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Marthe48

(16,688 posts)
Mon May 8, 2017, 11:28 AM May 2017

I have pneumonia again

I had in Nov-Dec last year. I thought I was taking care to avoid it, but nope. I got symptoms of a head cold Friday afternoon, and by last night was coughing my lungs out. I was first in at Kwik Care this morning. I don't smoke, my other habits are moderate. My husband was allergic to mold. Maybe I am too. I'll be taking it easy, so tg for DU.

21 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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I have pneumonia again (Original Post) Marthe48 May 2017 OP
Hugs shenmue May 2017 #1
Thank you! Marthe48 May 2017 #4
Get the pneumonia shot katmondoo May 2017 #2
I meant to Marthe48 May 2017 #3
About pneumonia shots...a quick note: they don't always work.. Stuart G May 2017 #6
I was looking at information Marthe48 May 2017 #11
The shot protects against bacterial pneumonia caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae LeftInTX May 2017 #13
Mold can make you sick, and there are ways to deal with it- Canoe52 May 2017 #5
My husband landed in ER twice Marthe48 May 2017 #9
Please stay on top of this Jane Austin May 2017 #7
Last time, the dr. said I'd Marthe48 May 2017 #12
Undiagnosed pneumonia is common TexasBushwhacker May 2017 #17
Marthe pls take care of yourself. irisblue May 2017 #8
Thank you irisblue Marthe48 May 2017 #10
Get well LeftInTX May 2017 #14
Hope you don't get worse Marthe48 May 2017 #15
OMG - I just got a call from my rheumatologist LeftInTX May 2017 #21
If you haven't already been evaluated for asthma, ask your doctor about that. pnwmom May 2017 #16
I saw a pulmonary dr. in Dec and Jan Marthe48 May 2017 #18
I've got lungs like that. I crashed this last Christmas as a cold turned into something worse. hunter May 2017 #19
Wow-sounds like Marthe48 May 2017 #20

katmondoo

(6,454 posts)
2. Get the pneumonia shot
Mon May 8, 2017, 11:36 AM
May 2017

I did, I am very prone to pneumonia had it many times, the last was life threatening.

Marthe48

(16,688 posts)
3. I meant to
Mon May 8, 2017, 11:48 AM
May 2017

I was taking care of my husband and didn't get the shot when I got better. I have it on my list now for sure. I think I might have got it from leaf mold, wonder if the shot would protect against that? Hope you stay well

Stuart G

(38,359 posts)
6. About pneumonia shots...a quick note: they don't always work..
Mon May 8, 2017, 12:05 PM
May 2017

On two separate occasions I got that shot. One as recently as 5 years ago..and within 3 or 4 weeks of both shots, guess what??? I got pneumonia.. I was shocked 5 years ago that this could happen, the shot was administered in a hospital, and the nurse said it was a good idea... So, even though I got the shot, within a short time...like 6 weeks,,,I was back in the hospital with....pneumonia.......What I found out was that the shot does not protect you from all kinds of pneumonia...and there are 40 to 50 different kinds (depending on what you read or who you listen to).. Good Luck..best wishes to overcome this.

Marthe48

(16,688 posts)
11. I was looking at information
Mon May 8, 2017, 03:54 PM
May 2017

the other day, saw that there are 2 vaccines that protect against about half of the bacterial causes. Too bad you got it in spite of the shot. I hope you are avoiding any more illness. Thank you for this post.

LeftInTX

(24,541 posts)
13. The shot protects against bacterial pneumonia caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae
Mon May 8, 2017, 04:11 PM
May 2017

They can do cultures to determine if it is this pathogen.

Elderly are more at risk from complications of pneumonia.

I tend to get bronchitis very easily. I get a cold and boom, it goes to my chest.
Viral pneumonia is another common form of pneumonia. Viral pneumonia and bronchitis tend to be on the same spectrum, except pneumonia goes down further.

Canoe52

(2,944 posts)
5. Mold can make you sick, and there are ways to deal with it-
Mon May 8, 2017, 11:54 AM
May 2017

medical (mainstream and alternative) and removing the sources of the mold. An approach using all three helped me. Takes some work but it's worth it.

Good luck!

Marthe48

(16,688 posts)
9. My husband landed in ER twice
Mon May 8, 2017, 03:36 PM
May 2017

because of mold. Although I was the only person who thought it was mold that caused his pneumonia. I didn't think I might be affected, but I heard that as we age,we can become more sensitive to allergens. I will remember after this to stay away from wet leaves. Thank you

Jane Austin

(9,199 posts)
7. Please stay on top of this
Mon May 8, 2017, 01:05 PM
May 2017

Repeated lung inflammations can actually cause you to develop COPD or its equivalent.

