Pneumonia

blueangel · #1 03-11-2006, 11:42 PM

I did a search, and didn't see a specific thread on the subject.

I wanted to ask those of you who have had pneumonia what your experiences have been.. how long you were out of work, how long the fatigue lasted, and how long it took to get back to feeling well again.

Mine started with a bad cold the first week of February. I was just getting rid of it in mid Feb. when I took a plane trip. I guess my resistance was down, and I caught bug number two then.

I thought I had a bad flu-- high fever, aches, congestion, coughing.. and kept putting off going to the doctor thinking it would go away. I was shocked when she sent me for an x-ray and told me I had pneumonia.

I've never been so sick in my life. Fortunately, I didn't have to go to the hospital, and am recovering at home.

I finished a ten day course of anti-biotics (Leviquin), but am still sick-- which leads my doctor to believe that it's viral pnemonia as opposed to bacterial pneumonia. So, I guess I just have to wait this out. It's too late to start any anti-viral medication.

Wondering if anyone has any advice, self help, or other tips you can share? And yes.... I'm eating chicken soup

valkyrie · #2 03-11-2006, 11:50 PM

I had pneumonia when I was in high school. I don't remember everything, but I was out of school for nearly a month, I think. I had to sleep propped up on pillows so I was almost sitting up or else I'd cough nonstop. Whatever medication I was on made me feel sick and I lost weight. The thing I really remember is that at some point, I was so weak I needed two hands to sqeeze the toothpaste -- it was awful. Then I had an inhaler for a while because I kept wheezing.

Oh man that's probably not helpful, but I did get over it and I've never had it again, so that's good.

Feel better!!

preciousjeni · #3 03-12-2006, 12:13 AM

I had it as a child and was siiiiick! I missed over a month of school and they were going to try to hold me back (but I passed all the required tests and such).

I also had to sleep propped up and I remember my chest aching from coughing so much. I also have a memory of standing in my kitchen, crying, and honestly thinking I would be sick for the rest of my life.

I don't recall if it was viral or bacterial but I don't remember taking any antibiotics. I do remember taking some heavy duty expectorants! There was one in particular, a liquid, that made me gag every time I took it.

If you're already 10 days in, I bet you only have a little while to go before your body kicks the sickness. You're a real trooper!

VandalSquirrel · #4 03-12-2006, 01:32 AM

Lots of rest, fluids, and self care. Pretty much you have to take care of yourself and wait it out. Once you're through it, try and get a pneumonia shot before the next winter/flu season starts. It is good for a few years (or much much longer if you don't have other health issues), and really does work for most people.

epchick · #5 03-12-2006, 01:48 AM

Oh I'm so sorry Blueangel, my little cousin (who's 11) just got over her "walking pneumonia." The doctor really didn't help her at all, he gave her medicine that didn't help, then tried to give her steroids (Albuterol) and she ended up having an allergic reaction to the steroids.

There is really no medicine you can take for a virus, your best bet is probably to just try and get rid of the cold (you probably still have it, since that is what helped the pneumonia bacteria/virus stay in you). And like everyone said, just have lots of rest!!!!

ZTAngel · #6 03-12-2006, 12:19 PM

I got really sick with walking pneumonia about 2 years ago. It was miserable. I was so weak and so ill that I really thought I might die.

It started off with bronchitis that I didn't take care of. I kept going to work, going to the gym, eating bad, and partying. It caught up with me in the worst way.

My lungs hurt, I had a temperature, I was congested, and I couldn't eat. I lost 10 pounds in two weeks.

The doctor prescribed me with Tequin which I call my savior. Within days of taking it, I was able to hold down food again and get some sleep at night.

I was sick for about a month and missed a lot of work.

I don't have any advice except Sudafed will help a lot with your congestion. Take cough syrup w/ expetorant. Also, if your doctor hasn't already prescribed cough syrup w/ codeine, ask for it. It'll keep you from coughing at night and it will help put you to sleep....and you'll need a lot of sleep to fight this.

carnation · #7 03-12-2006, 01:44 PM

Whatever you do, don't take it lightly. One of my former bridesmaids was diagnosed with it and was being treated. The doctor said she was improving very well and she went home from his office and gardened for awhile and cooked dinner.

Later during the night, she got up to go to the bathroom. Her husband found her body there the next morning.

The autopsy revealed that when she stood up after using the toilet, all the fluid in her lungs somehow crushed her heart immediately.

She left behind 3 young children.

blueangel · #8 03-12-2006, 08:48 PM

There have been some very helpful tips here.. thank you to everyone who was kind enough to share your stories! I propped myself up in bed last night with pillows as was suggested here, and it really helped me sleep. It made all the difference in the world!

