No More Pneumonia-Feel Very Sickly! 6-8wks More Recovery? Not Sure I Can Take It! Advice or Ideas?

OK-The title pretty much says it all. I had clear chest x-rays 10 days ago, ok'd by my Rheumy and a Pulmonologist and they both said I no longer have pneumonia, and it would be a 6-8 wk recovery period for me. Great. Although I feel somewhat better than I did 2-3 weeks ago, I still feel pretty crappy, and it's just overwhelming me that I'm going to feel so bad for another month or two. I cried for hours last night just thinking about it. This is a completely new experience for me! I had pneumonia once, about 8 yrs ago, was sick as all get out, but took 1 round of antibiotics, recovered, and bounced right back! This is just so different. I am feeling a bit better, but recovery is so slow & I have no energy at all, unless I drink coffee! I haven't done anything for xmas but buy a few gifts-no tree, no lights, I didn't even send cards this year, and I feel awful about it. Plus, my mom only wants me to come over 3 hrs on Xmas Day-she's flipping out over something, whatever, but I feel sad, and feeling sick on top of everything else, it just pushes me to my limits! I'm so grateful for this site, and all the kindness & compassion & ideas I've found here.

I recently tested my limits, going out from 2-4 hrs last Thurs, Fri, and Sat, and all 3 days came home feeling anywhere from just tired to exhausted. I experienced severe fatigue & had to sit down many times to rest, felt like I had lead in my arms & legs, broke out in sweats lasting 10-15 minutes although when I took my temp it read normal (?), and felt way worse after the first 2 hrs. When I got home Saturday, I was so exhausted I went to bed at 7pm and slept until 6pm Sunday! I have a good idea of my limits now, but I really didn't think I was pushing myself too hard until I got home Saturday. The days of activity seemed to add up, since they were all in a row & I didn't rest enough between days out. Maybe that's why I crashed so hard.

Does that sound familiar at all to anyone who's had pneumonia along with having RA? I'm really curious as to how common this kind of "recovery" is, to feel so crappy and fatigued and break out in sweats the first couple weeks after the pneumonia is technically gone. My recent bloodwork came back mostly ok, except for slightly elevated white count-expected, and rheumy isn't too concerned with my very low-grade fever (99 or less). How long has this level of crappiness hung around for you? Mostly, what I saw on my other pneumonia post was to get lots of rest & stay well-hydrated, which I'm doing. Is there anything else I can be doing for myself to get back to feeling "normal" sooner? ANY suggestions will be gladly welcomed. Please share your experiences of recovery from pneumonia with me, especially anything I can do to recover faster. Thanks Very Much and Happy Holidays To All!!!

hello just thought i would drop aline to say hi, sorry to hear you have had such a bad time with the Pneumonia.
i'm sorry i can't help with anything to do with it but wanted you to know you are not alone with these problems, i'm sure there are friends here that may help.

hope everything will be getting better for you.x
davina

Hi, Ladywriter,

No wonder you are stressed and in pain. You have a lot going on. When a person is as ill as you have been, and still are, it is more difficult to handle all the upheavel life throws at us sometimes.

Please take a deep breath and concentrate on getting yourself well. The other things will fall into place soon enough.

Let your furries sit on your lap and love you. I have kitties, too. Aren't they wonderful to have around for companionship and understanding? I truly believe they know when their humans need them.

Basically, don't be so hard on yourself. Just take one day at a time. Try not to think beyond the next day or two.

I know you are stressed because you don't have all the things done for Christmas you wanted to get done. All the trappings of Christmas are nice and beautiful, but the trappings don't make Christmas. The love you have in your heart makes Christmas.

Hope you have a peaceful Christmas filled w/joy with the ones you love.

Peace,
V

I know what you mean about life just getting overwhelming and when you are in pain it's even harder to take.    I've been having a bad flare up myself and weird symptoms for over a month, many trips to the doctor but no real answers.    Had to stop my Humira and am on prednisone, which helps a little but not like the Humira.

When the pain is so bad I don't think I can stand another day, I take to my bed and try to find a comfortable position and I just keep repeating, "this too shall pass".   It's so hard to plan anything cause I can feel good one minute and be in agony the next.    Somehow we get through another day and when the good days come, they're worth it all.

hang in there, you'll be surprised how much you can take.   Better days are coming.

Happy Holidays and a better New Year,

Alicat

So happy to hear that you were able to spend some time with your folks on Christmas. Try resting a lot today and see if that helps the pain subside. Stay warm, watch good old movies, pamper yourself w/hot chocolate and see what happens. Praying that your pain subsides ladywriter.

Peace,
V

Hi LW, I think I already told you that it took me 3 terrible months to recover from pneumonia. I had endless cycles of antibiotics just to get my chest clear, then while I was still on antibiotics caught pleuracy(not sure of spelling) plus because I had no humira or mtx developed costochondritis. I had to sleep sitting up my chest was in so much pain, it hurt to breath let alone cough. I needed about 5 shots of cortisone into hot points in my ribs, mountains of prednisone to settle all the inflammation. Energy wise it took me months to recover fully, I remember doing small walks trying to build up my stamina, every day going that bit further. Plus I was told walking is good for pneumonia. I could only manage walks on the flat.

But I did get better, my chest has been brilliant since, no more costochondritis once I got back on all my meds! My energy returned. so hang in there, you will suddenly find you can do that little bit more.

If you're flaring you may need a course of prednisone to get you over the hump. I'd ring your rheumy and ask or even your local doctor. If you're over the pneumonia why won't they restart yourmeds? Mine were restarted as soon as possible, I remember my knees being so swollen in the hospital I was shuffling to get to the bathroom!

Try and enjoy the little things in your day. Have a coffee with a friend. Sit with the sun on your face. It is terribly depressing, I remember thinking it would never end.

Coming off meds always throws you, it will take awhile to regain your balance. Just keep hold of the good things and slowly  but surely you will mend.

Best wishes, golitho