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Hi Sue! Lungs are sure a slow heal! I think the pneumonia is gone, IF that was indeed the problem. The bronchoscopy showed nothing. I know because of previous uncontrolled GERD I aspirated in the night several times on stomach fluid that were like battery acid as I'd wake up choking. I'd walk the living room coughing and actually bringing up this acid. I could still hear it rattling after I thought I'd coughed it up.
My doctor said he doesnt think I aspirated as aspiration usually happens to older people or stroke patients...that doesnt sound right to me! I think aspiration is possible in anyone.
I can now make my bed without losing my breath. My 02 sats are usually between 94 and 96. I can breathe deeper. Dr says keep taking it easy and rest. Shouldnt I be moving? Anyone that's been through this is welcome to reply too!
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Welcome back! I have been wondering how you are. GERD surely can cause aspiration pneumonia if it is severe enough, that's why it's so important to manage it.
Sounds like you are on the mend, but pneumonia sure can take a long time to get over. When your doctor says "take it easy and rest" I'm pretty sure he doesn't mean "don't move" - I think he means "don't go climbing ladders or washing windows." Mild exercise like walking and stretching is good - it helps keep the blood flowing, challenges your breathing a little and keeps muscles from shrinking even more.
When I was rehabbing from Pseudomonas pneumonia, I began by moving 5-6 minutes at a time - make the bed, put in one load of clothes, make a sandwich. Then sit down for a while. Next hour, repeat. After a few days I would up it to 10 minutes at a time, and so on. It took months before I could work or walk for a whole hour! Or do all the laundry in one day. Now I can do mild work for 3-4 hours with just little rest stops. More strenuous work like pulling weeds about 1 - 1 1/2 hours, then a 30 minute or so break. And when my body says "Stop!" I do.
So remember take it slow. Just because you can make the bed today doesn't mean you can vacuum or scrub tomorrow!
Do you have someone to help with cleaning and laundry?
Sue