Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Need HH...DP has pneumonia

177 replies

Angels1111 · 19/02/2025 19:28

Please help send messages of support
Am scared, the worst I've ever seen is "in bed with flu a few days" never something like this.

(He's at home with a pulse ox to check if it gets worse then we have to go hospital)

OP posts:
Oftenaddled · 19/02/2025 20:33

Angels1111 · 19/02/2025 20:30

Yes. But he went to the gp where it was 92. The GP said treat at home but go to hospital if it drops below 90.
Then he got home (5 mins later) and it was 88 on our home machine. So he thinks it's okay to wait and see rather than tire himself out more.

Show quote history

If he checks it again now, that's fine, but bear in mind that his sats may drop more in the night. If people are struggling to breathe it's often worse at night. A temporary dip in the sats immediately after exertion is one thing, but unless there's a quick recovery follow the advice. Don't try to sleep it off - sleep won't necessarily help at all.

JackieQueen · 19/02/2025 20:33

If he's reluctant to go to a & e maybe ring 111, they will advise you, definitely go in if they tell you to. How is he in himself? Is he eating? Has he lost interest in doing everything, even watching TV?

Original poster
Angels1111 · 19/02/2025 20:33

JollyGreenSleeves · 19/02/2025 20:32

So you’ve been told to go to a&e if his oxygen drops below 90- it is below 90, but you’re looking for a ‘handhold’ (aka attention) on mumsnet rather than follow medical advice and get him to a&e?!
Hell of a drip feed.

I want to take him to ane but he won't come and I can't physically force him to. Calling 111 now

OP posts:
JulietSierra · 19/02/2025 20:34

Pneumonia is really not usually that scary in an otherwise fit, forty something year old.
However if his oxygen really is below 90% (make sure it’s on his finger properly and he’s in a position where he’s able to breathe properly) then he needs immediate attention. My 77 year old mum with COPD had surgery today and they’ve monitored her O2 levels repeatedly as they’ve hovered round 94-95 which is lower than they’d like.

Hollyhobbi · 19/02/2025 20:34

Stick the machine on him now and find out what his level is while he's asleep.

Original poster
Angels1111 · 19/02/2025 20:34

JackieQueen · 19/02/2025 20:33

If he's reluctant to go to a & e maybe ring 111, they will advise you, definitely go in if they tell you to. How is he in himself? Is he eating? Has he lost interest in doing everything, even watching TV?

He's eating better today, last few days he didn't eat much at all. Otherwise he's trying to catch as much sleep as his body allows

OP posts:
coxesorangepippin · 19/02/2025 20:35

Dh had this and was in bed for two weeks

He was very sick but soon better after antibiotics

Oftenaddled · 19/02/2025 20:37

He should be fine, with the aid of modern medicine. So take medical advice. You want to start getting him to a&e when it drops below 90, not wait because it may then keep dropping.

You should be able to clip the oximeter on his finger awake or asleep, so take another reading.

WetBandits · 19/02/2025 20:39

whatonearthisgoingonnow · 19/02/2025 20:32

He'll be totally fine, nothing to worry about mid 40s.

My child had pneumonia shortly after birth and nearly died, now that was scary.

I’m sorry that happened to your child, but it doesn’t negate the fact that OP’s DH could be very unwell so please don’t be so dismissive. It is scary at any age, and could become life threatening even to a healthy man in his mid-40s if it isn’t treated effectively as he could become septic.

OP, I had pneumonia as a fit and healthy 19 year old. Same scenario, I had a virus that just didn’t go away and I developed bilateral pneumonia. I’ve been left with adult-onset asthma as a result and my lungs have never recovered. My sats were 89% and I was struggling for every breath.

Make sure his hands are warm when you check his sats, as cold hands could affect the reading. If they are still low with warm hands, please follow medical advice and get him back into hospital as he may need IV antibiotics. What do his lips and nail beds look like? Are they pink and healthy, or is there any purple/bluish tinge to them?

rainbowruthie · 19/02/2025 20:39

Please get him some help via 111, he is in no fit state to make decisions for himself, wishing you both well

GoldVermillion · 19/02/2025 20:40

Can you pulse ox him while he's asleep?

Original poster
Angels1111 · 19/02/2025 20:44

As 111 and above mentioned took pulse ox while he was asleep and it's 92. I think hes slightly more relaxed in his sleep so breathing better...he'd also only just walked upstairs when we last took it before he went to sleep so his body was working extra hard...
...he did take it himself at around 6pm and said it was fine then ..
...So they said to wait it out but go straight in if it's below 90 when he has to take his antibiotics at 1230

OP posts:
Fairislesweater · 19/02/2025 20:46

If his hands were cold after getting in from dr that could affect it. Glad to see he’s now back at 92 after warming up. Is it one that beeps when it dips? If so could you leave it on overnight?

Original poster
Angels1111 · 19/02/2025 20:47

WetBandits · 19/02/2025 20:39

I’m sorry that happened to your child, but it doesn’t negate the fact that OP’s DH could be very unwell so please don’t be so dismissive. It is scary at any age, and could become life threatening even to a healthy man in his mid-40s if it isn’t treated effectively as he could become septic.

