Pneumonia Recover?

[Plateau Mama]

On the Thursday the 9th I woke up with what I thought was a simple cold. Fast forward to Tuesday I had fever, couldn't catch my breath, hurt to breath etc. I asked do to take me to urgent care and didn't think that was needed. "They can't do anything." Wed. Evening I drove myself to the urgent care. They took one look at me and sent me downstairs to ER where I was diagnosed with pneumonia in the upper right lobe.

 

I have been on antibiotics for 5 days. I no longer feel like I want to die, but how long will it be before I am back to normal? Other than coughing I feel ok but I tire just thinking about doing things. I'm trying to be good and just rest, but I see everything that's not getting done and I feel like I should be trying to do some of it.

 

Also, should I still get a flu shot? I was going to get one last week, then I fot sick. Dh says no, but I have no idea.

[Chris in VA]

I don't know, personally, but a dear co-worker of mine had pneumonia, and it took her two weeks to get back to work, and she still needed to rest in the afternoons for another 2-3 weeks. She was a really healthy person, too.

[Plateau Mama]

I don't know, personally, but a dear co-worker of mine had pneumonia, and it took her two weeks to get back to work, and she still needed to rest in the afternoons for another 2-3 weeks. She was a really healthy person, too.

Ugh, that's what I'm afraid of. I did get someone to take over my co-op class tomorrow. I'm not sure if I will be up for staying on campus the three hours or if I will have to go rest at my moms again. Fortunately I don't have much going on this week but my poor 6yo is getting worried about the lack of school. He said when I feel better he will do extra lessons every day until we are caught up. (FTR I'm not worried about it, we got a great start to the year and were ahead in a lot of areas.)

[gardenmom5]

For me it was months

[TrixieB]

On the Thursday the 9th I woke up with what I thought was a simple cold. Fast forward to Tuesday I had fever, couldn't catch my breath, hurt to breath etc. I asked do to take me to urgent care and didn't think that was needed. "They can't do anything." Wed. Evening I drove myself to the urgent care. They took one look at me and sent me downstairs to ER where I was diagnosed with pneumonia in the upper right lobe.

 

I have been on antibiotics for 5 days. I no longer feel like I want to die, but how long will it be before I am back to normal? Other than coughing I feel ok but I tire just thinking about doing things. I'm trying to be good and just rest, but I see everything that's not getting done and I feel like I should be trying to do some of it.

 

Also, should I still get a flu shot? I was going to get one last week, then I fot sick. Dh says no, but I have no idea.

Call your doctor's office to ask about this.  There are restrictions about getting a flu shot when you're sick, I think.  If you don't have a primary care doc, call the urgent care center.  They should know.

 

:grouphug: :grouphug: :grouphug: :grouphug: 

 

Rest and take care of yourself.  Pneumonia is no fun.  Let the rest of the family take care of the house, laundry, as much cooking as possible, while you recover.

 

[Plateau Mama]

For me it was months

Nooooooo!

[Susan C.]

Years ago, I had viral, and it took a month or two to be back to normal. I slept like crazy, got easily winded, and had no energy. You will have fairly good days if you sleep as long as you need at night.

[prairiewindmomma]

I had pneumonia in June.  I spent a week in bed on doctor's orders (I am notorious for not resting otherwise). I spent a week on light duty.  I was back in the land of the living at that point.  It took three more weeks to feel like myself.

[Plateau Mama]

:grouphug: :grouphug: :grouphug: :grouphug: 

 

Rest and take care of yourself.  Pneumonia is no fun.  Let the rest of the family take care of the house, laundry, as much cooking as possible, while you recover.

 

 my 12 yo son has made dinner 3x this week and breakfast several times. Bless his heart. I'm going to get the family together this afternoon to fold laundry. I've been able to wash a load here and there but not fold.  

Years ago, I had viral, and it took a month or two to be back to normal. I slept like crazy, got easily winded, and had no energy. You will have fairly good days if you sleep as long as you need at night.

 this is me exactly. w/in 5 minutes of doing something I'm exhausted and nap for 2-3 hours. 

I had pneumonia in June.  I spent a week in bed on doctor's orders (I am notorious for not resting otherwise). I spent a week on light duty.  I was back in the land of the living at that point.  It took three more weeks to feel like myself.

So, what you all are saying is I'll be lucky if I'm better by Thanksgiving. 😩

 

Guess I need to sit down a prioritize the next month because it looks like there is no way it's all getting done!

[VeritasMama]

I've had it 3 times. I think it depends on your age and overall health. When I was younger I was back to my old self in 2 weeks. With my last bout it took me about a month to feel like I was back to normal, that was with anti-biotics and an inhaler.

