Felled by bacterial pneumonia

Hello team!
I started having a fever 11/26 and I assumed it was the flu. After a week of fever I finally went to the doctor and I didn't have the flu, I had bacterial pneumonia. Ended up spending almost two weeks in bed with fever spiking up to 103. Finally on Friday the antibiotics took hold and the fever broke.

Attention everybody - if you have a fever don't assume it's the flu. I didn't know this, I bet all you parents know it - doctors can do a quick qtip in the nose test and in ten minutes tell you if you have the flu. So go to the doctor if you have a fever, I maybe could have cut a week off this ordeal if I had.

So now I'm in the recovery stage. Very weak, and I lost ten pounds which I did not need to lose. My lung is still ooked up, that takes a while to heal. And my platelets which have been mostly living at 200 for about 5 years are now in the 40s. Due to the pneumonia I've had to cancel my December work trip to Honolulu (boo hoo).

I'm not even thinking about platelet treatments at this point, but hoping hoping that they rebound as I recover. My only itp symptom is some nose bleed - no gum bleeding, no bruises, nothing else.

Any pneumonia tips/experiences to share would be appreciated.
Erica

Drink lots of water stay away from milk. Water thins secretions milk can thicken them.

Sleep with your upper torso raised - helps with breathing and preventing fluids from pooling.

I already gave you all of my tips and advice. It sure was a long, miserable road for you! :sick:

Still on the road, Sandi. Still miserable but a little less so.

Erica!

Sorry, I did not know you were sick! I am glad that you are on the road to recovery. Today at church I had to tell some folks that I did not want to pass the peace with them until they had gotten over what they had. I think a couple were not so happy with me but, that is just tough!

Anyway, I am glad to know that you are improving. If it will help you I could go to Hawaii in your place and take good notes for you! I am probably the most helpful person around!

Get Well!

Jeff

Yuck! I'm so glad you are getting better. What a horrible ordeal!! I'm not sure what is worse - being so sick or not getting to go to Hawaii.

I hope your platelets come back quickly.

Wow Erica you have sure had a time of it! I'm really sorry but very glad to hear you are on the mend! Take it easy - will be a while before you get your strength back!!

We had a very healthy young man die of the flu in a county north of us - tested, he had it for sure. A friend of ours is getting over a confirmed case of the flu, she's a mess - says next year she will get the flu shot! People always do say "flu" and really don't know if it is that or a cold or bronchitis or sinusitis or whatever unless they go to the doctor and get the test. Also if someone goes to the doctor immediately up on feeling like they have "the flu" and it really is the flu they can be put on med to ease symptoms.

Behave yourself - hope those little platelets increase as you mend!

I had a very good doctor visit today. He thinks by the end of the week I should be back to almost myself and ready to work, and my platelets were - holey shmoley - 214.

My homework is every 15 minutes I'm supposed to take 2-3 deep breaths. He said that is the best way to get my lung and tubes or whatever expanded and healing.

To celebrate I finished making the chicken soup - tons of kale, some ginger, a little garlic. Organic chicken.

Good news, Erica! Keep it going!

Glad you're feeling better, Erica!

Erika, that sounds terrible. I am glad you are feeling better.

Sorry to hear Erica. (We have been away 6 days)
The whole episode must feel surreal. Your soup sounds wonderful!
Hope you are feeling much better soon & can enjoy the festive season.
mj