It's only pneumonia.
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halfpenny43

Original Poster:

1,085 posts

265 months

Saturday 24th November 2018
quotequote all
I spend a lot of time working and travelling for work.
Flew home from the Philippines last week and felt tired but fine. Couple of days at home then Tuesday night flew to Budapest.

Felt as it a cold was coming on but didn't feel bad. During the night had severe pain in my right shoulder and back, stabbing into the chest when trying to yawn or take a deep breath. Took a couple of paracetamol and put it down to a change in exercise routine.

Wednesday was no better although found that standing up made it easier to take a breath but by Thursday was starting to feel breathless.

Colleague took me to a local medical centre in Budapest. They ran blood tests, did an EKG and took chest xrays.
One of the blood test results came back abnormally high (D-Dimer ?). Apparently should be in the range of 0 - 0.5. Mine was just above 2.0, so got told I may have a blood clot in my lung and that transport would be arranged to take me to a cardiac hospital for emergency CT scan.

I laughed.
This doesn't happen to me.
I'm fit, healthy, just turned 50, work hard and have too much to do for st like this. There must be a mistake.

The transport arrived - an ambulance - which proceeded to the cardiac unit, blue lights and sirens going. I still seemed a little surreal.

Got to the hospital and was whisked into a room. Cannula in, more blood taken, something for the pain, and some saline.
Then blood pulled from an artery - apparently gives results on the blood in respiratory system.
Another EKG and another chest xray.
Then upstairs for a CT Scan. First the dye got pushed in through the cannula then into the machine. Once it finished the oddest thing was the warm metallic taste in the mouth, and the warm feeling in the groin as if you pissed yourself - but hadn't. Very off putting.

Anyway - long story short - no clot - but have pneumonia.
Some antibiotics (Augmentin Duo 875mg) and paracetamol as needed. Was given a "fit to fly" certificate and flew home this morning.

Bit of a wake up call I guess as could have been so much worse. Off to see my local GP on Monday morning.

Anyone else had pneumonia ?
Assume I can still work, exercise as long as I feel fit enough and not short of breath ?
Can I drink a glass of wine or two with a meal and take the antibiotics ?


Sheets Tabuer

21,414 posts

244 months

Saturday 24th November 2018
quotequote all
Had it a few times, spent a month in hospital once with it too, it ranged from unconscious most of the time to coughing my arse off and filling cups of phlegm for the unfortunate lab people at others, just get on with it now and unless otherwise stated in the tablets they should be fine to have a glass of wine with.

Really should have the vaccine.

halfpenny43

Original Poster:

1,085 posts

265 months

Saturday 24th November 2018
quotequote all
Sheets Tabuer said:
Had it a few times, spent a month in hospital once with it too, it ranged from unconscious most of the time to coughing my arse off and filling cups of phlegm for the unfortunate lab people at others, just get on with it now and unless otherwise stated in the tablets they should be fine to have a glass of wine with.

Really should have the vaccine.
Cheers.

Henners

12,423 posts

223 months

Saturday 24th November 2018
quotequote all
A colleague’s wife felt funny, a bit like you did - tired, breathless etc for 2 days.

Went to bed while husband took the kids to the park for the afternoon.

Dead when they came back... Pretty severe, sudden onset pneumonia.

paulguitar

35,673 posts

142 months

Saturday 24th November 2018
quotequote all
I had it in 2008. I had surgery in Miami for a shattered arm, and developed pneumonia post-op. It was rather irritating and kept me in hospital for 10 days, I had to be completely clear before being released. I had to blow into a device to raise a ball, to keep lung function going, and occasionally I had to have a lengthy coughing session, but I don't remember it being too terrible. I think I may have been distracted by tan arm now full of plates and pins though.

Hope you recover quickly, OP, and look after yourself.

JDiz

1,074 posts

273 months

Saturday 24th November 2018
quotequote all
halfpenny43 said:
Then upstairs for a CT Scan. First the dye got pushed in through the cannula then into the machine. Once it finished the oddest thing was the warm metallic taste in the mouth, and the warm feeling in the groin as if you pissed yourself - but hadn't. Very off putting.
When I had it you could feel the warmth spreading all through your body, wasn't just the groin.
Turned out i had pneumonia too. But I was already in hospital so couldn't do much

snoopy25

2,107 posts

149 months

Saturday 24th November 2018
quotequote all
Currently sitting by the side of my partners hospital bed as shes been re-admitted this Wednesday with pneumonia (previously admitted Wednesday before that and discharged that Friday when doctors said she was over it frown )

This time round at this point, she looks like shes over the worst of it and they have taken her off the oxygen that she has been on and is happily playing on her tablet. At one stage on the Wednesday she was under the critical care team....

