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

[Groesbeck Hurricane]

Just to throw in, use of antibiotics contraindicates the use of alcohol. Stop drinking alcohol while taking antibiotics.

Just as I learned it, take it for what it is worth.

[billybek]

Originally Posted by Iciclehead

Other than driving the wife crazy (she thinks sick men are basically weak men), it will be better for my health. I guess the 6 speed project will need to take a little hiatus.
Dennis

Well, you are in a weakened state right now. Much better than cold and dead....

Maybe ask if she has taken out additional life insurance on you recently....

[Don Ro]

I had pneumonia many years ago...I lost so much muscle that I could feel my shoulder blades against the mattress while lying in bed.
Not fun.
Take care and good luck!
.
EDIT:
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"Other than driving the wife crazy (she thinks sick men are basically weak men), it will be better for my health. I guess the 6 speed project will need to take a little hiatus.
Dennis"
.
Oh my!

[JAR0023]

Did this last fall. Bacterial pneumonia and plourisy. Kicked my butt. Elderly neighbor had a tree fall down. Other neighbor and I spent Sunday afternoon cutting and clearing a large old Hickory. No telling what all I breathed in. Woke up Monday and felt like my back was sore. By lunch I knew something serious was going on. Was at my Doc's by mid afternoon. First words out of his mouth were, "You look like ****." At that point I could barely breath and if my torso was anything other that vertical I was in horrendous pain. X-rays came back positive. Doc asked me did I want a room at the hospital or wait a day. I took a couple of shots and left with Rx. (side note - I know my Doc well and he called multiple times daily to check on me.)

Overnight it scaled back from "I'm about die." to "God I feel awful." Then it just hung there for another week. Low grade fever off an on. Zero energy. More X-rays showed improvement but not enough. Second round of antibiotics and I started to feel decent around the three week mark. Took another three ro four weeks for all the fluid around my lung to absorb.

Spent three weeks sleeping upright in a chair. Spent another three or four weeks being able to feel the fluid surrounding my lung move around. About the two month mark I could take a deep breath without having a coughing fit. Eight months later and I still don't feel 100% but I'm almost there. Tried to spend time on the bike getting back into shape but have ended up indoors on an elliptical. -J

[vash]

Damn!

What is walking pneumonia?


Sent via Jedi mind trick.

[J P Stein]

Originally Posted by vash

Damn!

What is walking pneumonia?


Sent via Jedi mind trick.

That means you have pneumonia but are still walking. I don't believe it is a medical term, but one for a milder case.....or caught early. I just went thru it.....ain't we got fun....

Did antibiotics for a week...... they really made me feel like crap. After the dosage was over, I didn't know if the bugger was gone or not......it has taken me about 3-4 weeks to start feeling decent. Still not 100%.....weak with no stamina, tho, it's improving. I did try to "take it easy" but I ain't much good at that.

I got the impression (tho my doctor didn't come right out & say it) that "walking pneumonia", if left untreated, will become "crawling pneumonia".........

[johnsjmc]

Originally Posted by vash

Damn!

What is walking pneumonia?


Sent via Jedi mind trick.

My understanding of walking pneumonia is a case of pneumonia that can't be heard with a stethoscope. The conventional wisdom is the Dr. will detect it by listening to a couple deep breaths.
When I was having chest pains years ago it was found to be a case of Pn. but was found with an xray. It couldn't be heard. I was "walking" around with it (probably spreading it too).

[J P Stein]

Originally Posted by johnsjmc

My understanding of walking pneumonia is a case of pneumonia that can't be heard with a stethoscope. The conventional wisdom is the Dr. will detect it by listening to a couple deep breaths.
When I was having chest pains years ago it was found to be a case of Pn. but was found with an xray. It couldn't be heard. I was "walking" around with it (probably spreading it too).

Heh, my doctor had me open wide take a deep breath then bolw it out as hard as I could........that got me coughing. Off to Xray we go.......but I walked in & out.

[tweezers74]

Did they get a sputum sample? Sometimes if they can't kick it with a broad spectrum antibiotic, they culture it and make sure they have the right antibiotic. (They expose whatever grows to different antibiotics and see what kills it).

Make sure you take ALL your antibiotics. People think that resistant strains come from using antibiotics when the situation does not warrant it (in case of a viral infection and not a bacterial infection) but it is also when "super mutant" strains of the bacteria survive when people don't follow instructions with antibiotics. For example, you are supposed to take seven days of so and so antibiotic. By day three you feel awesome and stop taking by day four. What happens is that your body is fighting the bacteria but the ones that are surviving are allowed to multiply... Basically the strongest ones that survived the first couple doses of antibiotics. So when you try to take the same antibiotics, they may not work as well because you basically let the bacteria get used to it and able to survive. Does that make sense? That is why all these resistant bacteria are emerging. So finish your antibiotics as instructed, people!!!!

[Tobra]

Thuy, the ID guys I know attribute a lot of it to inappropriate use of quinilone antibiotics. D/C your anitiotics early is not good, but more of a minor player in the game.

Could be resistant bacteria, could be viral, could be fungal. Do your treatment, use your inspiration spirometer, plenty of rest and fluids, yada yada

Only certain antibiotics have an unhappy mix with booze, but drinking when you are sick is unwise.

Have you seen a pulmonologist of infectious disease guy?