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Question for medicos and those who have experienced this:
1. How long before one's lungs get back into shape after pneumonia? How hard should I push during recovery?
2. How long will I need flovent and albuterol? Will my lungs develop a dependency? (Hiking season is here and it takes me twice as long to do a flat mile as did before pneumonia. Never mind small hills or stairs.)
*trying to practice patience and tired of getting tired so easily*
Posts: 5609 | Registered: Jan 2003
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After bronchitis, I was on flovent for about six months, but not constantly, only as needed. But I also lived in a fairly harsh climate where winters got to -40C (which is also -40F), but usually averaged around -20 to -25C, and I had to take the bus to get around, so standing outside for ten minutes or longer at a time.
I wish you a speedy recovery.
Posts: 8355 | Registered: Apr 2003
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Two weeks off of work, rivka. My boss said I was incoherent by the time they got me to a doctor, and the only reason they didn't put me in hospital was because she and my ex-husband made sure I was cared for around the clock at home the first 48 hours after treatment began.
Would you believe I did a 6-mile hike right as I was getting this? I thought I could walk off a chest/sinus cold. Not . . .
I am back to work PT this week, but it's been tiring. However, my sleep is messed up and that doesn't help. Not being able to get enough aerobic exercise really makes the insomnia bad - viscious cycle . . .
*sigh*
And I have yard work to do, mountains to visit and climb, long walks to take, and most importantly, a boy-child to practice baseball and go swimming with, and to walk to the library with and to chase and tickle and all that good stuff . . . thank God he likes to read!
Posts: 5609 | Registered: Jan 2003
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It's so hard when illness keeps parents away from parenting. Porter and I have not experienced anything like what you've been through, but there was a time when our oldest was barely walking that we both got food poisoning.
We were flat on our backs, incapacitated. He came up to us munching on an old, crusty piece of PBJ sandwich he had stashed away somewhere days before. All we could think was how grateful we were that he found sustenence!
Posts: 7050 | Registered: Feb 2004
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My mom got pneumonia back in January and she still is having trouble, the doctors say she should be feeling better by July... but wow that's like 7 months!
Posts: 1417 | Registered: Aug 1999
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Hmmmm. Let's see, at 36 then, I could estimate approximtely 4 months for full recovery? Hiking season will practically be over then! Waaaahhhhh.
Posts: 5609 | Registered: Jan 2003
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Two weeks off of work, rivka. My boss said I was incoherent by the time they got me to a doctor, and the only reason they didn't put me in hospital was because she and my ex-husband made sure I was cared for around the clock at home the first 48 hours after treatment began.
Golly gee whiz! And here I was thinking the fact that you hadn't posted much lately meant you were busy having a life or something!
Take better care of yourself, ya hear?
Posts: 32919 | Registered: Mar 2003
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I was always told it take 6 months to fully recover from pneumonia. I don't really know if that is true. It DOES take quite a while to get all strength back but you should be able to get to 90% recovered within another week I'd hope.
You don't become dependent on those meds. They are helpful for pneumonias, bronchitis, the sorts of illnesses that get the lungs all irritated and inflamed. Once all that clears up you probably won't need the drugs. This is assuming you have healthy lungs, don't have asthma, and don't smoke. There ARE viruses that can cause an asthma-like problem in kids for 1-3 years afterwards but I doubt you'd have problems that long.
The albuterol is good for any infection in the lungs, like chest colds. So be sure to hold onto it and pull it out if you have a wet cough or wheezing in the future.
Posts: 1990 | Registered: Feb 2001
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Thanks, Theca. Someone told me that if my lungs got accustomed to using those medicines that I'd have to use them for the rest of all time . . .
I'll practice patience and perhaps only PT work again next week to allow the body to heal . . .
Posts: 5609 | Registered: Jan 2003
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quote:Originally posted by Shan: Someone told me that if my lungs got accustomed to using those medicines that I'd have to use them for the rest of all time . . .
Wow. That is absolutely false.
Posts: 1990 | Registered: Feb 2001
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I had pneumonia a yr ago. Took me 6 months to really recover. I was exhausted for the first 2.5 months, easily tires for another 2, and about 90% for the last 1.5 months. This year I've noticed that it is especially easy for anything and everything to settle into my lungs.
HOWEVER I was already asthmatic before which can make a BIG difference.
Posts: 772 | Registered: Feb 2005
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I hope you feel better! My sister just had it all last week. She is still getting over it and has to ease herself into her basketball practices again.
Posts: 306 | Registered: Jun 2003
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