How long after pneumonia until exercise?

[bobbybob]

I've taken it easy for almost 4 weeks now after being in hospital for 4 days with pneumonia.

I've put on about 5kg from lack of exercise and eating because I am bored.

Anyone got any ideas for a recovery plan that won't get me back in hospital - or should I wait another 2 weeks for the chest xray.

I think DH slowly built up (walking, local cycling when he felt ok for it). Certainly was active before his chest Xray. He must have waited 6-9 weeks after he had finished the antiobitics to do anything very strenuous; he's quite athletic, though.

Start with some gentle walking and listen to your body. It was blindingly obvious when DS1 had done too much after his bout of pneumonia. We weren't given any guidelines other than to take it easy and watch him closely.

I felt run down for the first six months and not really back to full health for a year. I have moderate/severe asthma though and that added to how whacked I felt.

Take it very slowly just some gentle walking at first and then build up very slowly but stop if you feel run down at all.

I've started teaching again. The first week I sat down all the time and didn't play. This week I've been bouncing up and down as usual. Next week, I'll start walking with ds to the park and pre school.

We are on holiday in a couple of weeks so I can do more walking then, as I can always have nice long rest and naps.

I was highly athletic when I fell ill w/pneumonia as a complication of influenza, age 25. I started back VERY slowly (yoga and Pilates) at 6 weeks after my release from hospital. It was a good 3 months before I was back at the level at which I'd been before falling ill.

My dh had pneumonia last year. I think it took about 12 weeks before he could do his exercise again - but only gentle and for a short time. He had chest x-rays plus physio to help with the recovery. Don't worry about the 5kgs - this will drop off later. Take it easy - my dh was told to rest and to do nothing physically straining to help the healing process.