Not a good consultant appointment

[Johnsel]

Hi All John had a follow up appointment at the hospital today after being admitted with pneumonia. Good news that the pneumonia has gone but apparently his lungs have got worse. He is still very breathless after being discharged and when asked if this will improve he said unfortunately no. As you can imagine John was even more depressed than normal about this. Surely this can not be so, I have read many times that pneumonia takes time for the lungs to recover to how they were. Can anyone cheer John up. Maybe having Pulmonary Fibrosis this is different to having other lung conditions. He has also been given (only because I asked ) Nintedanib which I understand slows it down, but has side affects. Happy Christmas to you all and have a breathe easy one. Carole 🎄🎅🏻

[Damon1864 Volunteer]

Hi Carol so sorry the consideration wasn't that good, but please don't get to down hearted a little bit of very light exercise will help improve things a little but it will take time. You can get some advice , leaflets and an exercise DVD from the BLF. Every little thing helps. Have a very merry Christmas and a happy new year. Have a good evening and take care of yourselves 🤗 Bernadette xxxxx

[sassy59]

Wishing you and John better days ahead. Love and good wishes for a very Merry Christmas and happier New Year.

Love Carole xxxxx😘

[Johnsel in reply to sassy59]

Thank you Carole and wishing you and Pete a very Happy Christmas and New Year. 🎄🎄🎅🏻💕🤶

[sassy59 in reply to Johnsel]

Love to you both. Carole xx 🎈💕🎄🥂🍾🎁🎅🏻🤶🏻

[skischool]

Carole,i have never had pneumonia but i do know that the recovery for some is quite lengthy,occasionally but not always leaving scarring,hopefully the Nintedanib will help slow progression of the fibrosis which is already affecting hubbies breathing whilst his lungs slowly recover from the pneumonia and that his consultant is erring on the side of caution so as not to give you false hope.

I might add that my dear Cecilia,although never treated for her IPF was only very breathless during the time of infections and in recovery afterwards and generally returned to a very manageable condition and hopefully this will be so for hubby.

Best wishes to you and Hubby.... Ski's and Scruff's x

[Johnsel in reply to skischool]

Thank you ski school for reply and hopefully you are right when you say the consultant is erring on the side of caution. Hope you and Scruffs have a good Christmas. 🎄🎄🤶🎅🏻

[judes]

I would echo what skischool has said and from a personal point of view pneumonia can takes ages to recover from.

I had pneumonia several times over the last 18 months and chest infections. I had the last bout back in August and only just feel back to normal, whatever that may be, so yes takes time.

Love and hugs

J

[Johnsel in reply to judes]

Thank you Judes good to know that and you are feeling much better.

[HungryHufflepuff]

I'm sorry to know the appointment wasn't more positive. I haven't had pneumonia but it's something that takes ages to recover from. Hopefully before too long there will be some improvement for John.

Wishing you both a happy Christmas too 🎄

[Hacienda]

Morning Hun, I read good advice from everyone, it does take time, I had it (caught it in Hospital), thought I'd never get over it, I did, like a Light Bulb popping, one Morning woke up feeling thank God it's gone. it will happen for John, it takes time, Have a Happy Christmas & a Fresh Start to New Year, Breathe. Love n Hugs. C.XXXX

[Johnsel in reply to Hacienda]

Hello Carolina thank you for your reply and like yourself everyone tells me that it does take time. That’s what surprised us when being told by the consultant that his breathing will never improve. As you know we live in Spain so maybe something got lost in translation. Hope you are feeling much better now and wish you a Happy Christmas and a breatheasy New Year. 🎄🎄🎄🎅🏻🎅🏻🤶🤶💕

[Hacienda in reply to Johnsel]

Hi Hun, Been out all day, just catching up. Did you not have a Translator with you.? Did the consultant not have any English? My Daughter is a Hospital Translator in Spain as are my Granddaughters, Most expats use them for their Hospital Appointments. I started with Bronchitis in Spain brought on by RA. It got worse when I came back to UK, Damp Weather, 6 years ago here, I was Diagnosed with emphysema, COPD. It can be a Trial to get to the course though. Hope John gets to be a little Better for Christmas. Take care of yourselves, if he doesn't improve then go back to The Consultant with a Translator. Peace of Mind. Hun. xxxxx All the Best for Christmas & a Great New Year. Felicidades. XXXXX C.

