Recovering from double pneumonia and pneumothorax (twice).

[Astral11]

Was in hospital for 7 weeks with the above. I am still off work and taking 30mg of Prednisolone daily. I am still experiencing sweats and very lethargic, the mind is willing but the legs just go weak after a while. Is this normal or am I being impatient with myself? I was in ICU twice and then high dependency. I am very emotional and relive some of the memories during the critical stage I went through.

[Astral11]

Many thanks Stitch for your kind reply, I appreciate your advice and will try and be a bit more patient with myself and what my body is telling me. Little by little will be the order of the day now.Take care and have a lovely Christmas. xx

[Mocarey]

Astral as the previous post states, give yourself time, be good to yourself. I remember 20 years ago when I was in hospital for 3 weeks with a pneumothorax it was so long before I was able to lead any semblance of my normal life! Hoping things improve for you soon! x

[Astral11 in reply to Mocarey]

Many thanks Mocarey for replying, I know it's a time thing, but I feel it's one step forward and two behind, anyway I will promise to be more patient with myself and listen to my body. I surrender lol. x

[cofdrop-UK]

Totally agree - listen to your body and be kind to yourself. It takes time, but you will get there. Sure improvement will be quicker if you 'go with the flow'.

Love C xxx

[Astral11 in reply to cofdrop-UK]

Many thanks cofdrop for your reply, I will "go with the flow", thank you xx

[dall05]

Hi Astral11, Just to try and make you feel a little better. After 4 months in hospital with double pneumonia,10 weeks of which were in ICU, From experience I can tell you that time and a good sense of humour will get you through in the end. Yes I certainly had my moments of tears and worries but my approach to all the bad stuff was to exept that I should have died 2 years ago and now Im on lucky bonus time that I should never have had. Try not to look back too much, your recovery will be a roller coaster ride but you will get there. Be positive,dont be afraid and exercise as much as possible. Tony.

[Astral11 in reply to dall05]

Many thanks Tony for your advice, yes thankfully I am told I still have my sense of humour, but other times very weepy. I relive the day my family were sent for and I was terrified. I am trying to get out and about, short walks, little shopping but it leaves me so exhausted II have to go and lie down but I know everthing takes time, I will try and look forward and be positive now that I know I'm not alone with my feelings and fears. Take care and have a lovely Christmas.

[dall05 in reply to Astral11]

I used to cry a lot, especially when talking about my illness but this got less as time passed. My next challenge could be lung transplant as my consultant has put me forward for assessment at the QE in Birmingham. The word Transplant brought out the tears once more but my bloods nurse said to say it three or four times a day and you'll get used to it . She was right, Its all about mind games and talking to the right people. Ive found there's some great people out there with good advice. My family were taken to the small room when I was on ICU and told I was'nt going to survive but that was just over 2 years ago now, they call me a miracle and I now return to ICU occassionally to thank them and show them thier fantastic efforts wern't waisted when they fought for my life. Even though I'm struggleing to do simple tasks these days Im still happy with where I'm at as things could be a lot worse. Push yourself a little everyday and keep talking, Its good to let it all out. Merry Christmas to you Asral11

[papageno]

Yes, as said above, it does take a while to recover. My own experience of very lengthy hospitalisation produced a discovery: the importance of good nutrition, which too often is ignored by physicians. Have you thought of consulting a nutritionist?

[Astral11 in reply to papageno]

Hi papageno, thank you for your advice and yes I agree with you, I often wondered about asking my GP about diet etc but as my after care has been very much nil I just didn't want to bother them. I will look in to your suggestion and hopefully find something to build up my immune system. Take care.

[kimmy59]

Hello Astal11

I didn't think I would every feel well again I was off work for three months, but like the others have said be kind to yourself you will get better.

I'm keeping everything crossed for you.

Kim xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

[Astral11 in reply to kimmy59]

Thank you kimmy59, I know I have to be patient and let my body and mind heal as my emotions are all over the place. xx

[Hidden]

Hi Astral

It can take a very long time getting over pneumonia and you seem to have had a double dose, I can only echo what others have said and make sure you rest plenty, exercise when you feel you can (even walks up and down inside 3 times daily is good) make sure you eat a good diet with good protein intake as well as plenty of fresh vegetables and fruit, drink plenty of water, take pro biotics to help counteract the anti biotics side affects, all these things are going to help toward your recovery. And especially have a pamper session at least once a week, either you pampering yourself or get someone to come and give you a facial or foot massage with pedicure something along those lines.

Take good care and hope you are soon feeling better.

Zoee x

[Astral11 in reply to Hidden]

Many thanks Zoee for your kind reply. Yes I could do with a little pampering that's true and I think I'll be doing just that. I do try and keep to a routine, bed, rise and do what I can when I have the energy but it is soon zapped then I feel it's back to square one but I will be positive and look forward to a nice Christmas and that pampering session. Take care.x

[Hidden in reply to Astral11]

sessions as in more than one...

