I Don't Have to Tell You that Waling Pneumonia Stinks!

[itself]

Yep, been coughing for four weeks, took Mucinex and Delsum, finally had to see a doctor. I have great energy, no labored breathing, no fever. So beware of walking pneumonia, it can creep up on you!

[Wahine]

Had it twice in 2003. Thought I was fine until I couldn't get my HR to do what I wanted it to on a workout and then the next morning my resting HR was up to 80 beats per minute, from about a 48 normal.

I was way better after the antibiotics but got at it too soon afterward and ended up sick again 4 weeks later.

[missjean]

I've had it a couple of time too, but quite a few years ago - no fun at all.
Take it easy & get well soon!

[Aggie_Ama]

Get well soon! I have been close to it when I have had bronchitis, the last time my doctor put me on an inhaler and ordered me to rest or else he was worried he would be visiting me in the hospital. :(

[Artista]

Oh no! Hope you feel better soon. I had it about 15 years ago. The antibiotics helped me to feel better within a few days. It still took another month to feel strong again though.

One of the best tips I got during recovery was to take several deep breaths while exhaling fully every hour to clear out any stale air that accumulated in my lungs. Fresh oxygen helps the body fight a lung infection on many levels.

[OakLeaf]

Ugh. My first husband had it when we were together. No fun. Feel better soon.

[jyyanks]

My daughter just got over it. She had been coughing for a long time at night but I was asleep and didn't hear her. She had no fever and was going to school and going to swim meets etc. She even went trick or treating in the snow on Halloween. One night, I heard her coughing and something wasn't quite right. Turns out that she had mycoplasma pneumonia (walking pneumonia) and had to take a z-pack. However, her cough refused to go away so she had to take a second round of antibiotics which apparently got rid of it.

Anyway after the second round of antibiotics she got a sinus infection and went on her third round of antibiotics which she finally just finished.

She is coughing again and I'm paranoid that even with all the antibiotics she too, she still has it. I totally feel your pain. It's a tough thing to shake!

[itself]

Thanks everyone the well wishes. First round, z pack, now on levaquin.

Ok, so I "hear" that once you have pneumonian, one is more susceptible. What do you take for respiratory support to avoid it?

BTW, Eucalyptus inhalation treatments are awesome! I got the drops at Sprouts, boil water and put a towel over my head. I cannot use an inhaler because all of them have soy in them, and I am allergic to soy.

[Crankin]

That is generally true.
I don't do anything special, except don't let myself get too tired and if I start sneezing incessantly and get a headache, I treat it right away.
I had pneumonia in high school, back in the day and then again, in 2004. I had gone on a weekend bike trip in Vermont that was very strenuous. It was October and very cold. I had started the sneezing a day or two before the trip, but I ignored it. About ten days later I went to the doc and yes, I had pneumonia. While I only stayed home from work for 2 days, it took me at least 6 weeks and 2 rounds of antibiotics to really get better. My cycling season ended about 6 weeks early.
I suspect I also had pneumonia as the result of the only time I had the flu, in the 90s. I had a 104 degree temperature and was horribly ill for 5 days. The coughing starteed when the fever broke and it took 8-10 weeks to get better, even with antibiotics.

[tealtreak]

Thanks everyone the well wishes. First round, z pack, now on levaquin.

Ok, so I "hear" that once you have pneumonian, one is more susceptible. What do you take for respiratory support to avoid it?

BTW, Eucalyptus inhalation treatments are awesome! I got the drops at Sprouts, boil water and put a towel over my head. I cannot use an inhaler because all of them have soy in them, and I am allergic to soy.
I had pneumonia 4 times in a 1.5 year period and have not had it since:
no more subbing in Kindergarten (:
crazy obsessive hand washing
always get enough sleep and nutritious food
flu shot (:
hope some of that helps for the future (:

[Wahine]

You won't necessarily be more susceptable forever. But you will be for a while. Depending on how hard you get hit, it could take months for your immune system to recover.

I had regular acupuncture and I take chinese herbs that support the lungs and sinuses whenever I get a cold. I also do a regular nasal cleanse. I'm pretty careful about keeping my sinuses happy because it seems like that where it all starts from and ends up in my lungs.

If you're interested in the food side of things there is a great book called Healing with Whole Foods (http://amzn.com/1556434715) that is based on traditional Chinese medicine/naturopathic approaches to using regular food as medicine.

[ClockworkOrange]

Poor thing, does it still hurt to do things? Re: (Anyone blown a rib?)

Just take it easy and don't push yourself too much.