sorry me again! Should I be worried about chest infection….now viral infection and generally feeling terrible?!

[Alfiedude99]

am I overthinking everything?? Apologies for posting again……so, home a month tomorrow after 9 days on ventilator in icu……I got pneumonia whilst on the ventilator, then I got a chest infection and crackles on my lung, finished the antibiotics yesterday and still felt awful so the dr gave me a blood test and today they said it’s now a viral infection (the chest one was bacterial?) and I was sent for X-rays today.

should I be worried? I’m an over thinker and try to stay away from dr google so I don’t self diagnose, has anyone else had infections like these after coming home?

my anxiety is through the roof thinking the worst, that I’ll end up back in hospital or worse in the icu again. Are infections relatively normal because of the immune system being low or am I just really unlucky?

[Sepsur]

a stay in ICU often leaves us immune suppressed ( this can be for a little time) - - the important thing is to keep yourself as well as you can - I take vitamins & minerals when required, eat healthy & try and get a healthy sleep pattern. I was especially depleted in Vitamin D, b1,b6 & b12 & magnesium

[Lux95]

Hi - it is natural to be worried after what we've went through, but try not to, as much as possible at least.

I had severe viral and bacterial pneumonia (my reason for being hospitalized originally), then while in the ICU on the ventilator, I developed fungal pneumonia as well (the worst of the three). They were able to bring all three under control. Infections happen, especially viral and especially with a weakened immune system. Follow your physician's advice, get plenty of rest and eat healthy. Post as much as you want or need to - no need to apologize. That's what this site is for!

[downthemoor]

Never apologise for posting here! This group has been a life saver for me. It's good your doctor taking it seriously and sending you for X-rays ..as I've posted here before having a GP that understands is a big help. The one I saw the day after discharge (she has since told me when she saw me that day she didn't think I was well enough to survive ) ...sent me straight back to hospital and has been amazing with every concern since. My last visit to her she said 'I see dozens of people every day who have nothing wrong with them ....please see me straight away with any issues as you have as you deserve it after ICU. ' In contrast another GP told me to buy a book on psychogenic hyperventilation!!! Enough said about that one! Anxiety lives with us long after ICU ...the first anniversary of my admission is this coming Xmas.....it won't be easy. Don't anyone put you down for being anxious either....only people who have been through this experience understand. The old phrase 'at least you're alive' doesn't cut at all for me...nothing can take away what happened and how suddenly my life was changed.

[Gooddaysunshine]

I also currently have a viral and bacterial chest infection running in tandem just now. There is some sort of respiratory virus going around that people are calling “covid lite” as it shares a similar cough, slight wheezing, and minor flu-ish feeling.

I came home 2.5 years ago after near-deadly covid and have been prone to these sort of milder viruses ever since. Our immune systems definitely take a long term hit.

However, I would not worry, easy and natural as it is to do after what we have been through. We want things to shift quickly whereas I find it now takes time and - most importantly - lots of rest.

[helen_m in reply to Gooddaysunshine]

Thank you for that reassuring comment - I think that's what I've got right now. I got a bit worried by the wheezing but I don't have a persistent cough but it is chesty or a proper fever so I was unsure whether I should go to my GP. I've had it for a week and a half now and already have dr googled too much. I do think it's getting better - it's terrifying though.

I hope you recover soon.

[Gooddaysunshine in reply to helen_m]

Thank you, in the end I had to take a week of doxycycline which seemed to clear things up, then another week of rest, so all in all 4 weeks from start to finish. I hope yours clears too, and that you phone your GP if it does not.

[BigH63]

Hi

All I would say is your Doc is dealing with it and sounds like all the right things are being done for you. If you’ve read my story both me and my partner were admitted the day after each other me with complications and died twice with sepsis pneumonia and etc etc etc my partner had sepsis pneumonia and when she came out she had one infection after another, viral and bacterial, but after two months from discharge she got better with Doctors help

So don’t google it trust you’re doctors to treat you, if you are worried then call them and tell them you’re concern's don’t sit and wonder and worry

Good luck.

[FamilyHistorian]

Never apologise! You are so lucky to have a gp that is prepared to support you. Yes we are vulnerable to everything and anything and it’s only natural to be anxious about its coming up to 4 years ago since I first went in and I now find I can manage my anxiety relatively well. Never had before. PTSD / PICS is another matter but that is getting better. I still wear a mask if I think where I am is too risky. Dr google doesn’t help because the only words you see is risk of death. So if you are worried about that don’t cross the road🤭

[Copse77]

its natural to worry after your experience and yes this forum is to share experiences and help others. It takes time to get over. This Christmas will be 6 years since my brothers ICU admission out of the blue. I was at the hospital with him every day for the next 2.5 months when he was critically ill. We are so thankful he made a good recovery and that’s why I share information to help others know recovery is possible. You will find this community a lifeline for trusted information and support

[Mycoma]

I've been out of hospital since June21 2023 n Ive had a head ache bung up ears clogged nose blocked had antibiotics but haven't worked at all. and now I've got a bit of sore throat feel drained n I'm a little scared as what happened to me in hospital . Its October now .