend. I had NHS pulmonary rehab and it's really helped me. I was also wondering whether to have the pneumonia jab- any findings on this would be much appreciated!!

[ClarkWGriswold]

Hi OP. Sorry that you are still feeling so unwell.

I've had Pneumonia twice in the last two years. The first time was awful; I was coughing non-stop and was so exhausted I'd just sit at the end of my bed and cry. I remember it took about 2 weeks for me to feel functional and a few months to be better. I used an inhaler for a couple of months too.

The second time was not so bad and I recovered pretty quickly.

It might be worth asking your GP if you need a course of steroids.