Shes been given Antibiotics intravenously, nebulisers, ecg scan, ct scan on high levels if oxygen and the full works.... shes only 43.

Just the sound of her struggling to breathe and her coughing will stay with me for ages......









snoopy25

2,107 posts

149 months

Saturday 24th November 2018
quotequote all
JDiz said:
halfpenny43 said:
Then upstairs for a CT Scan. First the dye got pushed in through the cannula then into the machine. Once it finished the oddest thing was the warm metallic taste in the mouth, and the warm feeling in the groin as if you pissed yourself - but hadn't. Very off putting.
When I had it you could feel the warmth spreading all through your body, wasn't just the groin.
Turned out i had pneumonia too. But I was already in hospital so couldn't do much
Funnily enough my partner said it felt like she was peeing herself when she had the dye lol

halfpenny43

Original Poster:

1,085 posts

265 months

Saturday 24th November 2018
quotequote all
snoopy25 said:
Currently sitting by the side of my partners hospital bed as shes been re-admitted this Wednesday with pneumonia (previously admitted Wednesday before that and discharged that Friday when doctors said she was over it frown )

This time round at this point, she looks like shes over the worst of it and they have taken her off the oxygen that she has been on and is happily playing on her tablet. At one stage on the Wednesday she was under the critical care team....

Shes been given Antibiotics intravenously, nebulisers, ecg scan, ct scan on high levels if oxygen and the full works.... shes only 43.

Just the sound of her struggling to breathe and her coughing will stay with me for ages......

Hope she makes a full recovery Mr Snoopy

halfpenny43

Original Poster:

1,085 posts

265 months

Saturday 24th November 2018
quotequote all
Henners said:
A colleague’s wife felt funny, a bit like you did - tired, breathless etc for 2 days.

Went to bed while husband took the kids to the park for the afternoon.

Dead when they came back... Pretty severe, sudden onset pneumonia.
Ok.....that puts things into perspective

Chris Hinds

497 posts

194 months

Saturday 24th November 2018
quotequote all
halfpenny43 said:
Ok.....that puts things into perspective
I was similar but lucky back in 2016. To give you balance at the time I was 32 heading for 33, 5ft 10, about 195lbs. Non-Smoker, Non-Drinker... only real vice being eating more than I should. One week I got flu, which turned out to be Swine Flu, which became bacterial pneumonia. My wife was really concerned and took me to the walk-in centre after we went for a walk to get some Codeine (I thought a strong pain killer might help - for reference, they don't with pneumonia). I never made it to the chemist - I had to stop walking after about 200 yards as I had no breath. Following day I was put into an induced coma that lasted 9 days. My Pneumonia had become sepsis and my body was literally killing me. I got better and have no lasting effects fortunately. If you can have the jab have the jab. If your doctor tells you to rest, rest. If you're on the meds skip the wine, just in case because trust me, you don't want to be put on a ventilator while you are awake to keep you alive. I did that for 4.5 hours and when I asked them to knock me out and breathe for me, they told me it would be 10 mins before they could knock me out and the last thought I remember from before they knocked me out are "I love my wife and my son but I don't know if I can do this for 10 more minutes"

snoopy25

2,107 posts

149 months

Sunday 25th November 2018
quotequote all
halfpenny43 said:
snoopy25 said:
Currently sitting by the side of my partners hospital bed as shes been re-admitted this Wednesday with pneumonia (previously admitted Wednesday before that and discharged that Friday when doctors said she was over it frown )

This time round at this point, she looks like shes over the worst of it and they have taken her off the oxygen that she has been on and is happily playing on her tablet. At one stage on the Wednesday she was under the critical care team....

Shes been given Antibiotics intravenously, nebulisers, ecg scan, ct scan on high levels if oxygen and the full works.... shes only 43.

Just the sound of her struggling to breathe and her coughing will stay with me for ages......

Hope she makes a full recovery Mr Snoopy
Thank you Halfpenny43, cross fingers she will be home soon, although the weekend doctor today at the hospital seemed like they didnt have a clue what they were doing and were loathed to answer any of our questions. Hopefully consultant tommorow will be more forthcoming smile


