Pneumonia and scared of the hospital

[Offonagadwaddick]

So it's been a crap time flu for Christmas, then pneumonia for the last 7 weeks. Went into hospital and it was horrendous. I had a never event which made me scared for my safety.
I finished my latest antibiotics and had 2 days where I could breathe before it came back.
Ive deteriorated to where I know I should probably be in hospital but I'm fighting desperately to stay out. I can't cope with hours in a&e (last time I was in there for nearly 20hrs). I rang PALS from my bed terrified. I'm sorry if it sounds dramatic. I've had long term health issues for 30 yrs and have suffered from pretty horrendous medical gaslighting. This latest seems to have triggered something and I'm investigating therapy to help straighten things out.

But meanwhile I'm ill, I'm struggling to maintain my O2 sats when sleeping and once again letting my kids down as I'm not able to join in the weekend activities. It feels never ending.

Please ring 999 of you can’t maintain your sats.

In the mean time, prone yourself (like on your tummy with a pillow under you, and get yourself into a place mentally where you can face A&E. I feel for you. I’ve been where you are and it is frightening. You sound like you need to go to hospital though.

You will get better, and you will recover. You’re in the hard part at the moment. Please get some help xxx

You may need a different type or stronger antibiotic. DP had this last year. Had chest inf3ction after infection from Christmas until March when he took a turn for the worst. They even suspected sepsis, turns out he had pneumonia the whole time but needed a stronger antibiotic. Try talking to the gp. If you’ve already had a hospital visit they should have the notes to justify maybe changing medication.

Can anyone advocate for you?

It might feel even more overwhelming because you're so ill

Your choice, NHS is there if you want to use it, no one can force you but ultimately you could end up seriously ill or worse if you don't ask for help soon.

I have managed to fend off going back to hospital by getting steroids, more antibiotics and sometimes nebulisers at the dr’s. Can you ring 111 for advice at least?

I'm on steroids as well as the antibiotics. It's such slow progress in getting better.

I can manage to maintain sats during the day but if I sleep they drop. It's better if I'm upright and last night I wasn't waking up gasping like the night before as they weren't dropping so low. I'm wearing a pulse ox overnight so my husband can keep an eye on it. So I'm hoping that I'm over the worst (again).

I can't take my normal meds while I'm poorly, they drop my already affected immune system. So I'm flaring. The GP's have been lovely and very proactive, ringing repeatedly to check how things are. They think I have lung damage which is why it won't go. Keep your fingers crossed that this time it will go away properly. I've had four different types of antibiotics so far.

If I get worse, I'll raise it. I don't want to take up space in hospital if I can manage at home.
Thank you for the replies, it is appreciated.

I hear you. Lung wards in hospitals are scary places. I was there last year for a severe pneumonia infection. Horrible and traumatic. People fighting for breath and hacking up their lungs. Noisy machines. People still smoking themselves to death.

You do need to sort this though, before it gets worse and makes you more ill.

This time you, if you need to stay in, you'll be more prepared mentally. It won't be so bad.

Feel better soon.