anyone with much experience of pneumonia (adult)?

[imaginaryfriend]

I've been diagnosed with pneumonia on my left lung, a deep-seated infection surrounded by fluid.

It started with a heavy cold which I got from dd (she still hasn't fully recovered from it 3 weeks after she got it, she's coughing but has had no fever throughout) and within 2 weeks I'd started continually coughing out horrible junk from my lungs was shaking so badly my teeth were chattering, sweating all night and aching all over. I saw the GP and she gave me some antibiotics. I went back 3 days later worse, more antibiotics. Same again, 3 days back and more antibiotics. Last weekend I got much worse so when I went back yesterday the GP sent me into the hospital where they said my inflammation markers / white blood cell count were 'sky high' and they did the x-ray which showed the fluid etc. I've had a sputum test which shows it to be the bacteria 'haemophilus influenzae'.

So that's what I know. What I don't know is how contagious is this? Am I likely to pass it onto dd and dp? Why the hell have I got this in the first place? how long before I begin to feel any improvement? I'm currently on 2 further courses of antibiotics.

The hospital consultant has referred me to the chest clinic as she doesn't know why I've got such a bad infection at my age and relative level of fitness.

If anyone has any advice / stories etc. I'd so appreciate it. I'm feeling lousy, no sign of the new antibiotics working so far, and I'm scared I'll have to be admitted as a next step ...

Don't know much about this, but Spacecadet had pneumonia around Xmastime 2005, you may find useful info if you search for her posts about that time. She didn't pass it on to any of her family if that helps any more. Only general advice I am aware of is to rest, rest and then some.

Thanks mts, I'll do a search for spacecadet. Is she still a poster on MN?

Hi imaginaryfriend. Sorry you're feeling so ill. I had this two years ago and I was very very ill with it. Actually it brought me to my knees and came as such a shock.

Normally I get better eventually and don't bother going to the doc but this got worse and worse and I was sweating buckets every night. DH was away and I was alone with all four kids (and a small baby) just about managing to get them off to school and feed them but getting steadily worse.

Finally I just collapsed on the sofa and friend came and got a doctor who sent me straight to hospital. I had two courses of antibiotics on continuous drips, was really ill, lost loads of weight. I stayed in hospital for three days and nights.

Now the good news ... I don't think it's catching. None of my lot got it and by all accounts it's really hard to get. Like you I was freaked out because all the medical info seemed to say it only happens to very old people or people with severly compromised immune systems. BUT I am fully recovered. It took about a fortnight to get properly up and running again, then a couple of months to feel properly better.

It is very serious and you must treat it seriously and get rest, but you will be ok.

I wish you all the best. You need to get as much help as possible and make people realise how ill you are.

no, she's not posting at the moment I'm afraid.

No I haven't seen spacecadet around for a while. I do believe enid had pnuemonia at the same time I did, iirc.

Get loads of sleep IF. x

Thanks sm, that's helpful.

Dp's making me a hot water bottle and I'm heading to bed, got the shakes again! Am currently on my 4th course of antibiotics...

Will check again in the morning for further responses.

any other advice this morning? Am off to GP again but will check later.

My mum had pneumonia recently. Nobody else contracted it so I am assuming it is probably not highly infectious. I understand that pneumonia is a type of infection (of the lower part of the lung), rather than the name of the bacteria. For example, the doctor said that the most likely bacteria for my mum's infection was pneumonicoccal (sp?).

I am afraid to say that she did end up being admitted to hospital and spending 2.5 weeks there, but had a bad gastric bug as well which aggravated everything. She had to have IV antibiotics because she couldn't keep anything down.

My understanding is that pneumonia is very serious, not in terms of being fatal, but in terms of requiring a LOT of bedrest. Dh had it as a child and spent two weeks bedridden. A colleague's school friend also spent two weeks in hospital with it. Maybe hospital is the easiest place to get the rest you need...

Imaginary friend you must make sure you take lots of good quality pro biotics to replace the frinedly bacteria. It'll help speed up your recovery.

I hope you're OK

I've got a fridge full of the friendliest probiotics I could get dp to find, spidermama.

Today's been a bit better. I was so depressed last night that I was still having those horrible shivers where your teeth chatter. When I went to bed I coughed for 2 hours, just couldn't stop. I was so on the verge of getting dp to phone an ambulance. But the night was a little better, still bathed in sweat and feeling very sick when I got up, but not with those hideous shakes.

I've had a couple of nasty coughing fits today but that's been all. My breathing is still quite shallow and I wouldn't be coping without the regular paracetamol / neurofen doses.

Did anybody else find that the infection or maybe the antibiotics really affected their stomach? I've barely been able to eat a thing in over a week.

Dd's been coughing really badly today and during last night. I feel very worried about passing it onto her.

I honestly don't think you can pass it on. It's bacteria isn't it? There are lots of coughs going around so hopefully your dd just has an ordinary one.

I'm glad to hear you're feeling a bit better. I know what you mean about the teeth chattering and shivering. I felt like I was living in medieval times with some awful deadly lurgy. It's really nasty isn't it?

I had an unsettled stomache too but I think it was the anti biotics rather than the pneumonia. Is anyone cooking you good food? Because there are several companies online now which will deliver chef cooked frozen meals which are good for emergencies. I hope you're getting plenty of rest.

Thanks spidermama for the advice. Yes it is like being in the dark ages!

I've just finished the last of the 5th course of antibiotics and I'm defintely feeling better but I'm not feeling totally well by any means. I'm still sweating all night and waking with a pounding head and sick stomach. And I'm coughing. I'm really worried that now I've finished them the infection will creep back in ...

How long before you guys who've had it have felt really better?

Dd's been very ill with a fever and nasty cough but it sounds more bronchial than chest infection.

I am so fed up of anything to do with coughs!!!!!