COPD & Emphysema Support Group

COPD is a progressive disease characterized by airflow obstruction or limitation. Emphysema is characterized by loss of elasticity of the lung tissue, destruction of structures supporting the alveoli and of capillaries feeding the alveoli. Both have symptoms that include shortness of breath, among other respiratory troubles. If you are a COPD or Emphysema sufferer, join...

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Pneumonia Diagnosis

captstt
captstt
Hi Everyone,

Just wanted to let you know that I was diagnosed with pneumonia today from my Dr in St Thomas. This is a first for me and was wondering how those of you that's had pneumonia deal with it?

I was injected with an antibiotic and 40mg of pred orally and also was given a nebulizer treatment. I received prescriptions for the nebulizer, levoflaxin 500mg for an antibiotic and a 40mg prednisone per day.

I told the Dr about my z-pac 250mg I bought from ADC along with the pred taper I just finished a couple of days ago. And how the meds didn't really help me with my SOB when I was with my family the three weeks in Florida. Dr told me the z-pac isn't the antibiotic you want for the COPD and she doesn't believe in the pred taper method.

Anyone with any advice or tips please chime in. Thank you.
SimplyDani
SimplyDani
I remembered coming across this a short time ago. Apparently some are rethinking the traditional two week course of prednisone in favor of a shorter one. I admit, though, that I just had my first hospitalization for a diagnosed exacerbation, and received a full six days of IV Solu-Medrol twice a day, but coming home on a short 5-day taper of relatively low dose prednisone which started at just 20 mg a day.

http://pulmccm.org/2013/randomized-controlled-trials/in-copd-exacerbations-5-days-steroid-may-be-as-good-as-14/

I tend to agree with the others about the importance of the right antibiotic. There are things that a Z-Pak is great for, but until you've got enough face time with your doctor to know what he would give you, I try not to mess too much with the antibiotic choice. While the Z-Pak is great even for a bronchitis, I think once something gets settled down deep in the lungs, the Z-Pak isn't going to cut it.

Good luck. Crawling around the house myself, I feel your pain, and hope you continue to recover. And you can come make my bed for me, too. I'm just rolling up in my comforter for now!!
LilEllie
LilEllie
I have had pneumonia pre being diagnosed with Emphysema. I remember that the shortness of breath lasted until the antibiotic kicked in.

Fast forward to today. You are dealing with two different issues, both affecting the lungs. You will eventually clear the pneumonia with the appropriate antibiotic and treatment. You may be at the point in your COPD that you will continue to be short of breath. The best but not perfect treatment for that is just continue walking and doing exercises that work the upper and lower body muscles.

I have found two things to be absolute. You need to keep the strength in your legs and in the upper body. specifically the arms for reaching and lifting. You just need to do a few simple exercises each day and according to your ability.
captstt
captstt
SDani, that's a good website, never saw it before and I like the info they give you on everything pertaining to exacerbation's, etc.

But I'm really running out of patience. I just want to get back to my old COPD level so I can work again.

Thank you!
joany
joany
Patience with illness is not one of my strong suits either. However, the more impatient, the worse one feels. Please don't try to push it - try to eat, sleep, and do a lot of nothing and a little bit of something. Don't overdo - you'll just lengthen the agony and become more and more impatient. Somethings just take what it takes.

Relax and you'll feel better soon