just need a little advice. I’ve been ill for more than a week now. I don’t know if it started with this flu thing but it quickly turned to pneumonia. I’ve had pneumonia a few times before and know I had to contact a Dr quickly. Luckily the one I spoke to didn’t want me in hospital. He gave me some steroids and some Doxycycline. I’ve now finished the steroids yesterday and will take the last Doxycycline today.
My question to you my friends is. My chest is still like I have a beehive buzzing inside it and I still feel pretty weak. When I was at my worst last week I was very weak when walking and even fell off the loo twice. Yes I probably should have gone to hospital if only for a couple of days but was relieved that I didn’t have to go.
Do you think I need some more antibiotics.
I rang the Dr this morning at 8.34am and by then they were already full. So obviously this thing is is doing the rounds. Be careful out there folks.
A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU ALL. Xxx
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Mavary
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I had pneumonia earlier this year, and was hospitalised because they thought I had sepsis. I was in hospital for 7 weeks, 4 with pneumonia. I had to have 2 different iv antibiotics, a strong one, then an even stronger one to get rid of the infection. I hope you’re feeling better soon.
Oh my goodness! That sounds horrific. I hate hospitals. They used to be a place you could recover in but now it’s just busy busy busy. My last stay in hospital I had to put in a complaint. It was several things that shouldn’t have happened. Not in this day and age.
I had pneumonia four or five years ago and I was in hospital for three days then. I know I’m a bit subject to getting it. I’ve had it five or six times in my lifetime. The first time I had it I was about four years old then. I had TB at the time and they think the fever probably killed off the TB. Luckily for me! Of course every infection we have leaves us with scarring which leaves us open to more infections.
I realised what I probably had and got hold of a Dr as soon as I could. I’ve got a feeling I will be getting more antibiotics though. I’ve got to ring tomorrow. The receptionist did say she will get me in. Watch this space. 🤨😄
I would ring them straight away in the morning just to be on the safe side and stress that it's important for you to see one. You don't want to be feeling rubbish over Christmas of all things. I just got over my 4th virus, might even be 5th as I've started to lose count 🤣🤣🤣. Look after yourself chook 😉
The trouble is I don’t usually get up until 9.00am so it’s always difficult for me to ring at 8.30am. I’ve got a cat that’s in the habit of coming in at 1.00 am. In the morning. He’s fifteen now so I don’t like leaving him out.
I don’t feel strong enough to go to the surgery yet. I don’t want any more germs anyway. I’d like to keep away from everyone. I know I probably do need to be seen but is it worth the risk while I’m so low.
It's like catch 22 when your unwell and you have the holidays coming up as I detest sitting in the surgery waiting room where everyone seems to be coughing. Crikey 15 is great for a 🐈. Whatever you decide I hope you have a cracker of a Christmas and stay warm and safe snuggled with your cat 😉
I didn’t think that mine did until I told them that I simply could not get to the practice because I could not drive the car owing to vertigo and I had nobody to bring me.
Hi Mavary, Sorry to hear you are not so well even to spite the tablets. What about trying 111 for advice , pneumonia often leaves you with a drained feeling for quite sometime , did you check for COVID 19 ? Apparently the latest one of that is far worse than the last one and could cause weak lungs to get the pneumonia. Anyway no matter what you need to take care, plenty of fluid to clear the germs even if only water. Keep warm and avoid those with bugs themselves even colds. Thank you for letting us know what these winter bugs are like. When I had a long drawn out lung infection they gave me steroids because it was antibiotic resistant , but need the doctor for that mine had been around for three months.maybve give it a little more time to settle down Happy Christmas at home hopefully xx
That was the first thing I did was check for Covid. But it was negative.
It’s the 4th or 5th time I’ve had pneumonia. That’s how I knew to ring the Dr straight away. If someone had come out then I would have been in hospital. They would have given me the same medication though and I had the comfort of my own home.
As you said hospital "used" to be a place you felt safe , now the nurses are run off their feet. A few times I've had infection with the cannula , because the nurse was rushing she didn't do the job properly. I remember the amazing care I received in hospital decades ago, sadly it's all changed .
Half the time they don't even have a bed for you .
Hope you’ve managed to get another course of antibiotics Mavary.
I've been on nebulised Colomycin for over a year now due to Pseudomonas, it's quite time consuming and tiring but I don't get the upset stomachs that I did when I was on doxycycline.
If you're not feeling better soon ,"insist " your GP comes out to see you.
These over the phone consultations are no good for our condition, we need to be seen .