paulguitar

35,673 posts

142 months

Sunday 25th November 2018
quotequote all
Chris Hinds said:
I was similar but lucky back in 2016. To give you balance at the time I was 32 heading for 33, 5ft 10, about 195lbs. Non-Smoker, Non-Drinker... only real vice being eating more than I should. One week I got flu, which turned out to be Swine Flu, which became bacterial pneumonia. My wife was really concerned and took me to the walk-in centre after we went for a walk to get some Codeine (I thought a strong pain killer might help - for reference, they don't with pneumonia). I never made it to the chemist - I had to stop walking after about 200 yards as I had no breath. Following day I was put into an induced coma that lasted 9 days. My Pneumonia had become sepsis and my body was literally killing me. I got better and have no lasting effects fortunately. If you can have the jab have the jab. If your doctor tells you to rest, rest. If you're on the meds skip the wine, just in case because trust me, you don't want to be put on a ventilator while you are awake to keep you alive. I did that for 4.5 hours and when I asked them to knock me out and breathe for me, they told me it would be 10 mins before they could knock me out and the last thought I remember from before they knocked me out are "I love my wife and my son but I don't know if I can do this for 10 more minutes"
Wow, great to hear you got through it. Scary stuff.

Henners

12,423 posts

223 months

Sunday 25th November 2018
quotequote all
halfpenny43 said:
Henners said:
A colleague’s wife felt funny, a bit like you did - tired, breathless etc for 2 days.

Went to bed while husband took the kids to the park for the afternoon.

Dead when they came back... Pretty severe, sudden onset pneumonia.
Ok.....that puts things into perspective
Was a real shock, happened really really quick.

Mind you my grandfather died in 2 days with it. Although he was 91...

Munter

31,331 posts

270 months

Sunday 25th November 2018
quotequote all
Henners said:
halfpenny43 said:
Henners said:
A colleague’s wife felt funny, a bit like you did - tired, breathless etc for 2 days.

Went to bed while husband took the kids to the park for the afternoon.

Dead when they came back... Pretty severe, sudden onset pneumonia.
Ok.....that puts things into perspective
Was a real shock, happened really really quick.

Mind you my grandfather died in 2 days with it. Although he was 91...
One of the guys I used to work with got Pneumonia, which them became pleurisy, and we were told it could be touch and go for him. He was in his late 30s...

jwo

989 posts

278 months

Sunday 25th November 2018
quotequote all
Not to be underestimated..

Came back from New York last easter - cough, cold, shivers whilst there and when back in blighty. Put is down to bug on the plane etc. fast forward couple of days, nearly collapsed so was taken to A&E. On a trolley within couple of minutes from checking in. Hooked up, lots of drugs 100% oxygen. Left intensive care 12 days later (nearly croaked it apparently)... Sepsis had started but caught quickly (and I responded) nfluenza type B, viral and bacterial pneumonia... Most scary experience of my life so far. Early 40s and fit and healthy prior... Lungs will never get back to where they were and nor will I. However, still alive!

Cupramax

11,002 posts

281 months

Sunday 25th November 2018
quotequote all
Simple advice is dont fk with Pneumonia, i had it 8 years ago needed 3 months off work and have ended up with chronic fatigue symptoms ever since as a result. Dont underestimate how much rest you will need for the body to get over it and recover fully.

Stan the Bat

10,035 posts

241 months

Sunday 25th November 2018
quotequote all
Cupramax said:
Simple advice is dont fk with Pneumonia, i had it 8 years ago needed 3 months off work and have ended up with chronic fatigue symptoms ever since as a result. Dont underestimate how much rest you will need for the body to get over it and recover fully.
As above,took me about 6 weeks to get over it.

No lasting effects, about 11 years ago now.

Also caught on a flight back from the Far East.

If you feel like a wine then you don't have a proper dose.

HairyMaclary

3,775 posts

224 months

Sunday 25th November 2018
quotequote all
halfpenny43 said:
Henners said:
A colleague’s wife felt funny, a bit like you did - tired, breathless etc for 2 days.

Went to bed while husband took the kids to the park for the afternoon.

Dead when they came back... Pretty severe, sudden onset pneumonia.
Ok.....that puts things into perspective
Same thing happened to a friend. Was on stage performing the night before, but felt unwell and went home early. Found the next day.

Scary stuff that doesn't just kill old people.. frown



abzmike

11,984 posts

135 months

Sunday 25th November 2018
quotequote all
I got a little dose when I was about 40. I’d had what I thought was a cold, and then became unwell during our office Xmas party. I went back to my hotel, and quite suddenly thought I’d been shot in the chest. Hotel called a doctor and they suggested I went to A&E - I went in a cab as it was the quickest way the Friday before Xmas. Bloods taken, into oxygen, antibiotics pumped in. I was offered if I wanted kept in, but declined and went back to the hotel at about 6am. I had a mild dose, but I still took a couple of weeks to get over it. Had a follow up chest X-ray, all fine, but I still get occasional lung ache in the spot that was most painful, such as when I have a cold.

OP - do what your doctor tells you, forget about work however busy you are until he tells you it’s ok, and best not have that wine with the antibiotics if that’s the advice.