pneumonia

[2013mayo]

hi everyone,

I’ve been suffering what I thought was stomach/ abdo pain, I’ve also been getting very itchy skin with my lower legs blood vessels spontaneously bursting. The pain got so bad in my abdo I went to A/E, they done blood tests and ct scan and it turns out I have very serious blood infection and pneumonia in my left lower lung, I’m now on high dose pred and antibiotic and pain relief, feel terrible, the bursting blood vessels have calmed down, but it seems when I’m ill I get these terrible patches of blood, I don’t knock them they just spontaneously burst, can’t understand any of it, I’m not coughing , chest does feel tight but I just thought it was me, they are also investing why I’m getting severe indigestion.

Any thoughts?

[PMRpro Ambassador]

That sounds a bit as if your pneumonia has tipped you very close to sepsis.

It tends to be dismissed a bit by the public these days but adult pneumonia was often referred to as "walking pneumonia" with the patients thinking it was a mild cold-like illness and carrying on as normal - and the result was the body didn't get a chance to recover and it just got worse and worse. When my girls were in primary school one of the other mums had it, a young, healthy woman, and she said it was 6 months before she felt recovered.

One of the signs of sepsis can be pinprick bruises that can also join up to look like enormous bruises like yours - this is the best image I can find which isn't saying much! What happened to the idea that a picture paints a thousand words!!

medicalnewstoday.com/articl...

I hope they work out what's going on - and get well soon.

[2013mayo in reply to PMRpro]

Hi, thank you, yes I have a feeling I was/ am going down the road of sepsis, I feel so poorly, it’s not like me to not recover quicker, just can’t seem to get on top of this, just hope the pain stops soon, it’s so uncomfortable , a few days ago I said to my husband I think this is going to kill me, I’m not a dramatists in any way, but it’s just a feeling that over whelms me. I’m trying my best to get better, taking my meds and resting. Please keep fingers crossed for me.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to 2013mayo]

It is a really serious illness and very easy to miss - which is why it is all over the side of ambos these days! It will take time - don't try to force it.

[2013mayo in reply to PMRpro]

Thank you

[Numptybrain]

Hi I’ve had sepsis twice, each time due to double pneumonia, I’ve been extremely lucky as I was delirious both times. You’re definitely in the right place and I hope you feel better soon, even after pneumonia it takes it’s toll, so please take it easy and be kind to yourself.

Take care

Wendy xx

[2013mayo in reply to Numptybrain]

Thank you

[Freya32]

Are you in hospital ?If not you really ought to be.I was really ill last year with pneumonia , heart failure,etc etc. I called the district nurse because my greatly swollen feet were soo bad. Incredible pain.She came out straight away and called an ambulance. She saved my life. I was 16 days in hospital.

Was diverted to another hospital when on the way to one and was 12 hours in the ambulance as no beds until 8 am. We drove round and round. Once admitted ,

they tried five antibiotics before one worked.

So Pneumonia is not to be taken lightly. It makes you feel so unwell.

Drs and nursing staff were really good and kind.

So I really do hope you are getting care and the right treatment.

It can affect you badly at any age.

Take things easy once you are on the mend.

[2013mayo in reply to Freya32]

Thank you , my feet have really swollen too, it’s Friday night now so I can’t get hold of my docs, I’m at home and I feel really poorly, it’s really taken it’s toll on me.

[Freya32]

Is your breathing ok?Are any drops of water coming out of your feet?

Do you feel hot.

Keep your feet higher than your heart.

Use pillows under your feet if you have not got an adjustable bed.

If you really feel bad you must call 111 if you are in UK.

Someone will answer you and advise you.

They will talk to you and the either get a Doctor to visit you or send an ambulance.

At least they will know what you should do.

Wishing you well.

X

[2013mayo in reply to Freya32]

Thank you, I’m keeping my feet up , they are so painful can’t even stand on them, I hope it’s not like what you went through, sounds terrible. Yes I keep getting hot then cold, bouts of dizzy head and so on.

[Freya32 in reply to 2013mayo]

Oh dear, poor lamb. Have you some pain ease ,paracetamol or such. If so take one or two but only if you have used them before.

Your swollen feet / legs need special bandaging in layers to sop up the water. It is interstitial fluid that leaks....but you may not have that. The district nurse will do that for you.

Wear loose topped socks.

Have you got a thermometer to take your temp.

If you have any trouble with breathing then best call 111.. you can call them anytime , if your symptoms don't improve. Drink plenty. What antibiotics are you on?.

I do think you should be in hospital.

Ps. Just seen image of your legs.

Just like mine were only less swollen than mine. Older skin loses moisture so needs creams big bruised looking blobs like yours.

They need special cream on them on them in morning and before bed.

Hospital used epimax or a vaseline type cream too.

You can get it from Amazon.

Try not to knock your legs.

[2013mayo in reply to Freya32]

Thank you, your kind words are helping, my legs were not swollen when I took those pictures, it’s since I’ve been diagnosed with pneumonia, well a couple of days after I left hospital, I was only there for the day, only given oral antibiotics and sent home, feeling so poorly , thank you again so much for your kind words, it helps..

Keep fingers crossed for me

[Freya32 in reply to 2013mayo]

Hallo,I hope you slept a bit and are a little better

They should not have sent you home but probably had no beds free.

Best ask the District nurse to look in if she will.

Tell her about your "fat legs.."as it is called.

She may well bandage them.

I know they are terribly painful. I was screaming with the pain...and am fairly stoical.

Did they do an ECG at hospital.

Did you have a scan?

The other cream the hospital used was called Zeroderm ointment.

Ask your GP for some.

You must take care of your legs and feet when they are like this.

Thinking of you.

Freya.

[2013mayo]

hi, they done a ct scan of my abdo / chest, I was not coughing then, just in severe pain, and short breath, they took blood and said my blood showed severe infection and ct scan showed pneumonia. She tried to get me in a/e majors but there was no room, they didn’t check my heart, in fact they didn’t even listen to my lungs, they put me in a bed where I stayed until I got the med. I did not have swollen legs then., got them 2 days later. So fed up with all, just want to get better. 😢