I think you really should push for a face to face appointment so they can listen to your lungs. If you don't get that then it sounds like you may well be wise to push for some more antibiotics to make sure the thing goes completely. And take it easy. Pneumonia is tough while you have and while you recover.
Hi Mavery you have been unwell for a week and no relief from Doxy and stgeroids. The fact that you are weakening I think you should be seen and if need be. a different AB.
When I was ill two or three weeks ago, reading your post your chest sounds are not unlike what I had and I had never had it quite like that before.
I would be seen being you are not right and feeling weak.
I would call in the morning. I would 100 % be looking for more antibiotics and someone will need to hear your chest. If you are given just antibiotics try and secure an appointment as a follow up especially before the holidays. But best to hear what is going on in that chest. Not easy I know. Maybe they could see you later in the morning ? The felines and their routine of early hours can be tough on us when unwell. Take care, both. xx
Please don’t underestimate how very, very unwell pneumonia can make you.
I’m disappointed your GP Surgery doesn’t seem to be taking this seriously. You’ve taken a full course of antibiotic but still have infection? You may need a further week of the same type, or a different one.
Push to speak to a Doctor, and make sure they understand you don’t feel physically able to go to the Surgery. Please let us know how you get on.
I had pneumonia recently and was given Levofloxacillin, where I would normally have Doxy for a standard chest infection. Be cautious that this pneumonia has not been killed off properly - have you had a sputum sample checked for the actual type of infection you have? Avoiding hospital may be preferable, but not if your infection is not being treated properly.
My husband has PMR developed pneumonia in September. He has never been a cold or flu person (that’s me) so he didn’t appreciate how bad it can get. No drs appointments as per and they never take these things seriously anyway. I insisted he go to A&E. It was packed to the rafters but he was taken straight in and onto the Resp Ward. Took a week to stabilise. The pneumonia saved his life ironically because they found these stringy white clots in his thigh and now he is on blood thinners for life. Ain’t life strange?
That's a great way of putting it , your chest was like a beehive buzzing inside .I'll always remember being in a lift one day and the girl standing next to me started panic, she thought a bee was in the lift , I was so embarrassed but said nothing 🐝
I'm lying here in bed at the moment and thats what I sounds like , ha .
Do you have asthma too Mavary ?
I have asthma as well as the bronchiectasis between the asthma wheezing sounds and the crackles with the bronchiectasis it's like a percussion 😬
please try the doctors again. You need another course of antibiotics and steroids. If no luck A and E. You definitely need another course if your chest is still not good.
I will be ringing tomorrow. I discovered last night that I had two lots of two Doxycycline sitting in the bottom of the box. I was going to throw the box away but then I shook it and out fell the other four. So I’m waiting until tomorrow to ring now.
If you can't get to speak with your doctor today then ring 111 you really cant leve this and they may be able to force an appointment with your doctor x
My GP surgery simply tells people if you want to see a GP today phone 111, 111 do the triage and if they thinks it’s necessary they will send a paramedic or contact the GP, I have done this a few times and always got see someone the same day.
Sounds to me like you should have a rescue pack for when infection doesnt go away. Its there for when you need it then. Good luck and hope you feel better very soon. Karen xxx
good morning to you l am just getting over for the 2nd time within 6 months pneumonia have had 3 lots of antibiotics and steroids hospital eventually put me on a very strong biotic co-amoxiclav500mg..having side effects but it is working and begining to feel better in my self ...l hope you soon get better
What a sad state we're in when we have to fight tooth & nail for a GP appt.So sorry you still feel unwell. Definitely need the antibiotics to hand if you dont start to improve.
I started on nebbed colomycin 4 weeks ago. Was feeling better despite horrific gerd in the night & feeling sick & seedy. Oxygen levels up & much less mucus.
