Recovering from Pneumonia

[Leanne1b]

hello,

I posted 2 weeks ago about having pneumonia and got some really helpful replies so thank you. I’m 25, asthmatic and started feeling poorly on 17th Jan. I have been back and forwards to the doctors & hospital, had 14 days of antibiotics now and feeling much better with regards to the coughing, chest pain, mucus etc. I no longer have to use salbutamol every 4 hrs, have my qvar daily though.

However, I have been off work 3 weeks and due to go back Monday, 9am.

The tiredness/fatigue I’m feeling is unbelievable. I can’t wake up in a morning, even if someone wakes me up I’m just so foggy and out of it. I end up going back to sleep, waking around 11am.

Is this normal for recovering from pneumonia? Could it be there’s still some infection even though I am feeling better with the symptoms?

Is there anything I can do to help? I’m taking vitamins, eating healthy, drinking lots of fluids. I just don’t know how I will go back to a normal routine so soon with the way I feel. Any advice is appreciated

[Homely2 Administrator]

It just takes ages unfortunately. If you over push it, you go backwards.

With work, talk to them about it before you go back. Going back when you are not capable of it is begging for trouble. Can you go back at reduced hours for a while. Send an email setting out how you are and then talk to them about what is the best approach.

Where I worked was always very good at this sort of thing.

[Bevvy]

When Ive had pneumonia there was no way I would be fit to return to work after only 3 weeks. Although your initial symptoms have improved, pneumonia takes a massive strain on the body.

If you can’t be woken in the morning then how do you think you can possibly be fit for work? I suggest you speak to your gp and arrange a further sick note. It may still take a number of weeks, I’m afraid, before you are actually fit for work even on a phased return/reduced hours.