Pneumonia and antibiotic failure....what to do?

[Iciclehead]

All, just wondering if I can get a bit of advice. Been sick for a while, diagnosed with pneumonia about 5 weeks ago, got a dose of antibiotics which seemed to knock it back (certainly I felt fine albeit a little tired).

Last week the pneumonia came back with a vengeance (yes we did x-rays), now on a very heavy dose of antibiotics, Ventolin, cough suppressant etc. Doctor says if this does not work it is intravenous drugs and perhaps a little visit to hospital.

Anyway, the question is...I don't feel all that bad through either dose of pneumonia. The new antibiotics seem to be taking hold, I still cough but less so, still tired and weary, but generally feel OK and up to light duties.

So what should I do? Stay in bed 7 x 24, continue to do things as well as I feel up to, work out/don't work out.....drink fluids up the ying yang, drown my sorrows and bacteria in alcohol....what?

I have been trying to get to bed early (have a severe sleep disorder so that is not always successful), and sleep as long as I can....anything else?

Oh yeah, I am 58 years old, in reasonable good health, no other infirmities or suffering.

Just looking for advice....

Thanks

Dennis

[futuresoptions]

I can't be much help, but will offer this: Research Moringa on YouTube and get you some off eBay or Amazon. I can't go into all the positive aspects of it, but it couldn't hurt, I think it would help strengthen your immune system etc...

[vash]

No clue! Man I hope you feel better soon. I had a mild cases once. Doc told me the way to make it worse was to not get proper rest. Good luck!!!


Sent via Jedi mind trick.

[RANDY P]

if you're at the point where they are gonna plug you in if things don't change, just stay home and drink soup.

You gonna kill yourself you keep working.

rjp

[jyl]

Antibiotic resistant pneumonia kills 23,000/yr in the US. It is part of a growing and serious problem of drug resistant infections. Antibiotics have been overused, and not enough new ones have been developed.

Don't take it lightly. If I were you, I would consider this life threatening.

[rusnak]

yeah I agree with the above. Obviously you need different antibiotics. I would not do any physical work for at least a month after getting better.

[Tilikum Turbo]

I was under the impression that colds/flu/pneumonia is a function of a virus, not a bacteria, of which antibiotics will have no effect on a virus.

You might consider a second opinion.

Good luck

[Iciclehead]

Originally Posted by Tilikum Turbo

I was under the impression that colds/flu/pneumonia is a function of a virus, not a bacteria, of which antibiotics will have no effect on a virus.

You might consider a second opinion.

Good luck

Doctor is pretty good, he is of the opinion that it is a secondary (bacterial) infection and not viral...but basically I am on close supervision with him, need to report back in a couple of days if I am not markedly better.

We shall see.....

Thanks though, if this does not progress pretty easily then it is definitely good advice.

Dennis

[Iciclehead]

Originally Posted by jyl

Antibiotic resistant pneumonia kills 23,000/yr in the US. It is part of a growing and serious problem of drug resistant infections. Antibiotics have been overused, and not enough new ones have been developed.

Don't take it lightly. If I were you, I would consider this life threatening.

Definitely not taking it lightly...just surprised at how good I have felt through the whole thing...so far.

Doctor was not at all happy to see me second time, he rattled my cage pretty well about how serious this is, just not sure what exactly to do hour to hour.

Thanks....

Dennis

[John Rogers]

We were lucky this winter with my wife and caught the onset of what could have been pneumonia. The two years prior she had it and the second time spent a week and a half on a breathing machine in a pressurized room. She got all sorts of stuff in the big IV that went into her neck and finally knocked it out.

[Gogar]

I agree - that's the thing with pneumonia.

You feel sort of crappy but you can still function,

Until you can't!


I had pneumonia a few years ago and I swore up and down I just had a crappy cold and I would be fine. then I wasn't.

Cool it and fix it, get back to work later.

[BlueSkyJaunte]

My aunt died of pneumonia in April. Please seek professional advice and if you are in any way uncomfortable with the quality of care you are receiving get a 2nd (and 3rd and 4th) opinion.

Best of luck to you.

[dtw]

I did the same thing. Felt fine once the antibiotics kicked, so I resumed active lifestyle against advice. It came back an order of magnitude worse. Bedridden for three weeks coughing up two handfuls of spaghetti snot at a time. Nothing more fun than hacking and retching until you cramp up, while filling up wastebaskets of snot. Even after I was out of bed, I was under the weather and coughing for a good six months. Worst experience of my life.

Dial back your routine now, not later.

[livi]

Pneumonia, bacterial or viral, often take a toll on the energy level for a rather long time. It will raise havoc with the immune defense system that gets so p.. off that it takes quite a while for it to lay down its weapons, satisfied the enemy is defeated. This recuperation period will often last long after the actual microorganism is killed off. I would go around my usual Daily business but wait until fully recovered with any more straining exercises.

[atcjorg]

had it 3 times almost killed me twice(last time with the "help"of navy corpsman) ended up in the hospital (for almost a month) with IV's and a temp of 103. I'm 6'2 went from 205 to 147, took forever to get my strength back, this is nothing to play with. take care!

[billybek]

I had it once.
Just after my divorce I was partying like a rock star for a long period of time. It caught up with me. Woke up one morning feeling particularly bad and had a rattle in my chest when I took a deep breath.
I remember that it took a few months before I felt that I was powered back up again.

Take it easy for a while this time!

[Baz]

Last year I had bronchitis that lasted for over 2 months.

The only thing that helped kick it was Z-pacs. I ended up taking 2 of them about 3 weeks apart.

Try drinking some Gatorade to keep hydrated and rest according to what your body tells you.

I'm not a doctor so this is just a take from a fellow Pelican.

Being sick sucks - hope you get better soon.....

[mikesride]

Take it easy....listen to the Doc...get a second opinion if it makes you feel better. But please don't screw around with pneumonia, it can kill. Our health system isn't great up here, but the good news is a couple of doctor visits or a week or so in the hospital is not going to bankrupt you. Take care sir.

[johnsjmc]

I had a similar situation about 25 yrs ago. I taught woodworking and was a renovation contractor as well. Breathed lot,s of dust.
I developed chest pains in mid 30,s . No wheezing ,but an xray diagnosed pneumonia.
The Dr. put me on a pennicilan based antibiotic(amoxycillan?) Told me I would feel better in 48 hrs.
I almost died over the next 48 because the antibiotic didn,t work.I only got worse.
Went back to the Dr.2 days later (should have gone to ER).
Changed antibiotic to arithromycin (sp?) Worked like a charm and 2 days later felt immensely better. Lingering cough for another 6-8 weeks .
I then like you got it again. I went back to the Dr. after coughing 6 weeks .He said it appeared I had reinfected myself. started antibiotics again but double dose. He said he expected me to cough less and less over the 6 weeks.I thought because I had it so bad I was going to cough the same for 6 weeks.
Antibiotics are overused and bacteria have developed resistance.
So many things were deadly before antibiotics. It,s going to happen again.
Best advice I can give is follow your Dr's advice BUT don,t wait to call him if you aren,t continuously improving.
I had pneumonia 3 times that year about 4 months apart.

[Iciclehead]

Ok, this is why this is such a great list. The "been there done that" has a lot of value to me.

So, plan is to take it VERY easy, take my drugs, check in with the doc the instant things are not improving (as of this morning they seem to be) and be like that for a month or more....

Other than driving the wife crazy, it will be better for my health. I guess the 6 speed project will need to take a little hiatus.

Thanks all!

Dennis