However feel like i have haem inffluenza since Thurs... Achey & weak & my son is home from Canada. 😢Really wanted to be well. Sorry for hijacking your post.. Get well soon! X
Do hope you get the help you need Mavary and feel on top form for the Christmas celebrations. I've not had pneumonia, thankfully, to be able to offer any advice, though I've been really struggling since late September. My GP has done various tests and says nothing wrong, just the COPD, but I know my body well enough to know something is causing this, Good luck xx
Hello Mavary, you've had some great advice on here. I'm lucky that my gp surgery supplies me with a rescue pack so I can take quick action when I have an infection. I bought an oximeter and have a home peak flow meter so I can self test when feeling challenged by lung issues. It's a real shame that there is so much variance in the way surgeries handle these really serious medical conditions. I've had pneumonia several times and found it to be really debilitating. I took me weeks to get some sort of wellness back. I'm hoping you got through to the doctors... At the least you should have another week on doxycycline but probably something stronger would be more effective a someone else mentioned... Good luck xx
I'd say definitely. Pleurisy can accompany pneumonia. Problem is, it's reported hospitals are under pressure with winter ills. Did you put in a sputum sample for testing? They need to know what bug you have, if any, and prescribe the RIGHT antibiotic to knock it out. Might even need an intravenous one. I believe a bout of pneumonia and pleurisy I had in Nov 2019, may be the cause of my heart failure, which seem to be there soon after. The pleurisy was fluid on my lungs, which showed up on a CT scan. This made it hurt to breath, so I tended to breath very shallowly for probably 4 days. They drew off 3/4 litre of yellow infected fluid. All those antibiotics I was put on, caused oral thrush, so yet another med for that.
If you do end up in hospital, hope you get out before Christmas.
snap. Almost identical story to me. Don’t think I’ve had/got pneumonia, more like bronchitis. Nurse said it sounded like bagpipes. Never in my life had such a thing. Couldn’t lie down, too weak to walk, hard to breath. Had the doxycycline which knocked me sick but seemed to have done the job. Still feel unwell though. Went round the whole house too. It’s a nasty one alright. Hope you recover soon. Keep warm and well hydrated.
In 1986, my Dad came down with what he described as the worst case of the flu he’d ever had in his life. First his doctor diagnosed it as bronchitis, then as Pneumonia (or vice versa) but when medication got rid of neither in 10 days, he did more screening to find out Dad actually had lung cancer - both small cell and non small cell. Stage 4. He lasted about 11 months. Dad was 2 weeks shy of 62 when he passed. He had smoked all his adult life and been exposed to a myriad of carcinogens of his day - asbestos and the like. Today we have government dropping chemicals from the sky, often referred to as “chem trails” which I won’t elaborate on here. We have the tendency to trust our doctors with whatever they tell us, but I urge you to take the advice of a Great American President who advised “Trust buy verify”. Drugs we have today can knock out pneumonia in a week’s time.
Ignore any doom mongers, Mavary, there’s always one 🙄 In my experience pneumonia takes many forms, depending firstly on the bacteria causing it & secondly how fast it’s treated. It can be mild, or serious. I think your gp should do a home visit but if they won’t, definitely call 111. I met someone who works for the service recently, who told me it’s much better now, if someone is really ill they’ll send an on-call gp round. You don’t sound well enough to go & sit in A&E but if you get worse it’ll have to be 999. I’m like you & avoid hospital at all costs but sometimes…
I try to avoid Drs or Hospitals. The latter being the worst. My last stay for only three days was absolutely disgusting. I believe it’s the same in all of them. I said the next time I go in will be feet first.
Does your practice operate a GP Call back system Mavary. If I cannot get to see a Doctor I can at least speak to One if I-call early morning. Last time I sports mine I was bringing up blood in my bile and GP referred me to the Chest Clinic the following day where I saw a Consultant. I had a CT Scan within 24 hrs ; blood tests etc I did not need to be admitted but the knowledgeable at the hospital is so much greater than a GP. My GP hadn’t even heard of my lung disease. I have been prescribed Co/Amoxiclav Tablets when infections are proving difficult (A course of 21 tablets - 3 per 24 period) they are one of-the last line of defences but seem to work for me.. They contain some pencillin though if you should be allergic. You do sound as though you may need more than one course of antibiotics for your current situation. If you cannot get to see your GP can you discuss over phone?
Dear Mavis, I've only just read this, it sounds awful and I'm so sorry you've been through the mill. I do hope things have improved with more antibiotics by now. Thinking of you ××× P
I don’t seem to be able to get over this too good. It’s the coughing mainly. It really annoys me. My chest is really sore where I’ve coughed so much. I think I’m over the infection it’s just the rubbish coughing and beehive in my chest.
Anyway it’s lovely to hear from you. I hope you are keeping not too bad. Xxx
I'm so sorry, did you get more antibiotics from the doctor? It sounds as though you definitely needed them. I'm not too well at the moment, I managed to get a miracle doctor appointment on Thursday, he insisted it's a virus & refused to accept the concept that I could get an infection on the back of it. Very sore throat, headache, fever & sore tubes. Anyway, I hope you get to see loved ones over Christmas 🎄 ×××
I was going to book for today Friday but someone nicked the day. I really thought today was Friday. I’m going to have to get in for Monday now. I was saying I’m booking for today to my friend and she said what on a Saturday. I looked at my temperature thing which tells me the day. And DUH!!! I don’t know how I did that.
