Can anyone talk to me about chest infections im in a pathetic panic here

[Thisisanothertime]

I had pneumonia which developed into sepsis about 7 years ago - i had just given birth and this was thought to be what had caused it to get so bad. I was quite ill and in hospital for a couple of weeks. I have had no
chest problem before or since that. Thats the background to try and explain my over worrying now!

i have had a cough for about 5/6 weeks now not terrible just a dry cough but the last week or two it became productive and i went to the walk in yesterday morning no temp not really feeling unwell just coughing.

The walk in said i had sorry for spelling bicuspular (?) crackling and something else at the bottom of my lungs. They gave me antibiotics for a chest infection. So now at this point ive taken 2 full days of antibiotics out of a 5 day course.

But im feeling worse now! The coughing fits are worse this evening and i now have a temp which i didnt have before. Is this normal for a chest infection?

i am really panicking its going to get worse again - last time i ignored the symptoms until i collapsed and had to get rushed in by ambulance so im not keen to repeat that but at the same time i know millions of people get chest infections and just get better with no fuss.

please help me think rationally here!

From my experience with chest infections which I suffer from each year, you get a lot worse before getting better. It's normally on the last day of taking antibiotics that i feel as though I'm getting better.

Drink lots of water and if you can get some rest because that helps loads.

I hope your feeling better soon

It's normal taking a full course before you start to feel better, it takes time to get into your system and start working.

It's normal to have a temperature when you have an infection as it's the body's way of killing the bacteria.

What isn't normal is not caring if you live or die. Feeling cold despite having a high temperature. Or having mottled or grey skin.

If your house is warmer in the evenings then you will cough more then, it's the warm dry air. Use blankets instead of heating, or turn it off sooner. Sip water regularly.

No, you shouldn't have a temp after 2 days or antibiotics. It may be amoxicillin resistant and you need a different drug. Go back to doctor asap.

I dont have anything medical to offer.

Im just offering sympathy & understanding. I can see why your previous experience is making you extra anxious.

Do you have another adult in the house? Do they know how terrible you feel?

Do you feel like you can breath ok?

if you feel your breathing is ok & if there's another adult to keep an eye on you I'd just stay in the warm house & reassess in the morning. But that's definitely not medical advice, just what I would do.

freshly washed hands fir a hand hold ✋🏼 🤚🏼 xx

Atsomepoint - i was thinking naybe the antibiotics have loosened the phlegm (sorry super disgusting). But i coughed so much before i was sick and i was all just phlegm -sorry!

autumn - i def care if i live or die so im not quite there yet !

Bibasilar crackles are often caused by fluid in the lungs-so pneumonia or bronchitis. In general, this should clear up with antibiotics, but don’t hesitate to seek more medical attention if you feel much worse, spike a high fever or can’t complete a sentence without getting out of breath. As you have had sepsis before your risk of getting sepsis again is higher. Did you tell the walk in centre that you have had sepsis before?

I think if you feel worse on the abx you should go back to the Dr. They may add in another abx like clarithro and it's an opportunity to check you over have another listen and check your sats etc. even on the right abx, the pneumonia can worsen so you should get checked over.
Are you sob? / breathless

Robin - do you think its wait until monday if its no better and call gp ir if its not better tomorrow go back to the walk in?

pink - thanks i do feel like i can breathe and i just thought to dig out my daughters finger oxygen monitor - she has asthma and uses it sometimes. That says my oxygen is 96 which seems fine so thats reassuring me a bit!

although last time i had no cough or chest symptoms at all and no one could work out why i was so ill - its didnt even show up on chest xray it was only when i had an mri that they saw it hiding behind my heart if thats an actual thing !

Jennie ive actually had sepsis twice then and then oddly after a random bout of tonsillitis for some reason. I didnt mention it i didnt realise it was relevant ill def mention it next time

96 is ok but not fabulous at rest. Please keep an eye on it and seek medical attention (maybe even A&E, depending on how you feel) if it drops below 94 for an extended period at rest or you do begin to feel really breathless. You can’t afford to take chances with that history; every time you get sepsis it increases your chances of getting it again.

I would call 111 for advice. I've always started to feel better with antibiotics within 48 hours. The one time I didn't was with a UTI and the GP prescribed something stronger/different which did then quickly take effect.

How are you feeling this morning @Thisisanothertime ?

As an aside I never knew about the chances of sepsis increasing each time you have it.

EDIT - take the oxygen meter reading with a pinch of salt unless you know what it should be when well. My normal stats are 94 to 96. I was actually released from hospital after breathing issues/nebulisers for a week when it read 92 as it had risen steadily from 84 😬

I wouldn't necessarily say that chances of sepsis increases with previous episode, unless there is immunosuppression or immunosuppressant medication or long term illness. But with bilateral signs there is a chance the consolidation could worsen. Check a covid test OP :)