To think this is not pneumonia

[Howhardcanitbereally]

Hi, I realise mumsnet is not a dr surgery and I'm not asking for diagnosis, more just wondering if I'm being stubborn and stupid! I've had a horrible bug for a week, starting as awful uncontrollable coughing fits making me vomit, just feeling really really unwell, put it down to a virus and been resting. However, it has now turned into a very chesty productive cough. I feel ok in myself now, no longer sweaty etc but my lungs feel and sound very bubbly and squeaky, when breathing out. My partner is saying it's pneumonia but I disagree. I have no fever and generally feel ok ish. The sound and sensation on breathing out is weird and unsettling but it's not stopping me breathing. I've agreed to visit gp tomorrow if it doesn't go which I think is reasonable, however, he is saying I'm being unreasonable and need to see an out of hours today. I really think this is unnecessary. I'm not struggling to breathe and my cough is productive, but the bubbling and creaking on exhaling is loud and feels like a jacuzzi in my lungs! So, Ainu to wait until tomorrow? Thanks very much!

I am absolutely not a doctor so don't take anything i say seriously BUT - my baby was hospitalised with pneumonia. He couldn't stay awake, didn't eat or drink, had a high temperature, was floppy and unresponsive. His skin was blue and i could visibly see his chest struggling to take even one breath. He wasn't expected to last the night but swift intervention by an amazing nurse and antibiotics by I V drip and he slowly recovered. It's a very serious illness that is usually diagnosed by X Ray. Go to your GP soon as poss if you think you have this.

I think I’ve just had that. Wiped me out yesterday. Constant productive coughing. Summer flu/virus?

No it doesn't sound like pneumonia you would feel very ill and be struggling to breathe. You sound like you have gunk left over from your infection which needs to be coughed up and it's that moving around as you breathe that's making the squeaks & whistles.

See the doc if the goop is green or yellow but otherwise if you feel well I'd say let your body sort it out.

My mum thought she just had a cough that wouldn't go away until she collapsed and was taken to hospital, it was pneumonia.

Days - very sorry to hear that and so relieved your little one was ok, had lots and lots of personal experience of nicu with mine so know how terrifying it is.

Thanks for the responses, exactly as I thought. I'm not ill enough to have pneumonia. I think partner needs to stay off google.... that being said, the gurgling, bubbling sound is quite disturbing....!

No pneumonia is deeper in your lungs, it’s usually the airways that make the noise.

If you feel well in yourself wait until tomorrow and get your GP to sound your chest.

Keep drinking plenty water so the mucus stays loose and can be coughed up.

Do you smoke?

It could be pneumonia, but unless you have a fever or are in horrible pain, it likely can wait til tomorrow and you don’t need to go to out of hours. The cracking and wheezing you describe is quite characteristic of pneumonia, but it’s possible it’s just a bit of leftover bronchial irritation from when you were sick.

I had pneumonia really badly several years ago. It started as a cold and then mostly got better for a few weeks except for a cough. I never had a fever but suddenly developed really bad chest pain and was struggling to breathe. I ended up in hospital for several days on oxygen and had lingering wheezing and breathing problems for about the next 6 months. It really was that I felt mostly okay and then suddenly not okay. It can come on really quickly but it can also clear up on its own too. So it’s hard to say but if you feel okay today you can probably just wait to see the gp tomorrow.

Could be bronchitis rather than a virus or pneumonia. That gives you a crackle in your lungs too. Not as bad as pneumonia though but still needs antibiotics to sort it out.

Thanks everyone. No, never smoked. I was in a lot of pain but it's eased off, now I've just got the bubbling gurgles! Phoning gp tomorrow for an apt in case I need antibiotics.

Also, it's much worse if I lie on my left side, so I'm avoiding that!

I think a visit to the GP tomorrow is about right. Worth getting checked out but if you feel OK it's not an out of hours thing.

I've had pneumonia but actually didn't feel that bad, it just felt like a normal chest infection.
Agree it sounds more like bronchitis. That made me feel pretty awful and the coughing fits made me vomit and hurt my ribs so much. Had to sleep sitting up.

GP tomorrow is fine though

My DF nearly died from double pneumonia at the start of the year and I’ve heard of at least another three people who have had it this year (albeit not as serious as my DF) id get it checked just in case.

However, if you have mucus in your lungs google “the huff cough” as it’s a recognised coughing technique that is good for clearing the lungs of fluid/mucus. I think those with CF are encouraged to do it and I know my DF certainly was when he was recovering.

I have had pneumonia and I would say if you had it you would not even be able tolift your head off the pillow you are that ill.

I also was very surprised to be diagnosed with pneumonia when I had it - I'd just assumed it was a 'normal' chest infection as it felt like ones I'd had before tbh.

So hard to know from online info.

Could be pneumonia, bronchitis or whooping cough (even if you've been vaccinated. There's been a resurgence in recent years, possibly a mutation. I had it over Xmas). Sounds like you're ok for today BUT if you have ANY Trouble with breathing or pain or dizziness - straight to a&e.

Thanks for all the replies. Interesting it seems quite a difference between those saying they were surprised to be diagnosed with pneumonia and those who are saying you must be on deaths door if you have it. I guess it can present differently. I'm fine at the moment so happy to just get an appointment tomorrow. Have some shortness of breath but only if I lie down so staying propped up!

I dont want to alarm you but I had pleurisy one Christmas and it was horrific. I felt a bit under the weather, a cough and a strange crackling in my lungs. One side was far worse to sleep on than the other. Ended up in A and E on Xmas Eve, threatened with a chest drain. Please do go and see your GP and call out of hours if it gets worse tonight.

I was ill over Christmas. I was still getting up and about every day but did not feel good. After 10 days I went to the GP who said I had flu and walking pneumonia. I had literally walked to the GP too. Got better after about two weeks so three weeks in total. Wasn’t hospitalised but was more ill than I realised!

I also had pleurisy about 8 years ago, again didn’t think I was that ill. That was a completely different pain to the walking pneumonia

You can have either.

You can have it and feel like absolute death and you can have it and feel fine.

Wow, I didn't realise you could be okish with it. I will update tomorrow when I've been. I think it will just be a virus or chest infection but will be good to get the antibiotics if needed.

DD's only real symptom was that she was breathing more quickly than usual. I felt like a bit of a fraud taking her to the GP.

The GP discovered that DD's oxygen levels were low and called an ambulance. X-rays confirmed that it was pneumonia.

I wouldn't necessarily rely on the idea that it can't be pneumonia if you're not feeling like death warmed up.

I’m a nurse and had pneumonia just before Christmas. I was ill for a couple of months before diagnosis and was still doing a relatively normal amount of activity although with a nasty cough. The day I was diagnosed it did feel uncomfortable in my diaphragm.

I also had bronchitis in February with a very horrible expiratory noise and another cough.

You need to go to the Drs ASAP (urgent appt tomorrow) at the very least it sounds like a nasty chest infection.

I hope you feel better very soon

I had waking pneumonia before Christmas, I thought I had a virus only symptom was not being able to catch my breath properly. Do I ignored it for a week and ended up with pleurisy on top on antibiotics and steroids.

I really didn't feel as ill as I thought I should be with it.