Does It Ever Get Better?

[K & L]

I was diagnosed with pneumonia almost a month ago and I'm still feeling terrible. I took my doses of antibiotics, started feeling better, but went downhill again. I've had 3 chest x-rays all showing I still have pneumonia. The Dr. is not prescribing anymore antibiotics saying she doesn't want to over-load my body with them, yet I'm miserable. One day I think I'm getting better only to feel horrible the next. Should I move on to another Dr., or is this normal?

[Craftlady]

I'd get a second opinion.

[Prairie Purrs]

I felt lousy for a long, long time when I had pneumonia. I couldn't even get out of bed for two or three weeks, and I didn't feel normal again for several months. It's a nasty illness.

[cassiesmom]

Another opinion, please

[Logan]

I suspect you haven't allowed your body the time to heal, without getting all too busy, all too soon, just knowing how busy you always are, Lisa.

But, if you are in any doubt that your doctor is handling things properly, you need to get a second opinion. Please.

Logan

[kimlovescats]

Lisa, a few years ago, I had a very bad case of double pneumonia! I was in the hospital for 8 days, went home and had to go back in for another 5 days. Even when I came home after the second stay, I was on home-care oxygen! I had a tube that stretched from my bedroom all the way to the kitchen, though I rarely had the strength to go that far on my own. Pneumonia is a horrible illness and it can definitely wipe you out for a long time!!! It was really about 2 full months before I was completely over it. I was also allergic to so many antibiotics, including ones known to be "best" for pneumonia, so it was hard to find the right medication. They put me on steroids and I had to endure the wonderful steroid acne from that. I felt so horrible that I kept an online journal, not sure if I was even going to survive it. PLEASE don't mess around with this! You may need breathing treatments as well. If your doctor isn't making a big enough deal of this, then FIND another one!

HUGS,
Kim

[joycenalex]

if you've had 3 chest xrays still showing pneumonia, and you're not responding to the antibiotics, you need a chest ct to look at your lungs in a different, more detailed view. and you might need a visit to a pulmonologist for a second opinion. your lungs and chest muscles work every single second of your life, it means that area never sops moving, so you have got to rest. often, and nap, often.

[carole]

I do empathise with you really i do, it took me seven weeks to recover and even then it was not a full recovery,i have never felt so exhausted in all my life, and i know all about chronic fatigue,it is part of my normal life, but even just ironing my hubby's shirt was a mammoth task, and i had to sit down several times in between, i do hope you improve soon, watch out for the depression that can sometimes set in,being sick that long can have that effect, it sure did for me anyway, take care and all the best.

[crow_noir]

Just knowing that helps. I had a feeling it was from being sick, but i just wrote it off from my seasonal depression. (I'm weird... I get depressed around May or June instead of in Jan or Dec like most people.)

I do empathise with you really i do, it took me seven weeks to recover and even then it was not a full recovery,i have never felt so exhausted in all my life, and i know all about chronic fatigue,it is part of my normal life, but even just ironing my hubby's shirt was a mammoth task, and i had to sit down several times in between, i do hope you improve soon, watch out for the depression that can sometimes set in,being sick that long can have that effect, it sure did for me anyway, take care and all the best.

[crow_noir]

I agree on getting a second opinion.

Have they made sure that it isn't Tuberculosis?

Also, please consider some natural remedies. Sure some of them are hoaxy, but there are others that work 10 times better than conventional medicine. (anti-parvo medicine for one. ...and not the recipe that's on the net. I know of one in a book, but i can't find the book any more. Elk Velvet Antler for arthritis is another example.) I use Grapefruit Seed Extract against the flu. I've even used it for food poisoning once. (Sucks that i had to have fp once before to recognize the symptoms. That trip to the hospital was NOT fun! I'll take the taste of GSE over that any day.)

I had pneumonia for the first time last year. Luckily I caught it early and was given double-spectrum antibiotics for it. Yes, it sucked horribly. I can't imagine having it for any more that the three months i did. Well, it was one month, but it took me two more to fully fight it off. Two months of sleeping for 16 hours a day is NOT fun!

http://www.elsonhaas.com/articles/article_12.html

I was diagnosed with pneumonia almost a month ago and I'm still feeling terrible. I took my doses of antibiotics, started feeling better, but went downhill again. I've had 3 chest x-rays all showing I still have pneumonia. The Dr. is not prescribing anymore antibiotics saying she doesn't want to over-load my body with them, yet I'm miserable. One day I think I'm getting better only to feel horrible the next. Should I move on to another Dr., or is this normal?

[K & L]

Thanks everyone! I'm on a new antibiotic and feel just a bit better today after my first dose last night. Maybe the got the right one this time. I will continue to rest and hope this time will be the cure. In a few months I will get the pneumonia shot.

[crow_noir]

Hijacking the thread, hope you don't mind.

I know it's been a while, but hope you ARE doing better.

~~~
Ugh! I have been so worried about possibly having pneumonia again that i didn't realize that i may finally be over a miserable head cold... that started out as a non-infectious ear infection. Well, a couple days ago i noticed that it was really hard to breath and i'd get 10 times worse after exercising. Usually getting out and about helps me heal faster. Thinking maybe it's pneumonia again (since the only thing that has ever felt how i'm feeling was when i had it last year...) I decided to start sleeping inhumane amount of hours. ...starting to feel a tiny bit better. S.O. desperately wants me to go for x-rays though. I'm convinced i can beat this with sleep (and not taking the dog for walks when i'm supposed to be resting.) And this is really personal for me to share... but sort of vital information... I had my first yeast infection (last year)(and only) and the doctors narrowed it down to being the antibiotics that i was put on for pneumonia. They were 95 - 100% sure that's what it was from after i answered about a zillion of their questions on everything from my personal life, to my hygiene, to foods i eat. It was one of the worst things i've ever experienced!!! (The yeast infection, not the questions.) I'd rather live with pneumonia for three months that go through that again.

Would now be a good time to send S.O. to the health food store for some of those herbal remedies?

How long does pneumonia live in/on stuff? I'm wondering if the stuff was laying on the floor in the bedroom. When we turned on the AC last week it kicked up a bunch of dust, mold, and mildew spores from all the hidden crevices (and stuff we don't vacuum behind. *blush*)

Any advice will be helpful. (Besides vacuuming behind the dresser and such... I already know that we *should* )