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Original poster

Pneumonia

83 replies

Jaffacake007 · 18/09/2021 20:10

Hi

I was wondering for people who have had pneumonia - how long until you started feeling better?

I went to a&e with back and chest pains. They diagnosed me with 'severe' pneumonia in my right lung. I was hospitalised for 5 nights, on oxygen and IV antibiotics. Been sent home on oral antibiotics. I've been home for a week and still have chest ache (much better than the pain) when doing deep breaths and moving. I feel better in myself and I'm less short of breath going up the stairs etc, but my oxygen levels are still low (I have bought a stats machine).

It isn't COVID related as I've done many, many PCR tests in the hospital and the doctors are baffled with how I've contracted it this severely when I'm only 26 Grin

I'm watching physio YouTube videos for breathing excersises and I'm still sleeping upright as I'm in pain lying down. Any experiences or tips would be great x

OP posts:
Original poster
Jaffacake007 · 19/09/2021 03:17

@Twolostsoulsswimminginafishbow

I almost died from pneumonia at your age. I was completely healthy one day and felt like I was at death’s door the next. My symptoms were horrendous pain with each breath and being violently sick. Two doctors attended my home (two days running) and said I had gastric flu. The next time I rang they refused to come out. My husband found me collapsed shortly afterwards. I was in hospital for five weeks and it took a long time to recover. I had sepsis in 2016 and was on life support in icu. I had pneumonia then too but it was the least of my worries and was almost treated as an afterthought and I wasn’t in any pain with it when I woke up from the coma. I think everyone is different.
Gosh that's sounds horrendous!! You really did suffer with it! Makes my illness sound like a breeze. I think you're definitely right in the sense that it affects everyone differently. It's been interesting to hear from yourself and other posters about having pneumonia at a similar age - the doctors were almost confused as to how/why I have it. Knowing other people have had it at this age gives me a bit of comfort in a weird way Grin

Have you been prone to chest infections etc since?

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Original poster
Jaffacake007 · 19/09/2021 03:19

@romdowa

I had pneumonia a good few years ago and I was acutely sick for 6 weeks and then it took another 3 months of inhalers and steriods to recover. It was one of the longest recoveries I ever had.
Oh gosh, poor you, that is such a long recovery time Sad

Can I ask, when did you feel well enough to go back to work (if you work) and doing basic things like walking around a shop? I honestly believe I am no where near capable of either. I keep trying to tell myself that it has only been a couple of weeks and I have a long way to go

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romdowa · 19/09/2021 08:29

After about 8 weeks I went back , but I would come home exhausted and just fall into bed and I was still on inhalers which really helped.

WaterAndRichTea · 19/09/2021 15:05

I had pneumonia, my only symptom was chest pain i was surprised i had pneumonia, i didnt cough or have a temperature once
Was in hospital 1 night

Another time (way before Covid) i developed some kind of chest infection, was put on 5 different antibiotics in the end and had a horrendous cough for about 3 months..

After about 6 weeks i ventured outside,
People would look at me in the street and afew people told me i shouldn't be out spreading my germs, by this time i wasn't infectious , i had , had 5 lots of antibiotics and my infection markers were next to 0…
People can be mean!

Hairyfairy01 · 19/09/2021 15:18

How are you feeling today OP? I think you are right about what you said about hospitals needing a bed. I guess you just need to take it really easy, as you would be if you were still in hospital. Are you monitoring your temp or anything?

Original poster
Jaffacake007 · 19/09/2021 19:04

@Hairyfairy01

How are you feeling today OP? I think you are right about what you said about hospitals needing a bed. I guess you just need to take it really easy, as you would be if you were still in hospital. Are you monitoring your temp or anything?
I'm okay-ish today. I think I'm slightly less short of breath. Stats still the same. I'm just very tired and I think the antibiotics are making me feel sicky as I've been taking them for a while now Sad

My temperature is absolutely fine, thankfully. I do keep an eye on it twice a day.

Thanks for checking in x

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TheVolturi · 19/09/2021 19:24

Hi op. I had a severe chest infection two years ago that I was given two lots of antibiotics for, and I still felt like I was dying went back to the Dr's and a different Dr saw me and heard the crackle and sent me straight for a chest xray. They then said it was pneumonia but I was on the way to recovery after the antibiotics, it took another 10 days of antibiotics to clear. It had come out of the blue like you say, fine one min and the next, like death. I wonder if when it comes on like this it's because we've aspirated something?