OP, I had pneumonia as a fit and healthy 19 year old. Same scenario, I had a virus that just didn’t go away and I developed bilateral pneumonia. I’ve been left with adult-onset asthma as a result and my lungs have never recovered. My sats were 89% and I was struggling for every breath.

Make sure his hands are warm when you check his sats, as cold hands could affect the reading. If they are still low with warm hands, please follow medical advice and get him back into hospital as he may need IV antibiotics. What do his lips and nail beds look like? Are they pink and healthy, or is there any purple/bluish tinge to them?

Show quote history

Thank you for this. Yeh this is the thing, I can't imagine having less oxygen in your body for a prolonged period not having some sort of lasting impact. His colouring hasn't changed but with our skin tone it doesn't tend to

OP posts:
Original poster
Angels1111 · 19/02/2025 20:49

Oftenaddled · 19/02/2025 20:33

If he checks it again now, that's fine, but bear in mind that his sats may drop more in the night. If people are struggling to breathe it's often worse at night. A temporary dip in the sats immediately after exertion is one thing, but unless there's a quick recovery follow the advice. Don't try to sleep it off - sleep won't necessarily help at all.

Show quote history

Thanks, I'll keep checking every 30 mins or so to see if it's stable ...he was cold and had just exerted both times it dipped but I'm still worried

OP posts:
BigSilly · 19/02/2025 20:50

I think there is something very nasty going round. 2 members of my extended family, both extremely healthy have it right at this moment, both only in their late 50s, one of them does iron-man triathlons.

Original poster
Angels1111 · 19/02/2025 20:52

Fairislesweater · 19/02/2025 20:46

If his hands were cold after getting in from dr that could affect it. Glad to see he’s now back at 92 after warming up. Is it one that beeps when it dips? If so could you leave it on overnight?

That's a good point...and they were cold the second time we checked too. He said he's been checking every hour and it's been fine ..so I think it was due to cold/exertion but will keep checking overnight. The pulse ox shuts itself off after a few mins so it will have to be manually

OP posts:
Timeforabiscuit · 19/02/2025 20:54

Make sure you take care of yourself, get a drink of water, a meal, nap if you can - pop an alarm on your phone if that helps with you switching off for a bit while he's resting.

Your DH may not be thinking straight while he is ill, so if the stats do drop again, or his colour changes, or he gets more confused - call 111. You don't know, you can't be expected to know, so call someone who does.

Original poster
Angels1111 · 19/02/2025 20:55

BigSilly · 19/02/2025 20:50

I think there is something very nasty going round. 2 members of my extended family, both extremely healthy have it right at this moment, both only in their late 50s, one of them does iron-man triathlons.

Yeh I feel like last term quite a lot of school were off with a really bad virus too. Maybe I just worry more now that we have DC but I'm not used to them being so virulent!

OP posts:
HellonHeels · 19/02/2025 20:55

@Angels1111 you mentioned "our skin tone" not showing colour changes so much.

Can I ask, are you Black or do you have dark skin tone? There is a risk in darker skinned people that the oximeter can give a falsely high reading, that is, it can give you an OK reading when in fact the true oxygen levels are lower. If this is the case, please err on side of caution.

Original poster
Angels1111 · 19/02/2025 20:56

Timeforabiscuit · 19/02/2025 20:54

Make sure you take care of yourself, get a drink of water, a meal, nap if you can - pop an alarm on your phone if that helps with you switching off for a bit while he's resting.

Your DH may not be thinking straight while he is ill, so if the stats do drop again, or his colour changes, or he gets more confused - call 111. You don't know, you can't be expected to know, so call someone who does.

Thanks....that's really important to remember. No help to anyone if I get sick too!
And also about him not thinking straight...I feel like he doesn't make logical decisions about his health at the best of times tbh

OP posts:
2025willbemytime · 19/02/2025 20:56

I really hope that he recovers quickly.

I know you can't force him to go but under 90 is definitely serious. When my now ex h wouldn't go for medical help when he clearly needed it, I asked if he had his insurance and will sorted as he had a responsibility to his family. It had the desired effect.

I don't want to scare you but I'd rather that and he go to hospital than you lose him.

Original poster
Angels1111 · 19/02/2025 20:57

HellonHeels · 19/02/2025 20:55

@Angels1111 you mentioned "our skin tone" not showing colour changes so much.

Can I ask, are you Black or do you have dark skin tone? There is a risk in darker skinned people that the oximeter can give a falsely high reading, that is, it can give you an OK reading when in fact the true oxygen levels are lower. If this is the case, please err on side of caution.

Dark brown, I didn't know that! Goodness thanks for letting us know.
Just checked again and it's hovering at 92

OP posts:
PeapodMcgee · 19/02/2025 20:58

Please go to A&E immediately if he is consistently fighting hard for breath, disoriented or drowsy, no matter what the pulse oximeter reading is.

Devilsmommy · 19/02/2025 20:59

Greysquirrels · 19/02/2025 20:04

Does he have any other health issues? Most people recover well from pneumonia.

This is true. I had it at 8 months old. I think the word makes it scarier than it is. Hope he gets better soon 🤞