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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To think this is not pneumonia

53 replies

Howhardcanitbereally · 03/06/2018 16:22

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!

OP posts:
UnbornMortificado · 03/06/2018 17:54

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.

ExFury · 03/06/2018 17:55

I’ve had pneumonia twice. Once I felt like I was at deaths door. Second time I laughed and said “don’t be daft, I was properly ill with that last time”.

Please do get checked out and don’t assume that just because you don’t feel like you are dying that you are not ill. People can do downhill very quickly.

Howhardcanitbereally · 03/06/2018 17:57

Thank you. At least I don't feel guilty about booking an apt first thing tomorrow then! If it gets worse overnight I can always call for advice. Thanks again.

OP posts:
UnbornMortificado · 04/06/2018 08:18

How are you feeling today OP? Hope you've managed to get an appointment.

lanbury · 04/06/2018 08:26

Please get yourself checked. I had what I thought was flu in January. Left it with the attitude "I'll feel better tomorrow" ended up in hospital for a week on drips and oxygen and a serious ticking off as to why I hadn't done something sooner. I didn't have a productive cough, but did have the squeaky bubbling as my lungs literally filled with fluid. Get yourself checked and hope you feel better soon Flowers

OneStepSideways · 04/06/2018 08:27

That's exactly how I felt when I had pneumonia. Bubbly feeling in chest, annoying cough that sometimes made me vomit after a coughing fit, low grade fever that came and went. I was still working and looking after a toddler and didn't feel that bad for a few weeks. Then i went to the doctor who sent me for a chest X-ray the same day, diagnosed pneumonia from that. A week of strong antibiotics and I was fine.

Pneumonia can be stealthy but rapidly turn serious. It can kill. Please see your GP today!

SilverHairedCat · 04/06/2018 08:32

There are grades of pneumonia including walking pneumonia. Just go get it looked at.

sexnotgender · 04/06/2018 08:37

My daughter has been hospitalised 10 times with pneumonia, it doesn’t always present the same way.
If you’re having to work hard to breath I’d be concerned.

Look at the bit on your neck between your collarbone. If you’re well that shouldn’t move in and out when you breath. If it’s going in and out then your body is working very hard.

pasturesgreen · 04/06/2018 08:44

How are you today, OP?

Fwiw, when i had pneumonia I felt so shit I thought I was dying. My heart felt like it had difficulty beating.

Dragged myself into work for a week I was very young and green and wanted to show willing... with a roaring temperature and dreadful cough. On the Friday, my boss told me in no uncertain terms to get my ass to the doctors and stop playing the hero.

I collapsed in A&E and ended up in hospital for ten days, being given oxygen and all sorts. Then a long recovery at home. Took me six months to get back on my feet. All that was to say, do get it checked!

kikibo · 04/06/2018 08:45

I had a colleague 15 years ago who had pneumonia, non-contagious. Apart from the most horrendous barking cough, she felt fine with no fever or anything. So she came to work too.

So yours could be. Hope it goes away soon.

Wallywobbles · 04/06/2018 08:48

It can present differently. I've had it twice. No coughing at all the second time but my god I was ill. First time, 5 months pregnant and seriously productive coughing. Crackly lung noises. Wasn't as ill as the first time.

Somewhereovertheroad · 04/06/2018 09:57

Pneumonia can be very serious and lead to sepsis. If you have a weaker immune system or asthma or diabetes (any other serious medical conditions) then go to GP today.

Otherwise keep warm, take paracetamol, try steam inhalation and go to GP tomorrow.

Pneumonia is often a serious infection that takes hold when medical treatment was not sought at an earlier stage for a chest infection.

Having said that recognising when to go and getting an appointment are both difficult things.

If your symptoms progress today please at least phone for advice.

Howhardcanitbereally · 04/06/2018 14:02

Hi everyone, thanks for all the replies, I have the start of pneumonia. Antibiotics and strict bed rest or hospital has been threatened.

OP posts:
lanbury · 04/06/2018 14:05

Hope you feel better soon Flowers

SilverHairedCat · 04/06/2018 14:08

Glad you got seen - good news that you've caught it fairly early! Now make sure you do as you're told on bed rest! 😂

But seriously, hopefully this will keep it fairly benign for you.

Howhardcanitbereally · 04/06/2018 14:12

Thank you very much, yes, I'm in bed, propped up as my lungs are determined to drown me if I lie down!

OP posts:
Graphista · 04/06/2018 14:57

Glad u got seen, feel better soon Flowers

SavageBeauty73 · 04/06/2018 15:30

Glad you got seen. Wishing you a speedy recovery.

ichifanny · 04/06/2018 15:37

HDU Nurse here we have had loads of pneumonia in relatively young people recently , obviously I see people who are very sick but I wouldn’t rule it out as it starts somewhere and often stems from influenza infection, definitely go see about getting a chest X-ray .

Doofenschmirtz · 04/06/2018 21:05

Hope you're feeling better soon. Flowers

UnbornMortificado · 05/06/2018 15:14

Pleased your ok-ish (at least not hospitalised!)

Watch out for pleurisy, it can accompany the pneumonia. I managed to get it whilst on antibiotics but I don't know if that's common or not.

LooksBetterWithAFilter · 05/06/2018 15:24

So glad you went to the dr. Dh was very ill a few years ago but didn’t feel as ill as he turned out to be if that makes sense? He had clots on his lungs, pleurisy and pneumonia by the time he got sent to hospital and they acted very quickly to get him well but he didn’t seem that ill and didn’t feel it.
If you feel any worse or don’t seem any better in a day or two go back to the dr pleurisy is a risk.

Howhardcanitbereally · 06/06/2018 12:19

Thanks everyone, still the same so far. Guessing antibiotics take a while to kick in!

OP posts:
LooksBetterWithAFilter · 06/06/2018 18:43

I think I’d have expected to feel even a touch better 24 hours in to antibiotics. If you really feel no better at all tomorrow I’d contact the dr again.

Almondio · 06/06/2018 18:55

I had pneumonia last year that developed after a mild cold, totally out of the blue.

Came on very suddenly, I was very ill and ended up in hospital for 5 days on a drip, with dangerously high blood infection levels because I didn't go to the GP soon enough - we thought it was flu so didn't worry too much.

Pneumonia was only detected when my GP suggested a chest Xray and I was whisked away immediately for emergency treatment.

If you're in any doubt, please get medical help asap.

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