I had my Son come in yesterday and he said I don’t know who’s going to be first. The cat or you. I could have slapped him. He’s the hard nut of my boys. He did make us a cup of tea.
I looked in the mirror and my face is as white as a sheet.
I’m definitely not right by a long way. I did enjoy a cup of tea and coffee this morning but usually it tastes horrible.
Anyway you didn’t say how you are. We’ve known each other for a long time now. I lost Mike eleven years ago now. I lost my Son the end of this year too which is heartbreaking. It’s not surprising I’ve been ill. xxx
I justbread the end of your message. It sounds. Bit like how mine started. I had like a cold thing. Very runny nose then my throat was really sore. It turned to a fever and I could barely walk. I fell off the loo twice. I then knew it was more than a virus. It had turned to pneumonia. The Dr gave me steroids and Doxycycline and it’s gone on from that. I had a streaming nose in the morning. After taking one lot of six steroids the nose stopped running by the end of the day. I dont like taking steroids because of my bones but it was a case of needs must.
You take care of yourself and don’t get like I have. You get on to them the minute you feel it’s going on your lungs. XXX
Is it 11 years since you lost your husband? I cannot believe it and I'm desperately sorry to hear about your son so yes, no wonder you're ill. Stress grief and anxiety wreak havoc with your immune system too - as do antibiotics but as you say, needs must. My family are quite far away, the nearest are 90 miles (takes 2 hours now the traffic is so busy), the next are near Cambridge/Ely which is a minimum of 3 hours drive then then son & French lot are almost 900 miles. I cant remember when someone last made me a cuppa, I know how special that cup he made you was 😂 .Forget Christmas and just rest up and get well 🤗
That’s what I want to do but I get blackmailed into going to my two Sons. Oh the Children were looking forward to you coming. They do their own things anyway. If I don’t feel well enough by then I’m not going though.
Yes it’s very rare I get a cup of tea or coffee given me. I’ve usually got to get it myself. Mrs independent me. 🤣
Same here I'm Mrs independent and self reliant too and my family will also try to persuade me to join them "let us look after you" 😳. Much as I want to witness the little one's magical Christmas I know it would set back recovery by sapping any strength & energy I've got so got to be strong in saying no on this occasion. My 5 gorgeous grandchildren range from 3 to 13, the din 🤪. I've a big reason to conserve energy & get properly well, a good friend has booked us 2 weeks in Goa leaving 7th January - the sunshine & sea air will help (I hope, dreading the journey to Gatwick let alone a long flight). Your big reason to stay home on this occasion is also to concentrate the little energy you have left in recovery or you will end up back in hospital!! ××
I know what you are saying. I will only go for a few hours. Then I can come home and open my presentsifimnot too shattered. It’s only once a year an and I probably will make the effort. I’ve just got to see how I feel on the day.
Wow! Goa! Did you book my ticket too. 🤣. That is sure to make you feel better. I can’t afford the insurance any more. I’ve had seven spinal fractures, a broken foot and a broken hand. I’ve got Osteoporosis quite badly. I’m sure I would get better much quicker in the sunshine and it would improve my bones. Ah well I’ll have to make do with you telling me what a great time you will have. Xxx
Oh my dear, may I butt in and say I am so so sorry to read about your son. As you say, no wonder you’ve been so ill. Our emotional condition definitely affects our physical health. Just do your best to slowly recover, and put yourself first. Have a cosy time resting at home with lots of treats just for you! Mrs Independent is good, it’s tenacity which keeps us all going and you have it in spades, so I look forward to reading better news of you very soon 🥰
Peeve I’m sorry to but into your conversation but I read your answer to Mavery it was nice to read the chat between you and her and that you’ve had a friendship on here for a good while . . . It warms my heart that people are there for each other even if it’s a forum like this 😊 I’ve lost contact with a lot of my family when my mum passed we all went our separate ways ( im youngest of 8) I’m alsolucky to have my little own family close by . . . It saddened me that you’ve got no one make a brew for you . . . So I thought I would send you a virtual one ☕️😊 I hope you don’t mind kind regards Yvonne xx
Yes you're quite right Yvonneh1234, it is lovely to have known a few members through thick n thin here with giving and receiving unstinting support. It's like having a very understanding neighbours - especially when they send you a cuppa !
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Pneumonia
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