How did you know you had Pneumonia?

[mommasita]

Simple question?

I wonder how one would know the difference from say bronchitis, or just a heavy cough, or Pneumonia...Is it possible without an Xray?

Thanks

 

[shortbun]

doctors can usually hear a pneumonia but they always xray to back up their opnion(at least ours do). I knew I was more sick than bronchitis when I got really tired all of a sudden and my cough changed quickly. It's nothing to mess around with. If you suspect it, get checked right away.

 

[EthansMom]

Are you sick too? We're just finishing up two weeks from heck here. DH and I came down with a nasty cold two weeks ago. It quickly turned into pneumonia for DH. Then it turned into brochitis for DS, who went on antibiotics. Those antibiotics didn't do anything for him and he developed pneumonia. By then DD and I had bronchitis. DD got put on heavy antibiotics (to go along with her brother's heavier antibiotics) right away. Now, DD and DS are feeling better, but my antibiotics weren't strong enough and I developed pneumonia. DH is stuck doing nighttime breathing treatments for the kids so I can rest and get better.

For me, bronchitis causes a pretty bad cough and a slight tightness in my chest. Pneumonia feels about the same, except I get exhausted doing even small stuff and my chest feels like a small child is sitting on it. Yesterday morning, just putting a load of laundry in the washer made me feel exhausted.

The best thing to do is get into a doctor asap and get it diagnosed. Our doctor usually prescribes the same antibiotics for bronchitis and pneumonia. Until and after you're diagnosed, get as much rest as you can.

Good Luck!

 

[C.Ann]

Couldn't breathe without pain - but then I have also been diagnosed when there was no pain present..

If you think you have it, don't mess around - see a doctor..

 

[leafette]

While they can usually hear it, this isn't always the case. My daughter had pneumonia last year that resulted in 10 missed days of school. They were NEVER able to hear it, and only did the X-rays because I insisted on it and because they were unable to find any other reason for her symptoms. The X-rays showed that it was very significant at that point.

 

[becka]

I had "walking" pneumonia this past January and while I knew I was sick I was suprised I didn't feel worse...I guess that is the "walking" part. I wish I had started getting treatment sooner because shortly after I was diagnosed I coughed so hard I broke my rib. Ouch! I don't ever want a repeat of that. If you suspect at all that you have pneumonia please go to the doctor.

 

[Cool-Beans]

Got tired - thought it was all the Christmas shopping, work, life and trip preparation. Flew to Disney.

Got sick - went to walk-in clinic and a diagnosis of bronchitis, with some antibiotics and cough syrup.

Got sicker - but was determined not to ruin my vacation (as well as others') by being sick...and kept plodding along

Got even sicker - mostly just lying in bed at AKL for 2 days with very little sleep due to coughing.

Swallowed - oh, a lot more than the prescribed amount, but didn't want to disturb other passengers - cough syrup before boarding plane (feeling like I really should just go to hospital in Florida, but should make it 3 more hours to home) and slept through flight virtually cough-free.

Threw up in car several times, as not breathing much. Sped to hospital.

Passed out in triage as attempt at standing and talking was more than body could bear at this point. Knew I was passing out and said, "I can't breathe" as I went under.

They pushed some drugs and slapped 3 or 4 breathing treatments on me and I came to, but fell asleep.

Got an x-ray that determined it was pneumonia. Surprise, surprise.

Declined to be admitted as there was "no way in hell" I was going to stay in the hospital after and while taking antibiotics. Told them to give me the flippin saline, I'd run it at home.

BAD, BAD, BAD PATIENT!!!! While I needed to be in the ER at that point, I could have avoided it by admitting I was sick while on vacation and going back when I knew I was getting worse.

Don't let this happen to you.

 

[apirateslifeforme]

I didn't. I just thought I had a really, really bad cold. I never get sick - I haven't had a cold in 4 years. A friend got mad at me - I mean really mad - before I finally went to the doctor. I just had a bad cough for about a month; if I wasn't coughing, I felt the urge to cough. I knew there was something wrong one day in June when it was very warm out, I was sweating, but shivering at the same time. The doctor listened to my lungs and said I had a rattling going on, so he gave me a breathing treatment, which made me start coughing up fluid. He heard me coughing and diagnosed pneumonia. He gave me antibiotics, a narcotic syrup of some sort, and an inhaler. It took several months - I just realized last month that I was back to normal. But even now, when I overexert myself, I cough uncontrollably.

 

[drag n' fly]

I got it labour day weekend. Finally an x ray confimred it and it took 6 weeks and three types of antibiotics to get rid of it and I still have lingering effects eg: an ear infection that won't clear up and my asthma is much worse.