Unfortunately, I'm allergic to all narcotics, including codeine... but I'm doing the Robotussen DM thing now. And, since I'm finally off the anti-biotics, I can take aspirin... which has also helped a lot. (You can't take aspirin with Leviquin).

Fortunately, I have wonderful friends who have been bringing by dinners, buying juice, and other necessitites, and dropping them at my door.

I think when I finally go back to work, I'm going to go in on a Wednesday or Thursday rather than a Monday so that I only work a few days in a row, and ease into it. I've heard that a relapse can be worse than the initial pneumonia bout. I want to avoid that at all costs.

Another suggestion here was to get the pneumonia vaccine. I talked to my doctor about it, and she said that I should definately get one as soon as I am well again, as once you have pneumonia, you're more likely to get it again.

Again, thanks to all who have posted here. If you can think of anything else, please let me know. You guys have really helped me.

preciousjeni · #9 03-12-2006, 08:55 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by blueangel
Unfortunately, I'm allergic to all narcotics, including codeine... but I'm doing the Robotussen DM thing now. And, since I'm finally off the anti-biotics, I can take aspirin... which has also helped a lot. (You can't take aspirin with Leviquin).

I'm also allergic to codeine!

It's unfortunate, but I survived.

Have y'all seen those in-shower vapor things? I wonder how those do?

I remembered one more thing. Because I was a child, my parents worked together to help me. I remember that when one parent would take a shower, the other would sit in the bathroom and hold me (I was too weak, for the most part, to do things on my own) and let the steam fill my lungs. They also slathered Vicks rub all over me ALL THE TIME.

I used to HATE sitting up to sleep because I like to curl into a ball, but boy whenever I rebelled against the pillows, I was in trouble!!

AchtungBaby80 · #10 03-12-2006, 11:11 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by ZTAngel
I got really sick with walking pneumonia about 2 years ago. It was miserable. I was so weak and so ill that I really thought I might die.

It started off with bronchitis that I didn't take care of. I kept going to work, going to the gym, eating bad, and partying. It caught up with me in the worst way.

The exact same thing happened to me when I was a junior in college. I thought I just had "a really bad cold," so I went on as usual (class, homework, going out, etc.) but it steadily got worse. One night I was trying to study for the two tests I had the next day when I realized I just couldn't do it and went to bed, thinking that if I rested I would be able to make it through the next day. Well, I don't know how on earth I managed to get to my first test--it wasn't a lengthy hike, but I was wheezing and carrying on and could barely move--but the professor took one look at me and told me to go home and make up the test another day. My mom insisted that I go to the doctor that very day even though I swore up and down that I just had a cold, but turns out it was walking pneumonia.

I was out of class for the rest of that week, and I probably should've been out longer but I didn't want to fall behind. All in all, it probably took me several weeks to totally get over it. It was bad. But I agree with whoever said the cough syrup with codeine in it really helps...that stuff was the only reason I was able to get any decent amount of sleep. I also took some other kind of pills the doctor gave me, but in the end I just had to wait it out until I got better. And when they tell you to rest, they mean it...you won't get better if you don't. I think that's the most important thing. Sometimes we try to not be "babies" and go on about our business, but when you're that sick you really have to draw the line. I hope you get to feeling better!

grizzlyWG · #11 03-13-2006, 03:12 AM

Winston Churchill once said (no quote, but paraphrasing) there is no bacteria modern science has found that bourbon cant kill. Drink a lot and have fun jsut in case the bourbon falls through and you do wind up dying.

preciousjeni · #12 03-13-2006, 10:57 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by grizzlyWG
Winston Churchill once said (no quote, but paraphrasing) there is no bacteria modern science has found that bourbon cant kill. Drink a lot and have fun jsut in case the bourbon falls through and you do wind up dying.

NO ALCOHOL FOR THE SICK GIRL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! LOL!

Optimist Prime · #13 03-13-2006, 02:15 PM

I had this twice it is terrible. I took Zylopam both times. Could be wrong on the name. Whatever big pink pill that starts with Z.

I was out for like 2-3 months all in all before I felt 100% again. Hang in there.

trojangal · #14 03-16-2006, 03:49 AM

I had pneumonia in college, and it was so bad that I had to be hospitalized. They had to treat me with antibiotics in IV form at first, then they switched me to tablets. This was also when we found out that I was allergic to erythromycin, and it wasn't pretty. On top of it, I had an "atypical" pneumonia...which is why it took them longer to figure out what was going on. One doctor had done an x-ray, and hadn't figured it out, but another did a few days later.

Lots of rest....and take things easy. Don't try to jump back into work too soon.

Hope you feel better soon!