I'm scared...

I feel so foolish to even be writing this, but, the truth is, I am scared.

On Sunday, I woke up feeling just a little under the weather. I developed a slight cough during the day and by that night it had progressed to a dry, hacking cough. I woke up on Monday feeling tired, achy, and generally unwell so I decided to try to get in to see my doctor. They were booked solid and so I went to one of the CVS Minute Clinics -- I thought I just needed a quick antibiotic and that would be it. But, once I got there, they sent me straight to the emergency room.

The ER tested me for strep (negative) and the flu (negative). They then told me I had bronchitis and to stay home from work for a day to rest. I insisted on a chest x-ray and they took one and came back with the diagnosis of "patchy" pneumonia. They prescribed Levaquin and a cough suppressant with Codeine, wrote me a doctor's note for work (for 2 days), and sent me on my way.

That night, I developed severe shaking chills, night sweats, and a very high fever (sometimes nearing 104 degrees). I continued that way until Wednesday when I felt only slightly better. My heart was pounding, I was incredibly weak and shaky if on my feet, and my chest was heavy. On Wednesday, however, my cough did go from dry and hacking to productive. It's been that way since then. Yesterday morning, I woke up feeling quite a bit better. I had only a slightly elevated temperature and I was able to be more ambulatory. However, despite feeling better, I made an appointment with my doctor to ensure I was moving in the right direction.

When I got to the doctor's office, my temperature was normal, but my blood oxygen level was between 88-92%. The doctor was concerned, but I think I was even more upset because, throughout this whole illness, I've felt completely out of control. My doctor sent me for another chest x-ray (which showed bilateral pneumonia) and bloodwork (which I haven't received the results for yet), prescribed an Albuterol inhaler to help open my airways, and told me that she wanted to see me in 24 hours. She also said that if I felt even slightly more short of breath that I needed to go to the emergency room immediately.

Of course, after my appointment, I had a complete meltdown. I'm really afraid that I could possibly die from this pneumonia. I mean, sure, I am feeling better and I feel as though I've improved dramatically since Monday, but if I still have the double pneumonia, am I really getting better? The "what if's" are just making me crazy. And, I'm scared...

My doctor's appointment is at 1:45pm today. The inhaler she prescribed has, in my opinion, helped quite a bit, but when I try to breathe deeply, I still feel a lot of inflammation in my bronchial tubes. I was able to eat last night for the first time since Monday and I've been keeping hydrated as well. I slept well last night and can move around the house with relative ease (though I do need to rest frequently and have moments where I'm short of breath). I'm still coughing, but it is productive and the sinus problems I had been having are slightly better. I've not had to take Tylenol yet today and I haven't felt the need to take the cough suppressant (just regular Robitussin as the syrup with the Codeine was making me anxious). I know I'm not going to magically be 100% better, but what if I'm getting worse despite feeling better? I don't want to go to the hospital or be admitted, but I know that if I don't get better that that's a very distinct possibility. I just want to know I'm okay.

I need to go get dressed for my appointment. I'm really afraid my oxygen saturation levels will be low again or even worse than yesterday. So, please, any vibes you can spare, would you be willing to share with me?

Best wishes that the doctor is able to give you good news today, and to make you feel more comfortable about the whole situation. Of course, pneumonia is scary, and it's understandable you're anxious. Please tell the doctor exactly how you're feeling, emotionally and physically - some of it could be drug-induced, some just because you're feeling awful. Don't be shy - doctors have heard it all, and the emotions play a huge role in recovery.

that you're feeling better very soon.

I hope you feel better.
I had pnemonia with severe asthma and a collapsed lung 1987.
It is very scary.
I have that same inhaler.
It can make you shake and get fast heartbeats and headaches.
I had to be on Oxygen.
I understand how scared you must be.
Can you walk.
I did a bad thing and crawled into the er because I could not walk.
Let usknow what the Dr says.
I almost had to have tubes put in my lungs.

I wish you the best of luck and hope you get good news today. I've had pneumonia also and was sent to the hospital and given the breathing meds. After a few days I came home and was fine altho meds were sent home with me. I hope you won't have to go into the hospital but if the Dr. suggests it, go.

Oh sweetie, feel better soon! Good luck at your dr. appointment.

Having had pneumonia about a year ago, I can understand your concerns. I went to the doctor, too, and I NEVER go to the doctor for little stuff. She took one listen to my lungs, said I definitely had pneumonia, and gave me all the usual steps including the inhaler.

And I'll be honest; I haven't felt 100% since then. There is nasty stuff out there!

Dottie and I both got a sinus infection delivering some military stuff in a dust storm in Azusa, CA. It took us months to get that cleared up.

I guess my point is, take care of yourself, and if you feel, after your treatment, that you aren't completely back to normal, go back to the doctor to be sure!