Mintypylonsfryingsurplus · 19/09/2021 22:59

I had pneumonia with pleural effusion when I was 37. Was very very ill was in hospital for a week initially oxygen, drip antibiotics etc. Then I was sent home from chest ward. 2 days later at home I literally felt like I was drowning and couldnt breath. Was blue lighted in and had an emergency chest drain about a litre one lung only. Then in critical ward for 3 weeks, drugs etc.
Was finally let out when the fluid in lung was nearly gone. Left with scarring. We were skint at the time so after 6 weeks went back to work even though my chest doc said not to. I ended up with post viral fatigue syndrome that then turned into M.E. if I had rested for 6 months like doc said I would have prevented this?
When I got pneumonia I had just started treatment fir an underactive thyroid, but had been ill with thyroid symptoms for at least 3 years. Whether that run me down I will never know. Even if you feel well, only do 75 percent of what you want to do. M.E after pneumonia is very common.

Original poster
Jaffacake007 · 20/09/2021 10:52

Thanks for everyone who has messaged sharing their experiences

I woke up in lots of pain about 3am. Went to the GP today and she thinks there may be fluid in my lung. Going up to hospital now to be assessed Sad

OP posts:
TheVolturi · 20/09/2021 12:48

Oh gosh fingers crossed for you op, you'll be OK FlowersFlowers

BrilloPaddy · 20/09/2021 13:01

Hope you're seen soon, OP.

I had pneumonia about 3 years ago....and ended on antibiotics for 3 weeks with steroids initially and an inhaler that I used for around 3 months. I also got horrible gastric issues from the antibiotics (I'm allergic to the main ones) and ended up with more antibiotics to sort that out Hmm.

I'd say it was a good 12 weeks to feel OK and not need to fall asleep in the day. Pace yourself and don't rush your recovery.

Jijithecat · 20/09/2021 13:22

You need to look after your gut health too after a course of antibiotics like this.
I was hospitalised with pneumonia a few years ago and the antibiotics killed off the good bacteria in my body too, so I ended up with more medication to remedy that. I think I was signed off from work for a month after pneumonia. Your body needs time to recover.

Original poster
Jaffacake007 · 20/09/2021 14:48

Bad news unfortunately guys

Infection markers have come right down but have fluid on my lung and they are concerned I have a clot... they're still baffled by my age and lack of coughing

Being admitted back into hospital again. Really really really dreading another CT scan more than anything, was so incredibly painful last time

OP posts:
TheVolturi · 20/09/2021 17:26

@Jaffacake007

Bad news unfortunately guys

Infection markers have come right down but have fluid on my lung and they are concerned I have a clot... they're still baffled by my age and lack of coughing

Being admitted back into hospital again. Really really really dreading another CT scan more than anything, was so incredibly painful last time

Oh gosh op what a worry and how strange! I will be thinking of you and will have everything crossed that they can treat it quickly and easily!
windowstothesoul · 20/09/2021 18:32

Hope you are ok & they get you sorted -

Hairyfairy01 · 20/09/2021 21:47

Sorry to hear this. Hang in there, things will improve. Have they done another CT scan?

Original poster
Jaffacake007 · 20/09/2021 22:43

@Hairyfairy01

Sorry to hear this. Hang in there, things will improve. Have they done another CT scan?
Not yet... they did an X-ray and it was noticeably much worse. Even I could tell.

CT scan tomorrow but as I've said previously I'm really worried about lying flat. It will also be a longer scan as they are going to look at pretty much everything in my upper body.

Back on IV antibiotics in a ward now. I feel ok in myself and my stats are decent. They doctors keep using their favourite phrase of 'you're so young' which is driving me mad, but they have explained that the advantage is that my heart and lungs can tolerate the pressure from the fluid much better then an older / ill person.

Missing my little girl already Sad hoping for a much healthier mummy next time I see her!

OP posts:
Original poster
Jaffacake007 · 20/09/2021 22:44

@windowstothesoul

Hope you are ok & they get you sorted -
Thank you x
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Original poster
Jaffacake007 · 20/09/2021 22:45

@TheVolturi thank you Smile trying to keep positive x

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fruitpastille · 20/09/2021 23:23

Wishing you well. I remember my DS being in hospital with pneumonia when he was little and sleepless nights watching his sats. 10 years later and he's never had another chest infection! Hope you start to improve soon.

TheVolturi · 21/09/2021 11:22

How are you today op?

Original poster
Jaffacake007 · 21/09/2021 14:06

Update - just been told I have covid on top of the pneumonia. PCR in my first stay showed I was negative. So I've picked it up being in the hospital.

They are assuming this is why there is fluid on my lungs. I'm ok in myself, stats are fine etc. They think I'm probably past the worse of it but obviously need monitoring

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TheVolturi · 21/09/2021 15:37

That's awful! What a bloody terrible situation for you. I hope its mild for you and that they can stop it from getting any worse. How are you feeling?

TheVolturi · 21/09/2021 15:38

So do they think you've had a for a while and not just literally picked it up?

Original poster
Jaffacake007 · 21/09/2021 17:10

@TheVolturi

So do they think you've had a for a while and not just literally picked it up?
I've picked it up while admitted the first time and they forgot to PCR me Shaun before leaving... I'm quite annoyed, I knew I shouldn't have gone home.

On a covid ward now Sad

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