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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask if you've had Pneumonia, how did you know it wasn't 'just a cough'

364 replies

Christmastits · 20/01/2018 00:59

Had a cough since Tuesday, I've called in sick for the weekend. I'm not starting to feel any better.

I have a temp of 39.5 and my sputum is now brown, it's really hard to cough up anything but it's always there. Lots of vomiting caused by the coughing, I feel bloody awful.

Drs on Thursday said it was viral but I'm not so sure now, I feel like I have the flu, I also have a uti which I'm on antibiotics for but they won't treat a chest infection.

Is it time to go back to OOH tomorrow? Or tonight? I all of a sudden feel really unwell. I'll have to wake DH up to take me but I don't feel like this is just a cough any more

OP posts:
RandomMess · 21/01/2018 09:17

I hope you get some sleep today Thanks

Summerandgin · 21/01/2018 09:20

I had pneumonia as a child and would cough and then not be able to breathe. So scary, I remember my mum looked at me with sheer panic in her eyes and I was clawing at her because I couldn’t breathe and was scared. I would wake up during the night for about 4 nights in a row in a coughing fit and would then not be able to breathe and honestly thought I was going to die! Coughed until I was sick too sometimes. So yeh, pretty obvious. It’s the feeling of breathlessness I think.

Umakemefeellikedancing · 21/01/2018 09:27

Hope you feel better soon OP

ILoveDolly · 21/01/2018 16:31

Chest drains aren't the best, make sure they give you the good meds, and listen carefully to all their nagging regarding after care! Glad you got seen too. X x

Original poster
Christmastits · 21/01/2018 18:35

I have pus coming out of the chest drain. Apparently this is rare. It's called empyema it's fucking disgusting and I feel totally dreadful. I'm being moved to a proper respiratory ward to a side room and my husband has been called in to stay.

If you feel weird, get yourself seen.

OP posts:
123bananas · 21/01/2018 18:59

Glad you are being moved to a specialist care area. Empyema is horrible, bless you. Glad your DH can be with you.

SpringBlossom2018 · 21/01/2018 19:12

Oh bless you OP Sad hope you turn a corner soon. Flowers

SpringBlossom2018 · 22/01/2018 07:21

How are you this morning OP?

MultiGrey · 22/01/2018 07:34

Get well soon OP Flowers. Some mean replies on here saying OP can’t be unwell if she can tap on her phone

Dipitydoda · 22/01/2018 08:24

Very fast breathing, v high temp coughing up blood exhaustion to point of collapse, stabbing pains in lungs. It can turn v quickly. Had ambulance out on Friday -checked over told it was a virus on Monday rushed in on blues and twos from doctors when listened to lungs and said it soynded like the worst case of double pneaumonia they had heard

CheshireChat · 22/01/2018 22:19

I thought any untreated respiratory disease has the potential to turn into pneumonia.

I'm also baffled by the posters claiming you can't possibly function with run of the mill illnesses. My severe case of pneumonia was spotted by my specialist because the antibiotics weren't clearing my sinus infection and she wanted to make sure. However, I was reasonably functional and kept studying for an exam throughout.

I think some people have high pain tolerance and cope well with discomfort- in my case I can efficiently tune them out, it's not a case of martyrdom. My mum, who is anything but the type to lie around feeling sorry for herself, struggles a hell of a lot more because she is unable to do this.

@Christmastits it pisses me off that some GPs are determined to believe that you go and see then just because you have nothing better to do or something. I expect a doctor to assess my condition, not just assume it'll clear on its own.

I ended up in A&E with a UTI because the GP kept fobbing me off as he wouldn't believe that tiredness is my only symptom.

Same happened again and he suggested I may be depressed! No, I just don't tend to get lots of bloody symptoms!

I feel better after that rant actually Blush.

Original poster
Christmastits · 22/01/2018 22:30

@CheshireChat it's so shit isn't it? I'm feeling so unwell it's ridiculous DH was called in the other day to say goodbye incase I needed to be vented. I've so far not been but that was awful.

