When do chest infection symptoms clear up.

[ptliverpool]

I have just come back from Doctors, she says my chest is now clear and so I don't need any more antibiotics ( I have taken 2 lots of amoxcylin) I still feel pretty washed out can't stay awake for long, still feel breathless, have a nigly cough and pains in back. How long do others feel like this for? She says it will get better eventually but didn't say how long that was.

[initial]

I would imagine it would depend on your overall health. I'm still recuperating from pneumonia, and some days I feel as if I'm going backwards, instead of forward. Pace yourself, and if you need a nap, then nap. Hope you start feeling better soon. Take care

[Sohara]

I usually think my infection has gone and stop ab's when I have at least 3 days when my sputum is clear, and I am not getting up so much mucus from my lungs....but I have been having chest infections for decades and over time you get to 'know' your body......

If your doctor says you are clear then it sounds like you are just 'run down' from the infection and need to build yourself up. Rest when you feel tired as Initial says, and make sure you clear your lungs of mucus as that can make you feel breathless if its still down there

Pamper yourself and 'nurse' yourself back to health, but any sign that the infection has re-occurred get straight back onto the doctor for some more anti-biotics

Hope you feel better soon

[cofdrop-UK in reply to Sohara]

Hi Sohara

I'm sure I must not be reading your post as you mean it. I know you are an old hand at this so your first sentence puzzled me

' I usually think my infection has gone and stop ab's when I have at least 3 days when my sputum is clear, and I am not getting up so much mucus from my lungs.'

I feel sure you wouldn't stop abs before the course is complete but it may sound like that to a newbie.

Love cx

[Sohara in reply to cofdrop-UK]

Actually you know me so well dear friend............ I wrote that misleadingly...I NEVER only have to do one course of AB's so I have been told to keep taking the ab's I am on until I get 3 days clear...this normally amounts to 4 weeks or so before I can even think about stopping. Now this is only if I am on Amoxicillin or co-amoxiclav....I dont keep taking the steriods beyond the prescribed course, or if I am on some other AB

I was just answering the question about when I personally stop taking ab's and I dont stop, ( I am on a repeat for ab's) until I get 3 days clear...but that is never before a month on ab's

I hope I did not mislead anyone

[cofdrop-UK in reply to Sohara]

I knew you didn't mean not completing a course hun and you have made it very clear to new folks. Hope you're well sweet.

love cx

[hopetorun]

Hi, for me it generally takes 6 weeks to get over an infection and get back to normal.

[SusieQs]

I`ve recently had a chest infection that started over 3 weeks ago. Had 3 lots of ab`s. I`ve been completely wiped out and felt too breathless to do anything other than sit and do nothing. Only today just feeling up to doing a spot of light housework. Its lucky I went on pr course last year so I know how to build myself up again slowly.

[wickedwitch in reply to SusieQs]

Hi SusieQs - what is a pr course. I am completely wiped out too and had chest infection for nearly 4 weeks. I have Stage 4 emphysema. Can you help by telling me how to build myself up. I was thinking og buying some vitamins but not sure what to get. Thank you x

[Hidden]

Hello just a quick note to say it can take my husband a few weeks to recover from an infection. Be kind to yourself take care TAD xxx

[tomc]

Hi, I am just home from hospital.

Before going into hospital I was about three weeks of feeling groggy, went to doctor and was on co-amoxicillin for two weeks which did nothing for me, Went back to doctor who tested gasses and said ambulance hospital now.

Two weeks in hospital on IV an oral ABs got out on Tuesday and still feel like I've been hit by a bus.

Doctor has said give yourself time to build up your strength and see me in two weeks.

So I reckon if you have had a bad infection it will take time for it to settle.

Tom.

[CornishBrian]

As a general rule, after an infection allow yourself six to eight weeks for recovery. This is important when it comes to medical appointments. They should not ask you to take any of the breathing tests for eight weeks. However, some will try to ignore this rule and so you must insist they wait. The tiredness etc will go but only you will be able to judge when to start doing more. Don't be afraid of the tiredness or the breathlessness, it's part of recovery. Being breathless just means you have exercised your lungs, yes, even picking something up, and our lungs need to be exercised to improve. The most important thing is how you recover from breathlessness, using breathing control, posture etc. When you feel able, start pushing yourself a little harder and harder....otherwise your lungs will stay as they are now.

