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Could I possibly be getting pnuemonia?

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Posted 12/16/2007 6:42 AM (GMT -7)
I am on my 3rd course of antibiotics for sinus infections. I've done 4 full days of the 3rd round. I woke up several hours ago feeling like I had an elephant on my chest and starting to cough. My fever is only about 99, but I tend to run really low normally (96.6). Is it possible to get pnuemonia while on antibiotics? I had a pnuemonia shot but it was probably 10 years or more ago. And to make matters worse, we are having a Noreaster, the streets haven't been plowed, my driveway hasn't been snow blowed, My Pats are playing in a few hours and I have Xmas cookies to make! Ugh! I don't want to go to the ER. Besides, what more can they do for me, IV antibiotics, Hospital admission, yuck, I dont' have time for this.
Posted 12/16/2007 8:35 AM (GMT -7)
Yes, it's possible, you could also have viral pneumonia that the antibiotics won't touch. I would go get a chest x-ray, it could turn out to be bronchitis or something you need a different antibiotic for, and if you don't address it, it may turn into pneumonia. Better to spend time in the ER todayinstead of being in the hospital over Christmas. Good luck, let us know what happens.
Posted 12/16/2007 8:47 AM (GMT -7)
What antibiotic are you on? Yes, it is possible to get viral pneumonia or bronchitis like Judy suggested. If it's really excruciating to breathe, it's more likely to be pneumonia. You don't necessarily have to go to the ER; can you call your family doctor to see if you can get in to be seen tomorrow? Or do you have any urgent care walk-in clinics around? You might even not need a chest x-ray depending on what your doctor hears through the stethoscope!
Posted 12/16/2007 9:03 AM (GMT -7)
I've been on Doxycyline, Z-pack and Amoxicillin. Its getting worse by the hour, so I'll be heading to the ER in a few hours. I can't get out of the driveway yet. We are in the middle of a huge storm and they still haven't plowed our street.

Now its sharp shooting pain, fever is up and I'm freezing. I'm pretty sure its pneumonia. sad
Posted 12/16/2007 9:16 AM (GMT -7)
Good luck, and be careful driving. Let us know what happens.
Posted 12/16/2007 11:00 AM (GMT -7)
Zanne sure hope you get some much needed answers and get feeling better soon. Don't forget to take your probiotics 2 hours after your antibiotics. And yes, please be careful driving. Keep us posted.
Posted 12/16/2007 11:53 AM (GMT -7)
Zanne, I once had a bacterial pneumonia that only responded to the 4th antibiotic the doctor gave me. From onset to the 4th antibiotic was about 3 weeks. I was miserable the whole time, but within just a few hours of getting the correct antibiotic I felt like I'd turned the corner for the better. It was amazing.

Just posting this to let you know to fight for what works. The doc told me it's literally a cr#$ shoot for them to try to figure out which antibiotic to use for pneumonia.

I hope you feel much, much better really soon!!!
Posted 12/16/2007 12:18 PM (GMT -7)

Hey there,

On our pneumonia pathway in the ER we use Levaquin.  Be sure to get those fluids in.

Good luck.

Kitt

Posted 12/16/2007 8:50 PM (GMT -7)
Just got back from the ER. All the test were negative for pneumonia. They tested to see if it might be a blood clot, but thankfully that was also negative. I was severely dehydrated, so they pumped me up with fluids. The doctor thinks its bronchitis. I've had that at least a dozen times before, and this didn't start the same way and doesn't feel the same. I'm not even coughing that much.I don't really feel any better, but I'm not worse! So I will be taking it easy for a few days and checking in with my PCP when he is back in the office on Tuesday. If it gets worse I'm suppose to go back to the ER, but really they didn't do anything, so I'm not really sure why.

Thanks for the well wishes and advice.
Posted 12/17/2007 12:19 AM (GMT -7)
I'm glad to hear you don't have pneumonia, Zanne, and that you got home safely! "Bronchitis" is the term they use for inflammation of the bronchi that branch off into your lungs. It can be caused by a variety of bugs out there, which is probably why it didn't feel the same this time. Hopefully the antibiotics you're taking will start kicking in, and those fluids will probably help a lot. Keep drinking them! If you can tolerate cayenne pepper at all, put a pinch of it in your tea with a spoonful of honey. The cayenne has anti-inflammatory properties and is a good expectorant, and the honey will soothe your throat. I like to mix 'em up in a huge mug of ginger tea myself.

The ER's are required to say that: "Come back if you're feeling worse," just because they don't want to be held responsible if someone crashes and burns after they leave. But hopefully you will start feeling better instead of worse and by the time you visit the PCP you'll be on the road to recovery!
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