I have pneumonia. In September it was severe, my lung collapsed and I was hospitalised for a week. IV/oxygen but no chest drain or ICU needed. Discharged without monitoring equipment as they advised this was just for borderline patients, and they were happy that I wouldn’t need it. (CRP was 280 when I went in, 70 when I left). I was terribly ill when I left (wheeled out) but nothing at all like when I went in.
Over the intervening months I… haven’t recovered. Seems to be I pick up a cold from the children and it goes straight to the pneumonia. I am on my 5th course of antibiotics since coming out of hospital (so 6 courses including the IV). I have recovered from infections, but seems the pneumonia just sits and waits for the next cold to flare up again 🙄 After the fourth course (last week) doc said I had to go to hospital for IV antibs. I refused as I really wasn’t that sick, and managed to get the fifth course reluctantly prescribed (coamoxiclav) which I am coming to the end of. He said he would note my refusal, and if I was any worse, or didn’t improve, to go directly to A&E as they were at the end of what they can do for me. I have checked my notes, and this is indeed reflected there.
I have a day left of this last course, and am getting increasingly worse. I don’t want to go to hospital, but also can’t think of any alternatives.
So here’s the AIBU. I’m ill, but I’m not THAT ill. There is no emergency. I don’t have a fever (temp is mildly raised) I have a lot of pain in the pneumonia site and in my chest and back but although it’s sufficient to cause insomnia, it’s not severe. I am breathless but can make a cup of T, I’m tired and weak, but can go up the stairs OK. I put away some laundry earlier for example. When I cough it’s absolutely huge, but I’m not coughing a lot; it’s brought on by exertion I think so really easily avoided 😂
AIBU to go in?
I don’t want to sit in A&E all day and then be turned away (and make the Q longer for someone else who has had an accident or needs emergency care). We have a sick child at home so there are also those logistics to consider; DH doesn’t want me to drive myself as he feels I would be unsafe; he’s probably right.
Flip side is, I stay at home without any more drugs and… hope a miracle occurs? Or wait until I am ‘really’ sick. There doesn’t seem to be a happy medium of getting IV antibs in the community; really this would be the ideal. If I was admitted it would be a waste of a bed.
WWYD?
Anyone been in a similar situation?