Pneumonia

[Leanne1b]

hi all,

I am on day 11 of being poorly. Have asthma and started with a sore throat which then progressively got worse and moved onto my chest.

Got an appointment at my doctors who sent me up to A&E. After many tests I was diagnosed with Pneumonia as there was a shadow on my right lung.

Antibiotics definitely have helped start to improve, however I am still staying in bed all day as tired, breathless, coughing and my chest just feels generally weak and painful.

I wondered how long the chest pain/breathless/coughing lasts after you finish your antibiotics? Can it linger?

I also don’t want to go back to work too early. If you have experienced pneumonia with asthma, what would you personally suggest?

[ReedB]

Hi, sorry to hear you're so poorly. My advice is to go back to the doctor's if you're not better. You may need more medication. Were you prescribed prednisolone too? Second piece of advice is to not rush back to work. I have done just that (more than once) and regretted it each time as it just sets you back x

[Leanne1b in reply to ReedB]

Thanks so much for replying! No I wasn’t prescribed steroids as well, I wonder if I need those too? X

[Homely2 Administrator]

Ring the asthma UK helpline tomorrow morning after 9.15. The nurses are really helpful

[Leanne1b in reply to Homely2]

Thanks will do!

[Poobah]

As you're asthmatic, you definitely need to continue to seek treatment if symptoms are not subsiding towards the end of your course of antibiotics. Even ordinary chest infections may take a couple of courses of antibiotics, plus Prednisolone, in order to get on the road to recovery.

I agree that you talk things over with Asthma UK nurses first thing tomorrow and never hesitate to seek further treatment from your doctor until you're recovering well.

Pneumonia can last from 2 to 4 weeks, but anyone with a lung condition will need to take the necessary treatment and time to recover. It can be difficult to make a reasoned judgement about returning to work and going back too early can be detrimental and you're certainly not there yet, but it does sound like a doctor's appointment would be a good idea.

Wishing you a full recovery soon. Take care.

[Leanne1b in reply to Poobah]

Thanks for replying. I am back at the doctors Wednesday (they didn’t have any apps sooner) so will discuss with them then. I just don’t want to leave it and end up going backwards as the infection isn’t fully cleared. X

[Poobah in reply to Leanne1b]

Good luck for Wednesday!

[Patk1]

You've had gd advice already.personally,Yr better not staying in bed,tempting though it is.yr better to slowly get up,sit in a chair.mobilising slowly will help move the infected mucous.yr breathing should b better sat up too.id see gp if no better.nasty pneumonia can take time to shift.its worth putting mucous sample in for testing.do drink plenty of fluids.on ALUK website,there r strategies for getting mucous up.its hard,takes commitment but will help.id see gp before antibiotics finish as may need more x

[Leanne1b in reply to Patk1]

Thanks so much for replying I’ll take a look at those strategies as the mucus feels stuck! Also trying to get out of bed now as I think I need to start moving although I get so hot when doing so which makes me think the infection isn’t cleared fully x

[gemwatercolour]

Sorry to hear you are poorly. I can share the experience I had in January last year but you might not like what you read! I had a severe cough that came on rapidly (that wasn’t Covid) then developed shortness of breath that meant I couldn’t lay down, and my peak flow dropped dramatically. I went to A&E and was admitted for 4 days. The various tests they did showed pneumonia on left lung (from CT scan). I was on IV antibiotics and oral prednisolone in hospital, and oral ABs when I was discharged.

To make a long story short, my symptoms improved after a week (although the cough didn’t) but I had two relapses in quick succession, about one week after finishing the steroids in each case. Both times I ended up back at A&E, and both times was given more ABs and steroids. My last steroid course was a slow taper from 40 mg a day to 5, and that did the trick.

I was really quite ill for over 2 months and coughed constantly during that time, and it took another four or five weeks after that to feel back to normal. I went back to work too early, was back 2 days, then off again for another couple of weeks. At one point, because of the cough, I didn’t sleep (not even one minute) for 10 days straight. Not a nice experience and wouldn’t wish it on anyone.

That was a year ago and I made a full recovery, although I have been left with an asthma diagnosis, which reared its head again when I had a chest infection in December. In between infections, I am mercifully asthma-symptom-free.

Pneumonia does take its toll on your body. Your experience may not be the same as mine but do take care of yourself, follow all the previous advice, and maybe don’t expect to feel great for the next couple of weeks at least. I sympathise with you having the lingering cough!! Do go back to your GP as one course of meds may not be enough. I hope you feel better as quickly as possible x

[Leanne1b in reply to gemwatercolour]

Gosh that sounds awful - thanks for replying and sharing your experience. I’m glad you’ve made a full recovery although sorry about the asthma diagnoses.

I am that person that goes back to work when not fully recovered but I don’t want to do that this time as I would hate to go backwards and have to go through it all again! It’s really nasty isn’t it!!

I’m back at the drs Wednesday, they didn’t have any appointments sooner. I’ll discuss and see if further meds are needed - whenever I’ve had chest infections before I’ve been given steroids & AB’s and usually towards the end I am starting to see real improvement however this time only AB’s and very slow improvement.

I’ve also requested a sick note. Thanks for your advice! X

[gemwatercolour in reply to Leanne1b]

Good luck with the doctor, I think you’ve done well getting a sick note, take care and get well soon x

[Fancythat4]

So sorry you’re going through this. I started the same on 18 Dec, sore throat, really bad through Xmas and NY , had an odd day in the middle when I rallied and went out, then got much worse and went to dr on 8 Jan and hefty course of AB + steroids for pneumonia. The AB worked well and kicked out the lung infection, but takes longer to heal. I literally have just started back to 90 % health . I couldn’t sleep at all for 3 weeks, then would sleep in the day after AB finished,. Asthma medication is off the scale to help get over it. We are all different, but I would say it’s 6 weeks before you’ll feel yourself again. Best of luck getting back to full health.

[Leanne1b in reply to Fancythat4]

Thanks so much for replying and sorry to hear you’ve gone through this too. It’s horrible but reassuring that this is ‘normal’ to feel how I do!

My mind wants to do one thing but my body can’t keep up! Just got to be patient I guess and not rush otherwise I might go backwards! X