It happened to me.

Marthe48

(16,688 posts)
12. Last time, the dr. said I'd
Mon May 8, 2017, 03:58 PM
May 2017

had pneumonia before, but up to last Nov. I hadn't been diagnosed. So this is the 3rd time. And the dr. in Nov. said that I have a little asthma, which they wouldn't have noticed except for the pneumonia. I have been using an inhaler on and off for several years, mostly off. I smoked for a long time, quit over 20 years ago, but I worry about COPD, for sure. Hope you are doing well.

TexasBushwhacker

(20,043 posts)
17. Undiagnosed pneumonia is common
Tue May 9, 2017, 12:04 AM
May 2017

And a leading cause of heart disease. They found the bacteria that cause pneumonia in the arterial plaques and once you've had pneumonia, it's easier to get it again. Some kinds are easy to treat, others are challenging. Just remember, Jim Henson thought he just had a really bad cold.

irisblue

(32,828 posts)
8. Marthe pls take care of yourself.
Mon May 8, 2017, 02:17 PM
May 2017

Pneumonia is a slow recovery time. Take naps, rest & ask for/ let people help you.

Marthe48

(16,688 posts)
10. Thank you irisblue
Mon May 8, 2017, 03:39 PM
May 2017

One of my neighbors came by and mowed the yard for me. My daughter's nephew was supposed to, but he didn't come out last week. My neighborhood is awesome

LeftInTX

(24,541 posts)
14. Get well
Mon May 8, 2017, 04:16 PM
May 2017

I've had bronchitis for like a month..Just when I think it is over, it comes back. It seemed like it was gonna come back on Thursday, but improved the next day. Now my throat is sore again. I hope it doesn't go down my chest.

Marthe48

(16,688 posts)
15. Hope you don't get worse
Mon May 8, 2017, 04:28 PM
May 2017

I usually take Vitamin C, and swear by it. But not while I take the antibiotic. The fine print in the fine print

LeftInTX

(24,541 posts)
21. OMG - I just got a call from my rheumatologist
Thu May 11, 2017, 12:43 PM
May 2017

I've got Sjogren's.

It can lead to recurrent bronchitis/pneumonia.
It is hard to diagnose.
My bloodwork tested positive for Sjogren's antibodies.
Most people get it diagnosed via biopsy because the blood test is usually negative.

Sjorgen's is an autoimmune disorder that causes dry mouth, dry eyes, and dry airways. I've probably had it for years and it is finally at the threshold where it is showing up in my bloodwork. I don't have any other autoimmune disorders.

The dry airway creates a vulnerability to lower respiratory infections.

pnwmom

(108,925 posts)
16. If you haven't already been evaluated for asthma, ask your doctor about that.
Mon May 8, 2017, 11:32 PM
May 2017

People with asthma are more susceptible to pneumonia, and sometimes the only symptom of asthma is a cough. Also, asthma can be triggered by a virus -- but a person with asthma might have no symptoms between bouts. So diagnosis can be tricky.

Also, I got pneumonia three years in a row -- and then started getting flu shots. I hope you're getting them, too. They made a big difference for me.

Marthe48

(16,688 posts)
18. I saw a pulmonary dr. in Dec and Jan
Tue May 9, 2017, 05:29 PM
May 2017

He was the one who told me about the asthma and gave me the Symbicort. I was ok by the Jan. visit. I was supposed to go back in March, another follow-up, but my husband passed away in Jan. and I canceled the appt. Right now, if I can stay away from drs, I will. I'll follow up with my family dr, and get a pneumonia shot. I don't remember how bad I felt last time,but this time I saw the dr. within 2 days of symptoms, so maybe it won't hang on as long. Thanks for all of the information.

hunter

(38,263 posts)
19. I've got lungs like that. I crashed this last Christmas as a cold turned into something worse.
Tue May 9, 2017, 11:31 PM
May 2017

Colds frequently head straight for my lungs.

Before I got my asthma under control with inhaled steroids I was a frequent flyer to the E.R. where they'd shoot me up with epinephrine, stick IVs in my arm, give me powerful antibiotics, and assign a respiratory therapist to watch over me.

That was in the bad old days when asthma was treated with toxic doses of theophylline and oral steroids. As an added bonus, the steroids would sometimes tip me over into psychosis.

Keep on top of it, especially if its asthma related.

Of course, the usual disclaimer applies, I'm just some guy on the internet, not a doctor...



Marthe48

(16,688 posts)
20. Wow-sounds like
Wed May 10, 2017, 09:18 AM
May 2017

you've been through a lot. I remember when having asthma was a serious health problem. With the inhalers, seems like people can control it better.

Good to know about steroids changing mental status. I'll keep an eye on myself

Thanks for sharing your story.

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