[jimmyw123]

hi ptliverpool ,, in my opinion or rather in my case, i have had many infections in the last year,collapsed lung, pnumonia, nothing but anti-biotics and steroids, i am weaning off steroids now, i am down to 15mg per day and no anti-biotics, at my request.

i have had 2 week long infections, months long continued infections,

so in my case this has varied very much,

i have had severe infections needing hospital admission, at this time they take a sputum sample then find the proper antibiotic, this has then cleared in a fortnight [with longer to fully recover] with hospital treatment.

im not sure amoxicillan is always the right anti-biotic, much better in my veiw, in getting a sputum sample analyzed then getting the right anti-biotic,

the last time i had an infection at home, i did get a sputum sample done , it was cleared in approx 2 weeks , but took me longer than that to recover.,i do hope you feel better very soon,,,,,,jimmy

[ptliverpool]

Thanks everyone for your replies. It sounds like I will just have to be a patient,patient. This is all quite new to me (Diagnosed 1year ago ,today) I am one of those who has very little phlem so can't get it tested. I have got an appointment with a physio at the Hospital in May who should be able to help with that and also show me some more breathing tips as the consultant said some of my problem with breathlesness is due to anxiety. I will go back to PR on Wednesday and hope that will help me build up my strength. Where is this good weather we have been promised? When the sun comes out it makes me feel so much better. Stay well everyone.

[tigershay1]

I had chest infection at xmas had two lots antibiotics the gp said chest sounded clear but i present with my chest sounding rattly but its my left lung that has infection where they can hear crackles. Ive not had longer than two days without being on antibiotics currently on maintenance dose with 10mg steroid. Im still off work but im starting to feel better and try to push myself a little bit more every day. The fatigue is the worst but as above people say if you need a nap have one. This years been my worst to date through some bad medical advice but now under new consultant so better treatment hopefully i wont be as ill again . Take care xxx judith

[helingmic]

It might be a good idea to ask your doctor to enrol you on Pulmonary Rehabilitation. This is a wonderful course that lasts 6 weeks. what you are offered is a test of your ability, some exercises (exercise is always important in the recovery process) and a whole explanation on lung problems, medicine (and how to use them), what to do when you get short of breath or you panic ( as many people who are short of breath panic because of it. This will gently ease you into more activity.

Look on You Tube for exercises for COPD (I did post this a long time ago. Have confidence. BUT if you really don'[t feel good, go back to your GP and ask for some sputum sample. The microbiologist can pin point what bug would be bugging you and the appropriate drug to use. On the whole, take charge of yourself and you will feel better. At the doctor, always describe how you feel, what you cough, how tired you feel and the different pains - (they can be muscular or otherwise and are an indicator for your doctor to examine you more deeply.

[ptliverpool]

Hi Thanks for your reply. I am actually on a PR course at the moment (went back Friday) but I had to stop as I felt too bad and they wont let you go if you are on ABs anyway. I was doing really, really well on the course until my consultant changed my inhaler to Seratide and I had a bad reaction to it. Ended up in Hospital ,where I caught this infection (everyone was caughing around me)It does seem to be getting better now,Thank goodness,and I am sure that being back at PR will get me back to normal at least. My course is 8 weeks not 6 so I have still got 2 weeks to go.

[ATrulibra]

I am experiencing my worst chest infection ever. I was exposed to both A And B Influenza from work. I have had chest infections in the past but never have of any of them taken so much out of me. The weakness and the breathlessness is unbelievable. Still after 3 weeks I am coughing up opaque green phlegm. The past couple of days the phlegm has loosened up a bit; still greenish but becoming more transparent. Taking Ventolin for the first time ever for a chest infection. I had to take cold tablets just to ease the symptoms to make it bearable. No antibiotics were prescribed for me because my chest infection is viral. I imagine this is why it is taking longer than normal to get over this thing. One of my chief complaints is how exhausted I feel. I know I need to build myself up. I am heading back to the clinic today to get another doctors note. I feel I still need another week off to build myself up.

I work in healthcare as a nurse. I run a marathon; or so it feels like it, when I am working. Besides trying to find time for a break, I am on my feet constantly, and the only time I sit down is at the end if my shift to give report.

Right now just going to the kitchen wears me out. I know I am not 100 percent ready for work.

The guilt I feel is tremendous. Not one of my bosses have called me to see if I'm okay. All the want is a doctor's note and they don't even say ti me get well soon.

But who wants a sick nurse caring for them? I need to get well. It's hard being patient.

Lots of fluids and rest. It's winter here right now so my place is very dry. I have invested in a humidifier just because of this infection.

Oh to be well again.

I know I am taking the right course to getting well, I just wish work would understand.

Thanks. I just needed to vent.