Please help with chest infection / pneumonia

[bobstersmum]

Sorry for posting here. I started feeling suddenly unwell on Tuesday with aches and high fever and a cough. I took regular paracetamol and ibuprofen but by Thurs it wasn't helping, my doctors was closed so I rang 111. My temperature was hovering around 40 even with the meds and my heart rate was over 100 at rest. They told me to go to my gp in the morning! Well the next day I rang the surgery and relayed all this but they couldn't fit me in. The receptionist told me to keep on with the painkillers. I was too exhausted to argue as I have three young dc to look after and dh works long hours. I had started having uncontrollable shaking /shivery episodes that were really frightening. Anyway I went to bed last night feeling awful and woke up at 4am I felt like I was on fire and like I'd been hit by a bus. I found the thermometer and my temp was 42.2. I was really worried so I tried to cool down and rang 111 first thing. After an hour on the phone they gave me an appointment. The doctor checked me over and said it sounded like my chest was getting infected but also both of my ears look infected as were full of fluid. He gave me amoxicillin 500 to take three times a day for 5 days. I was relieved that there was an apparent cause but I really have not felt this ill for a long long time. Would I feel so bad with such a high temperature with a chest or ear infection? Or is it more likely pneumonia? I coughed up some horrible green stuff earlier. I'm just so tired and worried.

Yes still coughing up stuff. I have been given antibiotics yes. Suppose if it is viral they won't help at all.

If you still feel dreadful tomorrow I would go back to the GP or even to A and E I've had pneumonia twice and both times felt like you have described and both times was given two different types of antibiotics and steroids and both days was starting to feel better as in my temp had come down and stuff 48 hours after starting the antibiotics. If it is pneumonia though both times it took me about 3 or 4 months to feel 100% better, so prepare yourself for that

Yes that's true it knocks you out. The fact they gave DH morphine to take home said all you need to know about the pain!
(Funnily enough we didn't have to pay for any of his meds at A&E even though he was working then)
He was off work for 9 months then paid off
Hope your symptoms start easing soon OP x

Well it's now 2 hours since I took the ibuprofen and 3 hours since I took paracetamol and I do feel so much better. My temp has come down to 37.2 which is great. I think I might feel worse as the doc said my ears are infected too so a double whammy really? My ears are hurting now if I bend over or anything I get a sharp pain in them. My chest doesn't feel too bad really but still coughing, and out of puff easily, I've just done a very quick hoover of the lounge and I've had to sit down. If I start to feel worse again or not much better by tomorrow I will go to my own gp once I've taken kids to school. My gp has a drop in xray dept so I would think he could send me there if he feels I need chest xray? I'm desperately hoping to just be better throughout the day, I've started to realise it's these high temperatures that make me feel so bad, when it goes up, I feel terrible. I will keep on top of the paracetamol and ibuprofen today, trying to work out a good schedule to take it to keep me covered day and night. Thanks to everyone that's replied on here its made me feel better to know what to look out for and to know I'm not alone!

Hi OP I’m on day two in bed with a bad bout of Bronchitis and my symptoms are very similar to yours though my temp hasn’t been anywhere near as high. I’m having trouble walking and feel like I’m breathing through a straw which is exhausting.
I’ve never had Bronchitis before and had no idea it could affect a person so badly! I’ve never felt so unwell in my life.
I’m also on Amoxicillin 500mg for 7 days though. Wishing you a speedy recovery but do ask about bronchitis if you see another doctor about your chest.

What is the difference between bronchitis and pneumonia? I've never felt so I'll in my life from a cough!

Bianca are you getting a fever?

Bianca, I had pneumonia in January and have had bronchitis lots of times before, and to me the difference was that with bronchitis, even when breathing was a bit of an effort I could still fill my lungs, whereas with pneumonia I literally couldn't and it felt like there was a belt around my chest and I couldn't expand it when breathing in. It was not nice. (I ended up with sepsis too which was mental because I thought it was super rare, but after a night in hospital and some IV antibiotics I felt much better. Thankfully the post viral fatigue didn't last months either as I'd originally feared.) I hope you all feel better soon. Being ill sucks.

Yup, wicked fever and have a chill.
How are you doing today OP?

Please be aware that all chest infections are a form of pneumonia.

I didn’t realise this until my father was on a ventilator in ICU with pneumonia and the consultant told us that they’re all forms of pneumonia. His had started with a chest infection after surgery and he rapidly declined.

Do not take any chances with pneumonia. I’ve seen first hand the disaster it can wreak and it terrifies me.