 

[Missy Mouse]

Unless you're carefully trained with a stethoscope, it's very difficult to differentiate. If you have any of the above you should get checked out anyway. Bronchitis tends to be upper airway congestion and can have greenish/yellow phlegm if it's bacterial....pneumonia can sometimes give chest pains below the breast on the affected side w/ coughing (but there are lots of other etiologies for this as well)....I would get the xray.

 

[JunieJay]

I thought for sure I had it a couple of weeks ago as I've been coughing up crap but it turns out I didn't. I do know the doctor was pretty sure I didn't have it when he listened to my lungs and said they were clear as a bell - I guess that is the difference between bronchitis and pneumonia - apparently you can have bronchitis and it not affect your lungs but pneumonia the doctor will hear a rattling or wheezing sound. In any case, he did determine I needed a chest x-ray because I was coughing green gunk - the only way to know for sure is a chest xray. Mine was clear. If you have pnenumonia, they will see it on the x-ray.

Sure hope you feel better soon Momma!

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Simple question?

I wonder how one would know the difference from say bronchitis, or just a heavy cough, or Pneumonia...Is it possible without an Xray?

Thanks

Not really. I have had pneumonia a few times and my youngest had it without hardly any symptoms.

I know I have it immediately because I can feel it in my lower left lobe of my chest. But that is because I have had it bad before.

 

[hipchickie]

When I had pneumonia I had very little coughing, just a little cold. But I felt like when I breathed I wan't getting any air.

I know 2 people right now that have it, I think it is more common that people realize. And I am a little worried I have it again, I have that no air feeling again, I have been in bed all day and my asthma inhaler does not seem to help.

 

[mommasita]

Thank you all for the good wishes

I started this cold/cough a few days ago, and now my coughing is incredible. My husband (who is kind, but not usually this kind ), is waking me with cough medicine ready to go. He says he has NEVER heard me like this.

I am exhausted (other issues), and have this water sound when I sleep? This is a new one for me. My chest hurts, and feels like someone is sitting on it..

This afternoon I took the kids to the movies, and had to leave 3 times. I forgot my cough drops. As dangerous as this is, I have to sleep with a cough drop in my mouth at all times, or I will not stop coughing, and wake the whole house...


I work tomorrow, but am off on Monday, so I will definitely see a DR. then, if I don't feel better..

Thanks again.

 

[hipchickie]

Does your cough medicine have a cough supressant in it? If not, that may help.

This is always easy for someone else to say, but I would take tommorrow off work and go to the ER or a walk in clinic....what you describe does not sound good, and pneumonia is nothing to wait on.

 

[mommasita]

Does your cough medicine have a cough supressant in it? If not, that may help.

This is always easy for someone else to say, but I would take tommorrow off work and go to the ER or a walk in clinic....what you describe does not sound good, and pneumonia is nothing to wait on.

It does have a cough supressant...

I must work tomorrow, can not take it off, but I don't work that hard ....I finish at 6, so I may go straight to the ER then..

I am now trying to eat, I really have no appetite.

 

[Rafiki Rafiki Rafiki]

I just got over it.

I had surgery for a hysterectomy 3 weeks ago and was having trouble breathing when I got out of the hospital. Three days later, I started running a fever that couldn't be brought under control with Motrin.

DH took me back to the hospital where they ran a CT scan and found it.
Ten days of levaquin made it better.

 

[C.Ann]

Why not got to an ER tonight? I think the possibility of pneumonia would qualify as an "emergency" since people have been know to die from it.. I think waiting another day is pushing it - and especially if you are sleeping with a cough drop in your mouth that could result in your choking to death!

NO job is worth your life!

 

[pajamommy]

I've had pneumonia twice.....the first time I had no idea that I had it....my main symptom was that I coughed non-stop when I went to bed. The second time I had it, I knew I had it....fever, and my upper back, where the lungs are located, was killing me.....I just knew I had it. It sucks. Anyhow....good luck if you have it.....get better soon!

 

[mommasita]

Why not got to an ER tonight? I think the possibility of pneumonia would qualify as an "emergency" since people have been know to die from it.. I think waiting another day is pushing it - and especially if you are sleeping with a cough drop in your mouth that could result in your choking to death!

NO job is worth your life!

I am home with the 2 kids, and my DH is working until 10:30. In all honesty, there is nobody to watch them. My Mom is away, as is FIL.. The idea of going there with them is ..

I work for myself, and have tomorrow as my deadline. I may not stay all day, but will go in at least the AM, then if I feel the same way, I will go the ER...