How do you know when you are well? pneumonia and no mind-body sense

[WheezeAJollyGoodFellow]

Sounds like a stupid question, I know. But just how do you tell when you are well after an illness?
I seem to constantly misjudge how ill I am. A few years ago I had a week in hospital, a weekend at home then went into work - arived at my desk and realised I had made a terrible mistake. Was shaking and exhausted. Had to wait an hour before I had the strength to go home to bed.

Now I have a Dx of pneumonia after a few weeks of breathing problems and coughing. I feel fine until I do something (e.g. hang the washing out) and then I get all shaky inside. But I feel absolutely fine until I try anything.

How do you know when you are well? Is shaky inside the thing?
Am I just crap at mind to body awareness? The doctor had to tell me to stay off work.

It normally takes a lot longer than you think.

In hindsight I think it took me at least a year to fully recover from pneumonia, and I didn't even have it horrendously, I was never admitted to hospital or anything.

The exception is rolled ankles. They, rather selfishly, never fully get better.

If you can't hoover the house without any side effects then generally you aren't fit to do a whole day of work with commuting. Would work accept half days for a couple of weeks?

Always have a minimum of a week between hospital and work, your body needs to heal. You seem to be missing the in-between stage of ill and healthy, ie the recuperation phase.

@peachespeachespeaches wow a year! That is scary. Very broken

@Pixiedust1234 yes the recuperation phase.... I just can't seem to judge what is needed.

I like the hoover the house test. Something solid. Thanks.

Have you had follow up xrays or blood tests to know that levels & infection is cleared up?

I would say you need 2 weeks post pneumonia and even then you should take it easy for another few weeks. Post infection your immune system will need to get stronger so rest, fluids and nutrious food is needed.

I ended up in hospital for 5 days after developing pneumonia a few years ago. In hindsight I've never been more ill, but at the time I didn't think it was all that serious & GP didn't spot it. I had 7 weeks off work and it took me the best part of 6 months to feel properly well again.
Agree with @peachespeachespeaches , ankles are never the same after a bad sprain. Managed to severely tear ankle ligaments just before lockdown and it's still not right, twinges every so often and nerve damage to my toes as a result. Really should get that looked at..!

It took 3 rounds of antibiotics last year to shake off my pneumonia. Keep an eye on yourself. If you get the fevers back go back to your GP. Once it was finally sorted it took about 3 months for me to get back to a level of health.

I had an xray a week last Thursday then landed in A&E on Friday due to blood ox going down to 92%. They looked at my xray and took bloods but just said it was a lower respiratory tract infection. But by last Friday I was worse (could hardly breathe) so ended up in A&E again on a nebuliser, 2nd xray and bloods. Doctor looking at the xray said "you had pneumonia last week" and then chucked a load of drugs at me.
So I'm one or two weeks in and shaking whenever I do anything upright. But sitting down I feel absolutely fine. (Blood ox still 93% though).

Yikes @Gherkingreen that sounds serious glad you recovered. But so long.
@orangeflags thanks, will take it easy and watch for temp spike.

Seems really casual the way the doctor diagnosed me and the first one missed the cloud on my lower lung

Er, you're still sick??

I'd say you need at least two more weeks off, then WFH for a while

But by last Friday I was worse (could hardly

I.e. Friday just gone???

yes, last friday.
I feel absolutely fine sitting down, no wheezing or coughing or anything.