Well I think I am feeling a bit better. Although still getting random chills and have got clothing too a minimum especially at night otherwise I'm raging hot. Early this morning when I woke having not taken any meds since bedtime, my temp was 39. The last few days it was 40+. Its not gone over 38.8 today and I have only taken one dose each of paracetamol and ibuprofen, I have decided to take it when I feel I need it rather than just in case.
Bianca have you finished your amoxicillin?
To the other poster, that's really scary to hear, it's not good that it's not taken more seriously in that case, if I have any sort of a fever still when I've finished my course of antibiotics I will be going back to the docs. Still coughing up lots of foul gunk.

Glad you're starting to feel a bit better

Well since I wrote that I've come crashing down. I went to get my boys from school and started shivering, I was overdue meds to be fair as not taken any since first thing but I felt OK. Literally burst into tears when we got back in the door and I've just take both paracetamol and ibuprofen. My doc can't get me in unless I ring first thing tomorrow morning.

Going back to the doctors tomorrow. Feel like a neurotic idiot!

I hate to tell you this OP. I am.on my third course of antibiotics since December. First diagnosed with sinus infection, throat infection and bronchitis. Finished first course of antibiotics and it seemed to clear. Then it came back with a vengeance. Pleurisy and sinus infection diagnosed. Another course of antibiotics given. I felt well for about 3 days following second course. Back to docs last Friday. Pneumonia diagnosed. Im on Third course of antibiotics now. Whatever this bug is it's nasty!

Try to rest - easier said than done I know. If your symptoms don't clear or return after antibiotics have finished go back to Docs. Hope you feel better soon

Thank you finnegan I hope you are better soon too.

There were three days between DH being checked. First time his lungs sounds clear, second he had double pneumonia covering a large percentage of both lungs, immediately hospitalised very ill

My DH had exactly this about 15 years ago. We both had flu but then mine turned to bronchitis so GP put me on antibiotics. He checked DH’s chest too and said it sounded clear. That night DH passed out and first thing next morning the GP sent him for a chest x ray & bloods at A&E. Apparently his infection markets were through the roof. Double pneumonia and IV antibiotics in hospital.

We both needed two different antibiotics in the end so definitely get checked out again, OP. If the amoxicillin was working I’d expect you to feel a bit better by now.

*markers not markets

@biancadelrioisback how are you doing now?

I am not really any better, maybe marginally, still relying in the painkillers to take the fever and chills away, still coughing up gunk, ears still hurting. One antibiotic left to take at bedtime. I have gp appointment booked for tomorrow morning.
Beginning to wonder if it's viral now because ds has been sent home from school this morning ill, just aching and no energy, he's not moved all day.

Well I've been given co amoxiclav now for 5 days. Been ill for 10 days now. Dr said my chest sounds pretty clear, but not fully. Ears she said were fine but they're still hurting. Keep thinking I'm feeling better but as soon as I try to reduce the pain relief my temp goes through the roof and I feel dreadful. Not sure what's going on I'm so tired and stressed, and worried! Can a chest infection take this long?

Why would your receptionist tell you to keep taking painkillers, they can’t give out that kind of advice surely?

Doesn’t sound like they’ve been at all helpful.

I had pneumonia and pleurisy over Christmas. I was very ill for about one week and then completely out of it for another week. By the third week I was still in bed and struggling but feeling more alive than I had. I think it took probably 6 weeks before my cough had cleared and my breathing went back to normal.

Hope you feel better soon, OP. Don’t put pressure on yourself to get better quickly, it can take time.

Yes a chest infection can make you feel utterly shit. When you are feeling better ask for the pneumonia vaccine. Its routinely available for over 65s but I had such a bad chest infection that they gave it to me and touch wood I've been clear for the last 7 years (currently shivering and feeling shit with laryngitis though)

@Pengrin, no idea what the reception woman was thinking she said oh it sounds like flu there's not much a doctor can do for that! It could possibly be flu but I've had the vaccine so unlikely? My fever is 40+, comes down to ok ish levels when fully dosed up with both paracetamol and ibuprofen but as soon as I try to stretch the doses it just hits me like a bus, temp shoots up and I just feel like death. I am considering going to a&e tonight when dh is home to look after the children and they're in bed. I don't want to waste anyone's time though, or sit there for hours!

When I was in hospital after having my daughter I was ill with pneumonia I was told to 'huff' a lung exercise that helps get the mucus off your lungs. Fill your lungs breath in about 3 times and then huff it out you will hear the mucus catching and then dislodge. I was given 2 types of antibiotics. Please get help if you need it.

Went back today as finishing second course of antibiotics today and still feeling quite bad. Doc did a blood test and sputum sample and sent me straight for a chest xray which scared the crap out of me. Will have to wait for results now, very anxious. My blood sats were 95 at the best it kept coming up 92-94. Not really sure what that means but he seemed concerned.