Pneumonia

[Myusername2015]

Not looking for general health advice here: but really about what to do. I woke up with what I thought was a chest injection bubbling in chest etc 2 weeks ago;GP sent me straight to hospital; 2 nights X rays/bloods/iv etc and home with two weeks worth of antibiotics.
I’m probably just being major cautious but I can barely climb the stairs without stopping to rest half way. My o2 readings fluctuate between 87 and 99 at rest and Bp is ok
Please could anyone reassure me this gets better ? I’m a non smoker but just in chest pain everytime I try to breathe deeply. I’m a secondary teacher in a bubble so tomorrow will racing round the school and I’m petrified. Any positive stories of suddenly you waking up and feeling better would be so appreciated! Thanks

You need to keep on with this op. If it doesn’t get better, then go back to your doctor. My husband got pneumonia and it took four doses of antibiotics before it was fixed and left him with asthma and lung damage,

I know that’s not what you want to hear, but if it doesn’t get better get back to your doctor ASAP.

You're clearly not well enough, nor should you be risking getting worse by going back into school with pneumonia.

You really mustn't go back to work
It can take a really long time to get over pneumonia.
I think you need to get back in touch with Dr, make sure you have a plan for threshold for further treatment, and a sick note.

Pneumonia is awful. I had 3 weeks off work with it and it took 6 months before I felt normal. My hair fell out because I'd been so ill. Take care of yourself and for goodness sake don't rush back to work! I'm a secondary teacher too so I feel the same pressure to be in but Pneumonia is a big deal.

It gets better! I had pneumonia Easter 2018 with no previous chest/asthma issues and it was a good six months before I was back to complete normal in terms of breathlessness/stairs etc and easily around six weeks before I was anything like back to normal in terms of energy and day to day life. It’s bloody horrible! Have lots of early nights and take care.

It definitely does get better but it sounds like you aren’t ready to go back to work.
I had bilateral pneumonia over Christmas and it was awful but two lots of antibiotics saw it off. A follow up x ray after 5 weeks showed I had some scarring but a follow up appointment a few weeks after that with the consultant showed my lung function was normal. So recovery can take a while but take it easy and you will be fine.
You need a little longer off work though.., you don’t want to risk catching Covid whilst your immune system is still busy fighting the pneumonia.

I was also told not to consider returning to work until at least a week after the antibiotics were finished so don’t think of going back yet.

I also think you can’t go back to work unless you’re sure it’s not the contagious type.