 

I hope you have a speedy recovery!

[Katy]

It depends on what kind of pneumonia you have.  Walking pneumonia = better before the antibiotics were done.  Bacterial, right lung 2/3 filled with fluid before diagnosis took more than 6 months.

[gardenmom5]

I did get a flu shot. It was a few months later, but my Dr considered me high risk for complications if I got the flu.

Eta. Mine was bacterial and I felt like I was drowning before I started on rx. I had zip appetite, no strength, and zero energy.

 

I could only sleep sitting up - if I even so much as reclined, I felt like I was drowning.  I couldn't even roll over, I couldn't snuggle my husband, I was starting to get bed sores.  I could feel *wrinkles* in the sheet, and they were painful.  It was months before I stopped coughing, even after the infection itself was gone.  (and even when I had enough energy to go out - briefly - people would comment on how horrible I sounded.  irony was how much better I felt at that point, and I sounded *a lot* better than when I was diagnosed.)

[Plateau Mama]

It depends on what kind of pneumonia you have.  Walking pneumonia = better before the antibiotics were done.  Bacterial, right lung 2/3 filled with fluid before diagnosis took more than 6 months.

I don't think it was too bad. It was upper right lung, I could definitely see it on the X-ray, but it wasn't huge or anything.   

I did get a flu shot. It was a few months later, but my Dr considered me high risk for complications if I got the flu.

Eta. Mine was bacterial and I felt like I was drowning before I started on rx. I had zip appetite, no strength, and zero energy.

 before i was diagnosed I was sleeping 17+ hours. I could have slept more but I have a 6 yo at home and kids to run around. Of course once I was diagnosed I found help for all of this and didn't leave the house. I lost several pounds, until they filled me with 2 bags of fluids.  

Took me maybe 3-4 months to feel back to normal. It's a serious illness. You need to get plenty of rest and tlc.

 

A flu shot is probably a good idea but you need to be guided by your medical practitioner as to when to have it.

. I would definitely call my MD before I get one.

 

I'm trying to rest. I don't think DH realizes how long recovery is. He seems to think since I'm not coughing nonstop I am better. Sigh.

[sewingmama]

It was months for me too... but I was in hospital for a week on IV antibiotics ...it was a bad case. The doctor told me to go home and do nothing but rest....which didn't happen of course because my kids were 18 months and 12 weeks old at the time.

 

Make sure you follow the advice given...it does take a while to get back to normal.

[Momling]

I had pneumonia when my kids were 6mths and 2 1/2. I was off work for three weeks and it was months before I felt normal. Good luck!

[BlessedMom]

:grouphug: Pneumonia is tough stuff and can take many weeks to totally recover and get your strength back to normal.  Much depends on how depleted you were prior to getting it.  If you have been under a lot of stress it can really knock you for a loop & take more time to recover. You will be in my prayers. Please rest as much as you are able and do not push yourself, it really can be counter productive. :grouphug:

[trulycrabby]

Took me six months, at the very least. The wet, burning, gagging, cough that started up after the infection cleared was the worst. The actual infection may be gone, but your body is still healing, so please rest and recover, if possible.

 

Definitely call the MD before you get a flu shot.

[Truscifi]

Several weeks at least. Longer maybe depending on what kind, how bad, and if you have any underlying health issues.

[Plateau Mama]

It was months for me too... but I was in hospital for a week on IV antibiotics ...it was a bad case. The doctor told me to go home and do nothing but rest....which didn't happen of course because my kids were 18 months and 12 weeks old at the time.

Make sure you follow the advice given...it does take a while to get back to normal.

 I am very thankful I didn't have ity bitties to take care of. My youngest is 6.5 and we have been schooling by educational videos the last two weeks. (Is it bad he watched all 40 episodes of Carmen SanDiego in 4 days?)    

Took me six months, at the very least. The wet, burning, gagging, cough that started up after the infection cleared was the worst. The actual infection may be gone, but your body is still healing, so please rest and recover, if possible.

Definitely call the MD before you get a flu shot.

this wet gagging cough is the worst. I keep telling myself it means my body is getting rid of the gunk but it still sucks.   

Several weeks at least. Longer maybe depending on what kind, how bad, and if you have any underlying health issues.

. I'm normally pretty healthy but this is the second thing I've caught in a month. I had a minor cold the middle of Sept.

[Plateau Mama]

I am feeling much better today. Not 100%, but functional.

