Pnuemonia and recovery time

[phorsenuf]

Last week my MIL was hospitalized with pnuemonia. It wasn't a severe case but they kept her about 4 days because she does have emphysema and requires oxygen when she is active.
She was doing great and they discharged her on Saturday. I didn't visit much because I had a cold so I thought it was best to stay away. When I did see her she seemed so much better. She was itching to get out of bed, had energy, etc.
Now she is back home (well, where she is staying up here, she was visiting at the time) and she doesn't seem to be doing good. She's utterly exhuasted all the time and sleeps alot. She is still on the oxygen all the time. Shouldn't she be doing better by now? At least somewhat? Should we be concerned? She said last time she had pnuemonia she bounced back right away. This doesn't seem the case.
Any thoughts?

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Took me 3 months to recover and I was in my 30's and healthy. I had a bad case of pneumonia, pretty sick. It was after the flu.

Yes you are exhausted and sleep is key to recovering. However it needs to be balanced with exercise to get the crud out of your lungs and lots of drinking fluids.

I would certainly take her to the doc for a follow up just in case. Trust your instincts!

 

[luvwinnie]

I don't have experience with pneumonia, but has she been back to her dr?

 

[mrsltg]

It took me about 6 weeks to feel completely better and I wasn't hospitalized. I would call the doctor anyway, though. Just let him/her know what's what with your mil.

 

[phorsenuf]

I don't have experience with pneumonia, but has she been back to her dr?

I know she has a follow-up but not sure when. My DH has been tending to her becuae I can't. We were going to have her stay with us after she got out of the hospital but decided against it because I still have my cold. I do know a visiting nurse comes in to check on her.

 

[FlyingBelle]

I had a mild case and it knocked me off my feet for about a month.


Hope she's feeling better soon!

 

[phorsenuf]

What worries us the most is she lives in Tennessee and was up visiting when this happened. She is renting a place in the local retirement home. She drove up here and we are afraid she'll push herself to drive back home. It's a 21 hour drive. She usually takes 3 days to do it but we don't like the idea of her driving quite yet. She hasn't said anything about it but we know it's just a matter of time. Once she makes her mind up about something there's no changing it.

 

[minkydog]

Pneumonia can take a long time to get over even in a relatively healthy person. Someone with chronic lung disease will take a lot longer. I had pneumonia a couple years ago following the flu. It took me 6wks to recover my energy and well-being. DH has severe lung disease. He has had a lung infection for the past 3 months. He's been on disability since May and is just now starting to feel better--that's 5 months, folks.