Pneumonia , cant catch my breath what should i do

[headsspinningforachange]

After 4 weeks if been ill , I went to the doctors only to be told I have 'walking' Pneumonia, yay .
The doctor was surprised I was still Standing as my breathing was/is so bad , he gave me antibiotics, steroids & salbutamol inhaler.
My cough has died down unless I talk , it just seems my breathing is not getting any better as I can't catch my breath at all .
I was told to go to A&E if I had any chest pain at all which I don't thank god .
Should I give the tablets longer to work or should I go back to the Doctors ??
Is their anything I can do to help myself get better ?

My peak flow reading is 270

i'd say Ring the out of hours GP and if you can't talk on the phone, put it down and go to a&E.

are you asthmatic

yes ring OOH

have you a spacer for inhaler

I am Asthmatic though not needed an inhaler for years , I'm using it correctly but it makes me shake like a leaf when i have taken it

Right, I'm getting bossy on yo' ass. Are you still on here? Get off MN and ring them. Now. Pneumonia/infective complications of asthma are NOT to be messed with.

I'm going to try & ring them but im not sure ill be able to talk
If I can't I will ring my Doctor tomorrow.
I just thought I was panicking as im never usually ill

I have been exactly the same, I was up for days and nights trying to breathe. How many puffs of inhaler have you had?
I really think you should call OOH . Have you nayone who can call for you?

How long have you been on the antibiotics for?

My DCs are asthmatic; I work on the basis that unable to talk = straight down to A&E. They can check your blood oxygen after a reasonably short wait and then you'll know where you stand.

OK, go to A&E then. Go on!

Nobody that can talk for me as its only me & Ds at home .
Been on the antibiotics since Monday im on 6X5mg of steroids & 3x25mg antibiotics & 200mg salbutamol

If you aren't able to talk in sentences because your breathing is so bad, then stop fannying about on MN and get to A&E!

I'm just trying to find somebody to watch DS

I didn't mean to be harsh, please imagine a gentle chivvying tone!

Take ds with you.

Yeah, sorry, I know it's a massive PITA, but I would def go to A&E with that much difficulty breathing. They are much better with this sort of thing than GPs (apologies to any GPs reading).

Do you mean 2 puffs of blue inhaler? You can take 10 if you are struggling. A&E will very much listen to you if you have taken the 10 puffs and still can't breathe properly.

Have you found someone to babysit? Because you need hospital treatment, now.

Am asthmatic - this would have me at A&E. If you can't find someone to watch ds, take him with you. If you can't talk, it's an emergency.

Please go to A&E. Where in the country are you?

Really hope you're on your way to A&E OP.

Just got back from A&E my 02 stats are fine so was told to use the blue inhaler more than I have been .

Thanks everybody

Phew, glad to hear it. Hope the antibiotics start to sort you out soon!

Sorry to hear you've got pneumonia - I've had it twice and it washed me out. I'd give the antibiotics another couple of days by which time hopefully your breathing will be easier. Do keep yourself warm, don't try to do too much (you probably don't feel like it anyway) and make sure you eat plenty of fruit and veg. If you're still having difficulty breathing at the end of the antibiotics, do go back to the doctor. Even when the antiobiotics are finished, you may feel tired and a bit out of it for a week or two, so don't plan too much.

I'm feeling a bit better today though still very tired but at least the Medication is working now - Thanks