[hufferpuffer]

Hello Astral, I'm so sorry you've had a rotton time and I'm glad to hear you are on the road to recovery, one day at a time! I think everyone has given you the best advice possible so I am sending you some love and best wishes and hugs, Carol x

[Astral11 in reply to hufferpuffer]

Hi Carol, thank you for your support and advice, it is very much appreciated. I know I still have a long road to go but I will get there. Take care.x

[mirowe]

I have sent my portable oxygen generator an Airsep Freestyle to Intermedical they tell me it is going to be £980 to be serviced. This seems to me to be hugely expensive has anyone got experience of servising costs? I only use this unit on holiday .your experiences will be helpful in understanding this cost mirowe

[wormy]

Hi,

It is very helpful reading all your comments about recovery from pneumonia. Thank you. When you say it takes a long time to get over pneumonia, what is a 'long time'? I was in hospital at Christmas for 9 days, following 6 weeks of breathlessness that just got worse. 3 types of anti-biotics as well as Prednisole, which has just finished. I'm just not used to being ill, and want to get better. No strength, no energy, breathless when resting, and feeling down with it all

[Astral11]

Good morning (wormy), sorry to hear you are still very unwell, I won't beat about the bush so to speak but I have been told that this is a day to day healing process and patience is the essence. It is easier said than done, I have good days and bad days and that has been since last August so you can imagine how fed up I get at times. I am still on Prednisolone now down to 7.5mg from 60mg, this plays havoc with my taste buds, hair thinning out and just generally feeling unwell. I have been told that this recovery can take anything up to 2 years to be fully well again. I still have all the symptoms you are describing and wonder some days if I am going to be well again. I worked full time and lead quite a nice life, plenty energy and always planning something but that's all on hold now. I get a bit paranoid when someone coughs or sneezes, terrified I get a relapse. I see my consultant on the 14th March for intensive breathing tests, I have never smoked but that goes for nothing nowadays. I waken in the morning and have to think about doing things, even having a shower is exhausting, do you feel this as well. Only advice as I've been told is rest, whenever your body tells you. Drink lots of fluid, eat good tasty food, a wee pamper now and again and lots of fresh air, even just a wee walk each day, breath deeply and relax. It's sad you were in hospital over Christmas, I'm sure that wouldn't have been easy. At the moment I am having talking sessions with a counsellor as doctor now said I have Post Traumatic Stress, flashbacks of things that happened to me in ICU, I am very lucky to be here and thankful but it doesn't make me or you feel better when we are still suffering the symptoms, when is it all going to get better, TIME, doctor said I am being impatient with myself so now I am doing as he says. I still get very frightened and so will you but please be good to yourself. Do you have a family to help support you in all this? Do you have faith in your GP? Spring is around the corner, each day will make a difference although you might not think it at the time. I know I still have a long road to go and you will be the same. It is a dreadful illness and very frightening to experience, tey and do deep breaths when relaxing and before going to sleep. I hope this has been a bit of help and keep me posted. Take care and God Bless. Moyra x

[wormy]

Dear Moyra, I so appreciate your reply and a reminder to me that I must be patient. Thank you for taking the time. It is hard isnt it, when you are a person who is always planning something and enjoys an active life? I'm so unused to lacking in energy that I try to do some of the things I would usually do and get frustrated because I can't. (I've still got it in my head that I will be doing a sponsored walk in September!!!!!) Like you Moyra, I did feel exhausted when showering, and would get so cold after because I couldn't get dry quickly enough! It's horrible to feel so weak isnt it.

But I do understand just how lucky I am to have come through it as I have because the end of Prednisol is in sight. Goodbye to the night sweats, food tasting bitter, cramp in feet and hands, foggy brain................ I also agree with you that good food plays a big part, going to bed at what ever hour feels right, relaxing and I do love reflexology and that is a treat for me as my reflexologist comes to my home And my family are strong and supportive.

I think the trick to it all is to find out what the base line is.....to find out what I can do, and build on that gradually over time. And have realistic expectations......I do so miss walking my lovely black labrador, as that was a daily pleasure for me. He looks at me hopefully as if to say 'now? are we going now?'.......when the warmer weather comes I hope I'll be out there.

I am so sorry to hear of the PTSD you have suffered. That's just an awful thing to have to overcome on top of everything else. I have experience of it I'm sad to say so can sympathise with you. How are you finding the sessions with your counsellor?

Good luck next Thursday at your breath test with the consultant. Let me know how it goes.

I hope you have supportive family and friends around you too. Best Wishes and take care, Jan xx

[Astral11]

Hi Jan, hope you are feeling a bit better as the days pass. I am looking out at the snow (yes we have been blessed with snow today) Mother's Day so no treat of lunch for me today, I knew the minute I woke up this morning that it was cold outside and no outings for me as the cold grips my chest. At present I am taking Amoxicillan for crackles on my lungs, it took 3 visits to the surgery before they eventually gave me something knowing full well the terror I was feeling at having a relapse, no wonder people lose faith in their health care. My sessions with the counsellor are going well but they do leave me drained, it is getting easier talking about my experience and feelings when I was in ICU and High Dependency but I still break down at times and wonder where the last 8 months of my life has gone. I have a good family and a partner who is an angel, they have been there for me every step of the way, Gerry has booked us on a trip to Sorrento, Capri, and Rome, this is in May and Jan I pray to God I will feel a lot better than I do at the moment. I remember saying to him that I will never fly anywhere on holiday again because of the germs in the air on a plane, he has booked a coach tour to which I am so excited about but scared at the same time. I will ask my respiratory consultant at the clinic next week a few questions about going away. I have bought myself Manuka honey, zinc with Vit. C and trying to eat as healthily as I can, Food at the moment has such a horrible taste and I don't find much appetising. How are you feeling within yourself Jan, I was laughing at the bit about the dog looking at you as much as to say are we going out for "walkies", they are such good company and give love unconditionally. Keep me posted as to how you are getting on, take care. Moyra xx