[Johnsel in reply to Hacienda]

We always use a translator Carolina, we have to, went to Spanish classes for over 2 years, it became so difficult. I am sure if we were younger it would have been easier. Understand a little Spanish but certainly not enough for medical jargon. Why did you come back to the UK with all the rain and damp? My daughter who lives in the UK thinks we should go back, but I think the cold and damp would kill John. Thank you for your kind advice and have a great Christmas yourself. Love Carole 🎄🎄🎅🏻🤶

[Susan1200 in reply to Johnsel]

Hi Johnsel ,I didn't know you lived in Spain,you probably have misunderstood ,I speak Swiss German,my English is good but formal letters or speaking to the doctors formally can be misleading,so please,please don't worry too much,my friend always tells me to ask, ask if I don't understand.

So in future if your not sure ask them to explain in more detail.

Relax and enjoy Spain ,Christmas and a healthy and happy new year 😎🏖🌅

[katieoxo60]

Happy Christmas to you both, fingers crossed the drugs don't cause any side effects over the holidays. It does take time to get over pneumonia especially with lung disease so John needs to take things slowly. Best wishes to you both.

[Johnsel in reply to katieoxo60]

Hello katieoxo60 We have decided to leave taking the new tablets until after Christmas just in case! Merry Christmas to you and great New Year. Carole 🎄🎄🎅🏻🤶

[Izb1]

Hi Carole, I am sure that John will see some improvement to his breathing, it is well known that pneumonia takes some getting over, so plenty of tlc, fingers crossed John will breathe easier day by day.

Wishing you and yours a Happy Christmas x

[Johnsel in reply to Izb1]

Thank you lzb1. Have a great Christmas and breatheasy New Year.

[Aingeful]

When I came out of hospital last month after pneumonia,my consultant said it will take months to recover to what he called my base line ( I have IPF too,) It is depressing! I am just taking a day at a time.xx

[Johnsel in reply to Aingeful]

Thank you Aingeful for your reply. It is depressing but it’s good to know you, and hopefully John, will get there in the end. Carole. xx

[2greys]

Even I am still noticing the after effects from Pneumonia, 10 weeks ago. Since returning back to a 40 hour week, 4 weeks ago, I am more breathless at the end of each day and certainly feel drained in the evenings finding myself nodding off.

[Johnsel in reply to 2greys]

Thank you for your reply 2greys I am passing the replies to John hoping to convince him that the consultant and the translater got muddled thinking we meant would his breathing go back to how it was before he was diagnosed with PF. Happy Christmas to you and Sharon and hoping you can keep awake over Christmas!!!🎄🤶🎅🏻🍾🍷

[Dedalus]

I believe that was a very negative thing to say by the consultant ; there is always hope for improvement after pneumonia. I agree with Damon1864 that light exercise will probably help, so don't give up. I know your husband will, understandably, feel low after the news, but hope he can find the positivity needed to carry on fighting. He's so lucky to have you to help him x

[Johnsel in reply to Dedalus]

Thank you for your kind words Dedalus Carole x

[Susan1200]

I had Pneumonia twice last year,I have taken more precautions this winter,not hugging people,when I go outside both my nose and mouth are covered up ,when I sneeze in my hand I wash my hands straight away,or if out I have a hand disinfectant,I keep my gloves on incase I touch any germ areas.

I know it might sound over the limit,so far so good.

After my two bouts of Pneumonia,I saw a different doctor and told him that I had COPD his reply was well your nearly at the end of your story .

So please don't be disheartened,I do a little exercise every day,first of all get your strength back ,slowly step by step.

Doctors are not always right if I had taken notice of my lung specialist 3 years ago I would be on Oxygen,I said No ,I knew I didn't need Oxygen.

CHIN UP.

Wishing 🌠you both a Merry Christmas and a Healthy and happy new year 🚶‍♂️👌🚶‍♀️

[Johnsel in reply to Susan1200]

Hello Susan thank you for your encouraging reply. Happy Christmas to you also and a breath easy New Year. 🎄🎄🤶🎅🏻💕

[ssafa]

Hi Carole its a bit of a blow to get pneumonia but if treated properly and with steady progress one can improve over a long time. Time as they say is a great healer and nothing can help more than time and some gentle exercise when feeling like it.

I would think most of us have had pneumonia and recognise that we all felt drained and tired for some time. My wife celebrated her last birthday sitting with me in hospital with pneumonia. Helping being positive and just being there which counts a lot.

Its doubly frustrating for wives or husbands or partners looking after us as they have to remain positive for us and without them we would fail. They try to help but frustration is a mutual feeling as we all want the same thing.

Hope you have a Good Christmas

[Ergendl]

Wishing you and John all the best for Christmas and the new year.

[Johnsel in reply to Ergendl]

Thank you so much and the same to you 🥰🎄🤶🎅🏻