 

Now DD is coughing saying she is not feeling well. I'm debating calling the Dr. To see if she should get in antibiotics or at least checked out. She has a 4 day weekend. Mine changed on day 2-3 which would fall right at the weekend and I'd rather her be seen by her Dr than the ER over the weekend. She cannot afford to be out of commission for two weeks. She also has seasonal asthma so if she gets pneumonia this time of year she will basically be out of commission until spring as far as outside activities goes.

 

So WWYD? Am I over reacting or should she be seen?

[Lizzie in Ma]

Good thread.  Sick over 2 weeks, just got diagnosed with pneumonia yesterday after chest xrays.  Picking up meds this morning. SO tired.

[strange_girl]

(((Hugs))) Plateau Mama! Pnuemonia is the worst! I had pnuemonia 2 years ago (also in just one lung), and it was a good 3-4 weeks before I felt up to doing much of anything.

 

As for your daughter, I think it would probably be a good idea to have her seen, if you can. Especially where you already have it...an early diagnosis is always better.

 

Hope you both feel better soon!

[Plateau Mama]

My daughter woke up the next morning feeling much better so I never had her seen. My two boys are now sick, but so far they seem ok.

 

Me, I'm still exhausted. I'm sleeping 12 hours and taking a 1-2 hour nap every day if I can. It's been 2.5 weeks since I was diagnosed. I am so looking forward to being able to sleep without a stack of pillows. If I try to lay down w/one pillow I immediatly cannot breathe.

[Word Nerd]

I had it in high school, so it's been a while. When I was finally able to go back to school, I still missed days here and there because I would think I was feeling better, try to do too much, and crash the next day, hardly able to get out of bed. It took weeks before I felt like I was fully recovered. It will take as long as it takes, so try not to push yourself.

[Plateau Mama]

I had it in high school, so it's been a while. When I was finally able to go back to school, I still missed days here and there because I would think I was feeling better, try to do too much, and crash the next day, hardly able to get out of bed. It took weeks before I felt like I was fully recovered. It will take as long as it takes, so try not to push yourself.

I'm really trying. I've already told my mom that if I'm not feeling better in two weeks I will be ordering Thanksgiving from Whole Foods. I've also been having my groceries delivered so I don't go out. I've told all my kids that their outdoor events will be W/o mom because the cold/rain still bother me.

[SJ.]

I had it a couple years ago.  It was a little over one week before I saw a doctor.  The first antibiotic they gave me did not work so I had to have a second.  I was sick for about two and a half weeks, it was awful.  At home nebulizer treatments made a tremendous difference with the coughing, did you get that prescribed?  

 

After I was over the fever roller coasters and started to feel better it wasn't long before I felt back to normal.  I still had an awful cough and used the nebulizer as needed but I wasn't extremely tired.  IIRC, I was back to the gym shortly after I began to feel better.

 

Definitely take as much rest as you need to feel better.  If you still have a fever or are feeling awful I would go back to the doctor to make sure you don't need a different antibiotic.  Hope you feel better soon.

[Plateau Mama]

I had it a couple years ago. It was a little over one week before I saw a doctor. The first antibiotic they gave me did not work so I had to have a second. I was sick for about two and a half weeks, it was awful. At home nebulizer treatments made a tremendous difference with the coughing, did you get that prescribed?

 

After I was over the fever roller coasters and started to feel better it wasn't long before I felt back to normal. I still had an awful cough and used the nebulizer as needed but I wasn't extremely tired. IIRC, I was back to the gym shortly after I began to feel better.

 

Definitely take as much rest as you need to feel better. If you still have a fever or are feeling awful I would go back to the doctor to make sure you don't need a different antibiotic. Hope you feel better soon.

I did not get a nebulizer or inhaler. The fever is gone and the horrible chest pain too. It's just the lingering cough (and gunk). It's getting better but I do still have coughing fits every now and then. I think it's just a matter of not being able to get as much rest as i need.

 

If I'm still super tired at weeks end I may call the Dr. Just to check in, but I really think it's just a matter of time. The most frustrating part is I cannot read out loud as long as I usually do so my little guy is sad that read aloud time is cut short (by about 1/2).

[SJ.]

I did not get a nebulizer or inhaler. The fever is gone and the horrible chest pain too. It's just the lingering cough (and gunk). It's getting better but I do still have coughing fits every now and then. I think it's just a matter of not being able to get as much rest as i need.

 

If I'm still super tired at weeks end I may call the Dr. Just to check in, but I really think it's just a matter of time. The most frustrating part is I cannot read out loud as long as I usually do so my little guy is sad that read aloud time is cut short (by about 1/2).

The nebulizer helped tremendously with the coughing.  That type of cough is exhausting and is hard on the entire body so it makes sense that you are tired.  I truly help you feel better soon, pneumonia is terrible.