I had pneumonia several years ago and had such a hard time breathing that I was afraid for myself as well. I know it's scary but it's more in your head than anything, trust me. I hope you feel better soon but I know it's not an easy recovery

I had it years ago, too, and to the point where I was blacking out more often from it (not fully fainting, pre-syncope which I'm prone to anyways. I'd be semi-conscious but couldn't see, hear, or move for several minutes - usually I'm only down like that for a minute).

I've also had bronchitis several times. It takes weeks to get over. I've never been given an albuterol inhaler on any of those occasions, for which I'm very thankful. With my 120-180 typical heart rates it would put me in the ER.


If you can take it, take mucinex or another med containing guaifenesin. That has made a huge difference in how sick I get and how long I stay sick. DH, who can get quite sick since he has asthma, prefers the thera-flu type mixes since they're a hot drink.
Anti-inflammatories (naproxen, ibuprofen) can help with the inflammation from the bronchitis.

Be very careful taking extra acetaminophen (tylenol) if you are taking any other cold medicine. Nearly every single one of them have acetaminophen in them and it doesn't take much to OD on it. Read labels carefully.

Keep in touch with your doctor and look up all your med side effects online. Some will cause rapid heartbeat (and not just the inhaler). Let your doctor know if they're making you any worse.

The feeling of not getting enough air IS scary, and feeling so sick for so long would make you very worried. I imagine you're not getting enough good sleep which always makes us more emotional as well.

I hope your appointment went well, please update us once you get a chance

It sounds like your doctor is keeping a close eye on it, so that's good! That would be very scary though!

Get better

Thank you all for your understanding and support. It really means so much .

I got home from the doctor and from running errands (well, my roommate did the running -- I napped in the car) about an hour ago. And, while I'm still scared, I'm feeling a bit better about things.

The doctor took one look at me and said that I appeared so much better than I did yesterday. To me, when I looked in the mirror before leaving the house, I felt like I looked worn out and drawn, but, apparently, this is an improvement over how I looked yesterday . My blood pressure was good (122/72), but I had a relatively rapid heartbeat (not uncommon for me -- I'm tachycardic and 114 isn't even close to being in a danger zone for me) and a slight fever (99.4 I think). We went over my x-ray from yesterday and she pointed out the pneumonia on my lungs and, thankfully, it wasn't severe, but enough to certainly be concerned about. My bloodwork hasn't come back yet as far as I know, but my oxygen levels were up to 96-97% today as opposed to the 88-92% yesterday. That was a great improvement in just 24 hours .

The doctor feels, at this point, I've kind of turned the corner and am heading in the right direction. The care I've received from my doctor's office has been wonderful. The hospital? Not so much. But, really, no complaints with my doctor -- she treats aggressively and is always willing to listen to anything I throw at her. She costs an arm and a leg, but that's another story altogether...

She sent me home with a script for another 7 days of Levaquin (today was day 4) and told me that I can't even consider going back to work until a week from Monday. I haven't called my job to let them know yet (they need to know on Monday when I'll be coming back), but I'm nervous. I missed a lot of time in November when I had my appendectomy and this being so soon afterwards has me concerned, but there's nothing I can do to change the situation. So, the meds I'm on will be the Levaquin (500mg 1x daily), Albuterol inhaler (1-2 puffs 4x daily), Tylenol (I am not taking any other medication with Acetominophen in it) or Ibuprofin as needed for fever or pain, Robitussin (it is the one with the Guaifenesin) as needed for cough, and my regular medications sans one that I can't take due to it depressing respiration.

I feel better knowing that my oxygen levels are up, but I also know that they're most likely up due to the introduction of the inhaler. I do feel better today and that's what is important, but my anxiety is still high. Now that my doctor's not as concerned, I'm already thinking up a whole new list of "what if's." I know it's in my best interest to relax and let go of the fear and just focus on taking care of myself and getting well, but, let's face it, it's hard! But, I'm trying...

Thank you all again. I'll probably need y'all in a little bit when I go through another freak out, but, for now, I feel okay. It feels better to know that I'm not alone .

Thankfully I've never had pneumonia, but I have asthma and regularly get bronchitis, and whenever it happens and for whatever reason, that feeling of not being able to get enough air is awful - and yes, scary.

you're starting to heal up well! It does sound like you're taking care of yourself and have competent caring people keeping an eye on the situation, and that's important. It will take a long time to recover, so take it easy, get lots of rest, and drink LOTS of fluids and eat healthy!!!!!

We were posting at the same time.... but that is all great news! And that is EXACTLY what the inhaler is for, so the good news is that it is working and helping! I'm surprised they didn't put you on a steroid - though maybe that's a health history thing or a med combo issue, but I must admit I was surprised when the hospital gave you the note for just two days - you're going to need the week to rest up. The people at work will understand.