Pneumonia - what to expect now I've finished antibiotics?

[Mademoidame]

Hello,

I've had pneumonia for four weeks. I started with a really tight feeling unproductive chesty cough, wheezing and fever. Fever only lasted a few days. I was diagnosed via ultrasound and examination after four days and started on steroids. At the time an instant blood test didn't show whatever bacteria causes pneumonia.

I started to improve after 3 days on the steroids but after more than 2 weeks I was still coughing and wheezing, and had deteriorated again over a few days. My doctor changed the steroids and gave me a nebuliser for a month and Levofloxacin for a week. I improved with this treatment but have just taken the last Levofloxacin and I still have what feels like a deep cough and a lot of rattling in my chest.

I've never had pneumonia so don't really know what to expect - should I feel more improvement after the antibiotics? I know recovery can take a while, but am so fed up with coughing and feeling like there is an alien in my chest!

I improved very rapidly with antibiotics
took me a good 6 weeks after I came off them to get my strength back

Thanks @smittenappleI have definitely improved, just not enough in my view! Six weeks of fatigue is a long time - hope you're fully recovered now.

Hi OP, when a relative of mine had pneumonia, they had to give a sputum sample after the first round pf antibiotics didn’t work. Turns out they were the wrong ones. The sputum sample result then helped the GP prescribe the correct ones.

Thanks @Covidwoes- I have heard it can be difficult to shift. I'll see how I am in the next few days.

Hi op. When a relative of mine had pneumonia they needed 2 courses of antibiotics to shift it. They got worse quickly after they finished the first course. They were a lot better after the second lot of antibiotics but it took a while for them to get their energy back.

Had a cough after running for a 6 months after getting better

DH took months to fully recover both times. Just very fatigued and was in his late 20s/early 30s and it triggered an autoimmune issue.

I had it last year. I felt much better after the antibiotics and steroids. But it took me 6 weeks plus to feel normal.

was the fatigue that wiped me out. Lots of rest is needed

This. It took me 2 rounds of antibiotics to clear it when I had it, I was ill for around 10 weeks all in all

Thanks for all the replies. - it's really helpful to hear personal experiences. Looks like it might be a long recovery. And that I should definitely go back to the doctor if I dont continue to improve in case I need different antibiotics. @Begby6789 coughing for six months that's terrible! I am fed up after one! I am very tired but was expecting that (drug combo as well as the coughing keeping me awake I suspect).

I've had it twice, in my 20s and then my 30s. First time I was in hospital just before Christmas because they thought it might be a tropical disease so I got a private room. Then they sent me home with paracetamol but I can't remember how long it took to get better.
Second time it was months - I stupidly went on holiday to a location with high altitude and was really struggling for breath.
After that I got put on the list for flu vaccines as the second one followed a bout of flu.

That sounds rough @drspouse.

Update: I've been in touch with my doctor and she is sending me for a CT scan tomorrow and I have a follow-up appointment on Monday. Am really hoping it will lead to more antibiotics as I've definitely got worse since I finished them. Now have a fever again and am coughing a ridiculous amount (coughing up the grossest stuff I have ever coughed up in my life, but I guess it needs to come out 🤷‍♀️). My whole body hurts from coughing. It's been over 5 weeks. Bit fed up!

Gosh, if you have a fever again that does sound like it wasn't knocked on the head. Good luck!