So sorry to hear about your diagnosis Cap!!! It seems the prescription you were given , for the Levo, is the same I had by iv when i was in the hospital with pneumonia.That is a good drug, just do not do a lot of vigerous exercises because one of the rare but happens problems is injured tendons. My sister was on that and was jet skying and pulled a tendon and was not walking for a while!!! Google it.
As far as the prednisone taper, if it is under 7 days, it is not necessary, because the adrenal glands do not get to upset, but over that it is recommended to taper because you run the risk of your system shutting down if the adrenal glands go into shock, which is why every doctor I know does the tapering for 10 days or more of prednisone. (8-9 is like a safety zone. My doctor will prescribe no tapering for 7 or less days, but will taper for 10 or more days.) I would suggest you goggle this also, and in fact, I will find you a couple of good web sites to go to. You should also wait at least 7 to 10 days between prednisone doses if doing the non tapering, because you do not want to over load your body with steroids, and it gives your body time to get rid of it . Nebulizer is really good to loosen the mucous and spit it up, that is really important. I do not know what me you will use in your nebulizer, but remember, if it has albuterol in it, it may make your heart race a bit. So mke sure you do not use the neb and another bronchodialtor also (Like the neb and symbicort or spariva) thy are also stimulants. Spariva is fine to use along with the neb meds. If you are in doubt about your inhalers, google it . Bronchodialator meds are Long lasting meds Spariva and a few others are Short acting. meds. I hope you get better soon, stay home and rest, use the o2 if needed. I will send you a link or two on tapering, and you be your own judge.
PLease excuse my spelling
Hugs
Brenda

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/prednisone-withdrawal/AN01624
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/steroids/HQ01431

http://www.ask.com/wiki/Prednisone?o=2801&qsrc=999&ad=doubleDown&an=apn&ap=ask.com

On this last one, scroll down to "dependacy" Interesting info. All doctors have different ideas, but most taper after 7 days.
Brenda

OK, One more thing then I peomise to shut up and let others get a word in. I take an azthromycin 250 3 times a week as maintanance for the copd. It has proven to help slow down the occurance of episodes we have . So far, I have not been sick enough to go to hospital since a year ago, with only mild infections that I go to the doctor and either get a prednisone script, or if I have fever an antibiotic.
She does not like to give antibiotic just willy nilly because of building up a resistance, and I am not taking prednisone any more than I have to, so we get along just fine..lol
Brenda
PS I promise, no more comments...right now

Levo is excellent stuff. Yrs ago I had an ear infection that kept coming back over a 6 month period and that stuff was last resort, but, it kicked it in the butt.
Heed the warnings Brenda gave you though about being careful with your antics. The shot more than likely got you off to a good kick start in this battle as well. Are you sitting ok? :)
Rest and lots of fluids.
And chicken soup!

Here's to you breathing real well, real soon ! :)

About 7 years ago I was treated for pneumonia twice within a two month period. It seemed to go away with the first round of antibiotics, but it returned about two weeks later. The final resolution was that it was a viral form of pneumonia. It took several weeks of rest to get rid of it. Two interesting articles about pneumonia I just found.

http://bacteria.emedtv.com/bacterial-pneumonia/difference-between-viral-and-bacterial

http://www.webmd.com/lung/tc/pneumonia-cause

As far as your doctors advice about what drugs are right for you, I really couldn't tell you. I can say for sure that an antibiotic won't help a viral form of pneumonia, and it is my understanding that the viral forms outnumber the bacterial forms.

I hope this helps some, Gary

I have had pneumonia 3 times in my life, and each one to me felt worse than the last bout, like I was dying. I now get the pneumonia shot every five years and have not had it in 9 years. I also have the nebulizer and do at least 2 or 3 treatments a day (dr. would like me to do 4) but I seem ok with the 2 or 3 Have you had the shot? if not I would mention it to your dr. Hope you have a speedy recovery GOD BLESS!!

Don't be surprised if your energy is zapped for a while, please don't over do it.

Hugs.

Good point Gary and Cap had mentioned the Sahara Winds he was cruising in not so very long ago, starting the bad SOB.

Let's hope and pray the antibiotics are already working some wonders on you good sir. I'd give it a day or two to see/feel some improvement ...then maybe a call to the Dr is in order for a culture.

We're not Dr.'s we just play them online :)

Thank u all.

I did get the pneumonia shot in 2011 by my pulmonary Dr in New Orleans. Thats when I had a great BC/BS copay med insurance.

I had to turn down a charter today and txt'd the boss I had the flu. Luckily were not too busy at this time of year.

Last night was the first time I couldn't sleep. Tossed and turned all night. I usually I have no problem going to sleep with COPD. I wonder what kept me up all night?!

Brenda you can reply as much as you want to girl. Your info is very important to me and I'm sure for all those just reading. But thank you again everyone. Stay tuned. Have a blessed day.

Pneumonia is tricky and "dangerous." My advice is for you to "ride the wave." i.e. take it very, very easy and do what you can whenever you can. You may only be able to eat and sleep off and on for several days. I don't know about some of the things you reference - all I know regarding this subject is that 1) I had pneumonia a couple of years ago 2) I had a shot for pneumonia a couple of years ago (this shot is similar to the flu shot in that it may or may not help because of different strains, but can't hurt), during pneumonia, I slept and ate on and off for a couple of weeks.

Pneumonia sapped me pretty good. Its good you received the diagnosis - the best you can do now is relax and do as little as you can (don't push yourself or worry needlessly)

iv levo kicked mine the last time i got it.
i haven't had it since i got my pnuemonia shot so i am so sorry that it didn't seem to work for you.
thinking of you and my prayers are with you.
i hope you get better soon (((HUGS))))

hey all. Thank you for your advice and support.

Boy, this sux! I finally was able to get a few hours of sleep last night, but my appetite is off and I do feel a bit better today, but you seem to go through valleys and hills. But I'm still really SOB, as a matter of fact, I more SOB than the day I went to the Dr.

I'm a bit embarrassed to admit this, but I know I need a shower and every time I walk into the bathroom I have to ask myself if I can make it and then I walk away and tell myself later thinking that my SOB will be better in a couple of hours. And that's with a 50 foot 02 hose connected to my concentrator. Not good.

I've almost called one of my friends to take me to the hospital and let me hang out there for a couple of nights so I can get that IV levo that jarca mentioned. I know they did it the last time I was there when I had a bad exacerbation along with the injected preds in June 2012.

Anyway, thank you again everyone. Have a blessed day...

0Aside from the meds prescribed, I have to echo what the others have said .... maximum rest! and the chicken soup is good too!

Oh Cap, that does suck. Might be time to put a call in to the Dr, or do the hospital thing.

Never be embarrassed to admit that ya need a shower....who here among has has never said ..oh well that's too much trouble. That's why God invented baby wipes :) Or did Al Gore take credit for them?

Most of all, from the heart, do what you need to do to get well. And pardon my bad sense of humor in a serious situation :) Hugs

Promises, you got me laughing. I can so relate to the baby wipes.

Capt, sending healing thoughts and hugs your way. Having this stupid disease is bad enough on a daily basis, but the extra sick, yup, that just sucks.