Also doctors who think that patients are deaf, I can hear you talking about how you think I might die you know!

OP posts:
RandomMess · 22/01/2018 22:33

@Christmastits I really hope you turn a corner soon, being in hospital is grim, being so unwell is grim SadSadSadSad

You're in for the long haul Thanks

BigBaboonBum · 22/01/2018 22:37

I didn’t! I was pregnant and so lethargic I didn’t know what was going on, left in bed for about 2 days before my mum came over and found me and took me to the gp who sent an ambulance to take me to hospital Confused I really didn’t know, I was so out of it

CheshireChat · 22/01/2018 22:38

Bloody hell, that sounds terrible. Not surprised though as terminal SIL had that sort of treatment as well Angry. Not saying it's the same situation at all just that it happens.

I'm sure some HCP seem to have a common sense bypass as I doubt it's genuine malice most of the time. It's funny when they're colleagues are all Shock in the background.

Hope you start feeling better soon, but please keep in mind it can be months until you're genuinely 100%, especially as yours sounds particularly severe.

Original poster
Christmastits · 22/01/2018 22:57

I think it's the Empyema that's making people panic, I've treated children with it and it's not nice. I think this is going to be a very long process. I feel better than I did but still shitty

OP posts:
MrsMaxwell · 22/01/2018 23:49

Please double check people.

DH close friend died of Puemonia just before Xmas Sad

cordeliavorkosigan · 22/01/2018 23:59

I had it a bit more mildly but I noticed major sweating in the night, fever, massive productive cough, total loss of appetite. Took 2 different antibiotics and 2 rounds of oral steroids and some other meds for asthma. But I was able to walk around. Mostly. At first I thought it was asthma and took reliever inhalers. But then the fever etc.. bleh. Hope you're feeling ok OP.

NorthernLurker · 23/01/2018 00:06

You poor thing op. That sounds horrible but you're in the right place, you're being treated. As a hcp yourself you know more about what's going on than most and that's a mixed blessing but keep reminding yourself of everything that's going ok.
I hope your boss has got a contingency plan for cover because you aren't going to be back for weeks and weeks. Just get over this beastly bit then you can get home, watch box sets and enjoy freaking out your gp with tales of pus and collapsed lungs.

Original poster
Christmastits · 23/01/2018 00:29

@NorthernLurker they'll have to cover me with agency, I feel so bad, ive only just changed jobs from PICU to SCBU. But she keeps visiting me so she knows I'm not just making shit up.

OP posts:
halfwitpicker · 23/01/2018 00:48

Crikey Christmas, what rubbish news, hope you're feeling better soon. Lots of hand holding FlowersBrew

CheshireChat · 23/01/2018 01:20

TBF it sounds like your boss is visiting you because she's concerned about you, rather than being amazed by your acting skills Grin. I mean you even got your lungs to play along Wink.

Jamiefraserskilt · 23/01/2018 01:32

Pain. Mine was round my flank from back to front. Breathing was tight because of pain. Pleuresy pain was dreadful too, solid pain under ribcage. You need to get professional help and insist. Do not be put off with excuses it is viral.

Original poster
Christmastits · 23/01/2018 01:36

@CheshireChat haha yes indeed! I've moved from a manager who really couldn't give a shit about staff welfare to one who is so on top of her staff's morale and needs it's amazing but it's such a big change! I had to get DH to ring in for me the second day as I couldn't speak and in the end when I got admitted I just got the ward to bleep her and bring her down to see me.

It's nice having a room to yourself but it's also a bit lonely! It's a very odd feeling I'm 100% certain I'm not missing out on anything remotely exciting but you definitely feel like you are! Think if a bed comes up I'll be moved to HDU as I'm on 15 min obs, it's a bit much for a medical ward.

Seriously anyone reading this and thinking 'hmm I don't feel quite right' listen to your body! Just listen. No one knows your body like you, keep going back to the gp until someone listens

OP posts:
Jamiefraserskilt · 23/01/2018 01:38

Doh just rtft glad to see you are being looked after. Feel better soon Flowers

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