I'm fairly new here and joined after recently having pneumonia.
I was in critical care for a week at the beginning of Feb with double pneumonia. I had stabbing pains in my chest and back/shoulder and shortness of breath. The hospital were great and was discharged after the week with a couple of days of coamoxiclav and painkillers. Although I felt better i still didn't feel right and continued having pain and shortness of breath. I visited my gp 3 times for him to finally send me to hospital just again just to get checked. In admission and after X-ray and blood tests they said that the pneumonia was still there and I had a pleural effusion. I was given further antibiotics and continually checked and X-rayed. After a week they said that the infection had not improved and a CT scan showed that the effusion had loculated and was now empyema (pus in the pleural space). They inserted a chest drain which removed 1.5 litres but not enough so I had to have VATS (video assisted thoracic surgery) to remove the fluid and pus and thick peel that had formed. I was discharged last week after 14 days and the last couple of days I have been getting the sharp stabbing pains again? I am worried that it may have returned for the third time? Can anyone help me or advise? Thanks so much Emily
Written by
Emkjones
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
You are certainly not paranoid! Having pneumonia once is bad enough and I would hate for you to be heading for a third bout. The nurses really are good though and could offer advice to you. Their number is 03000 030 555.
Your not paranoid your unsure and obviously not well as suggested ring ring helpline and then take it from there. You know your body better than anyone so keep insisting if your not well done be so hard on yourself your not well you feel low and you do need help, by asking for it you caring for yourself x
Thank you for your reply. I will keep asking, it's hard when they can make you feel like it's all in your head but I was right last time. As you say you know in yourself. Thanks again for the advice. Hope you keep well x
Good for you! I started complaining in August last year had all sorts of tests I knew there was something as I know me ha! I took I'll January Emphasema I have COPD I insisted it was something more turned out. I had chronic bronchitis I told my doctor I wasn't looking for sympathy I know my COPD well enough he took notice X Ray done and the rest I have already said. It's hard I know when your poorly you think they are sick of hearing you! Please but they can only diagnose on what you say so keep on saying till they hear as well as listen you are worth more and don't let anyone make you feel or believe otherwise, o may sound blunt but I say how I feel and you have one life please always remember to make most of it! I really look forward to hearing your all well again and your feeling confident again as illness can take it away a while, take good care your so worth it! X
Hi there Emkjones, poor you and commiserations. I can absolutely empathise with you because I walked around for six weeks with an undiagnosed pneumonia last jan/feb 2015 which resulted in an empyema. I had two sessions in hospital on IV MEROPENEM and also this continued at home until April. I also had the pus aspirated by needle but avoided a drain and my consultant said that the body would eventually absorb the rind. It is no wonder you are in pain. You seem to have had a lot of things done to you.
I was completely wiped out for months and I have had to concentrate on feeding myself up, resting and slowly coming back to myself. I still have pain on the right side which moves about but it isn't the deep hard pain which I had with the empyema. My consultant has had three scans done to confirm that the empyema hasn't come back and I suggest that you get them to do this at the hospital and check that you are still ok. Especially if you feel that the pain is the same as before. Don't take no for an answer because empyema can result in sepsis and when I was finally diagnosed I was on the point of succumbing to it with a blood inflammation level of 260!
Thank you for your reply. I'm sorry to hear that you have been through the same. It's horrible isn't it and actually frightened me a lot. Especially when my GP kept saying my chest was clear and within a few hours the hospital say I have pneumonia and pleural effusion which like you developed into empyema!
Gosh your inflammation level was high ! That must have been awful.
Thank you again for your advice. I hope you keep well.
Yes that was the joke, I was hardly coughing anything up and what did come up was clear! All the gunk was in the chest cavity.Over the course of the six weeks I went to the GP loads of times. It was the inflammation level rising which prompted an xray then the senior in the practice saw it and all hell broke loose. There was aproblem getting the QE in Bham to admit me but eventually my consultant walked into the room and nearly fainted. They have all told me that it was a close thing and that they were all at fault for not recognising it. Apparantly people in that state don't walk around, they are prostrate in bed. So do do look after yourself. Make them take you seriously because empyema can come back.
I was 32 days in ICU with collapsed lungs and empyema I had 2 chest drains first day it was over 3 ltrs and then 1 ltr a day for some time. Was taken to another hospital for decortication but they decided that was to risky and put me on an Oscillator for 10 days. I was discharged after a total of 41 days but had 1.5 cm empyema still which went after about 18 months. I was having xrays for a long time to keep them informed on it's progress. I had AB for a long time and it was changed regularly?
Hi Sir! Hope u'll be feeling good now... wanna ask u something. My father had pneumonia for 3weeks and he didn't took it serious in the result of he got pleural effusion (Empyema). Recently went through surgery 18 days back and drain lungs by inserting tube.. Wanna know ur opinions how was all that worst time (may God bless u a healthy life ahead) as he is away he said I can't talk n walk properly we are worried about his health please tell me is it curable? Sorry can't ask in a proper way not good at English.. 🙊😕
I take it he had a decortination where they remove the puss from the lining of the outside of the lungs lungs. I am sorry to say it does take a little bit of time to get over it as the Empyema does stiffen the lungs. If he is in UK ask for Pulmonary Rehabilitation as that will give exercises with qualified nurses and simple things to help in the shortness of breath etc. As for walking If you are in bed for some time it will make the muscle weak and that has to be a bit of self help. Take it slowly and do not over do it but just try to get past the limits not by a lot and try to beat it next time. Do not think it will not improve it will be a long time and know your limits. I had chest drains but that was for the fluid inside the lungs.
Thank you, it really helped me finally took a tranquil breath after 4 weeks (stay blessed n prosperous) because of fathers health n stress I've got shoulders, neck and body pain sometimes mind fog, tight muscles, high pulse rate, needles like thing near to left ear and forehead once aur twice a day and acidity... hopefully there isn't anything serious with me too... 😕 he is in Dubai, by the way
Please don’t ignore your health especially if you have pneumonia. Over a month ago I went to hospital A&E with pains in my side and shortness of breath. For me to go to hospital is a big thing and I was taking to rests and eventually had an x ray where it showed my whole left side of my lung was infected. I had 2 drains put in and the rest was a blur. I was then transported to Southampton hospital as I was not improving! At 1.30 am I was rushed into surgery as if they didn’t operate I would have died. I was intensive care for a week and a half.
I am now home which is good. So please dont’t Ignore your health no matter what as your life is important.
My partner had an empyema drained in January 2019 and he is still in chronic pain. He has seen two separate consultants and both say there is nothing more that can be done and it's due to lesions being left behind after the empyema. I can't believe that he just has to put up with the pain and live on pain killers forever. Any advice anyone?
Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.
Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.
Pneumonia follow up test
pneumonia recovery
How Long does it take to recover from Pneumonia and Pleurisy?
Pneumonia and it's after effects
