Birdwatcher

[outofstateGma]

I came across this site and found it helpful and want to say, thank you. I keep searching sites to see if my experience is still normal. I'm older, 68, have returned asthma, triggered by illness and (still working) have been home from work for over two months so far w pneumonia then pluerisy and I didn't respond well to meds so I'm so slow to improve. It relieved me to hear it was taking others 4 mo or so to get better. I am a nurse and awful patient - I prefer to ignore how I feel and " just get on w it" I'm embarrassed by my poor resilience and getting teary over current chest ache and fatigue lasting so long

[Bevvy]

I have had pleurisy and pneumonia several times. On all occasions it has taken me a long time to recover, even when the original infection has gone. On all occasions I had significant amounts of time off work. The most was six months but I still returned to work too early but financially it was necessary.

Please don’t berate yourself for taking time to recover. To me it’s no surprise! Try to rest when required, but also gradually increase light exercise- by that I mean gentle walking, or other activities but simple and slowly! Try to eat as healthily as possible - make smoothies if making meals is to difficult. Finally try not to stress too much. It’s an unnecessary waste of energy that could be used for healing.

Hope you feel much better soon.

[Collienut]

I agree with Bevvy, listen to your body and increase light exercise slowly.

When you're ready to go back to work ask for a staged return, slowly building up to your normal hours over weeks/months as needed.

Too much, too fast and you risk going backwards again. xx

[Patk1]

Hope u soon begin to feel better.pneumonia thn pleurisy are going to take time to recover from.pace yrself,don't overdo it.if yr tired have a nap or rest,at least. I was reading yr bio + u say colds trigger yr asthma - I use viral blockers whn among people - vicks first defence nasal spray + coldzyme throat spray. They do seem to work.i reuse periodically.lots of us top up with supplements,especially aft being ill.i take vit C, 1000mg, vit d and omega 3 1000mg. Be kind to yrself + take the pressure off x

[Stewiecat]

Echo the above great advice,please be kind to yourself 😊 practically i too have found viral blockers and vitamins c + zinc are a good add in to a routine from Oct onwards each year. If you need a good cry, have one, better out than in my mum used to say, I find asthma, and the problems it brings can be as exhausting emotionally as physically, and i often have a good cry when it feels too much, when the viruses just seem never ending through the winter months, I then try to remind myself how resilient I am just to keep going, and fighting to stay as well as possible, I hope you start to feel better very soon, sending lots of good wishes your way x Nicola