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175861 tn?1428182413

Pneumonia question

Well I supposedly got over pneumonia.  I went to the doctor today and he said my lungs sound good.  I've been sick for 2 weeks at least.  I'm still coughing up stuff, however he said I'd be coughing for another 6 weeks.  But I haven't been able to sleep lately (I wont fall asleep unitl 6 hours after I lay down) and I'm itchy all over.  I dont know if they're related to pneumonia or not.  My appetite is also not totally normal.  Is this maybe b/c of the antibiotic I was on?  (Levaquin)
I've also heard of people getting over it and then getting it again.  How likely is that?  
And should I take it easy now?  Should I exercise at all?  Go to work?
What have your experiences been w/this?  Should I be worried?  I think I initially got the flu from my boss and it turned to pneumonia (lucky me).  Anything I should take to keep my immune system up?

Thanks
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Avatar universal
I have had the same reaction after taking Levaquin.  My docter says that I'm clear of the pneumonia but after now I have on and off bloating of the upper abdomen and migrating chest and back pain.  Did you ever figure anything out? Did your symptoms go away?
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
My husband is experiencing this now (3-21-08). He also has copd, asthma, diabetis 2,  He first was doctoring back about december after he received the pneumonia shot, doctor said it was bronchitis.  Got over that then went back to doctor again for another bout of bronchitis, this time chest xray taken, but no followthru, due to change in doctors, I guess.  Now he was just there again with diarreha and vomiting for about 5 days, (can't get doctor on weekend).  Of course husband had no want to go either. Went on 6th day after passing out on floor on the third day of diarreha.  Was not dehydrated he kept drinking gatorade and water.  Doctor who was different then before ordered another chest x-ray, chest scan and kidney scan due to spitting up streaky blood with sputum after coughing once in awhile not always.  Now we are at a pulmonoglist to do a bronchiascope on Monday to find out where blood is coming from, also a spot on lower lung was found, but is very small and was on xray before in sept. of 07.
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Avatar universal
I was diagnosed with walking pneumonia on 12/29/2006.  Took initial antibiotic, felt better and after several days at home, went back to work.  X-ray was cleared up.  Then felt like a relapse, so was put on two antibiotics, Augmentin and Clarithromycin.  After 5 days, developed an allergic reaction to one or both of these antibiotics with rash that spread to all my body, including face.  First thing I noticed was rash on my stomach, and itchy hands.  I would think you should be very careful if other than just feeling itchy, you also start to see any red dots at all.  I really didn't notice the red dots on my hands, they just itched and fingers, whole hand started to swell.

I note on the handouts (from Rite Aid pharmacy) regarding these antibiotics I mentioned above, that a possible side effect is a form of colitis.  Here is mention of this verbatim . . .
"This medication may rarely cause a severe intestinal condition (pseudomembranous colitis) due to resistant bacteria.  This condition may occur while receiving therapy or even weeks after treatment has stopped." and ". . .Tell you doctor immediately if you develop:  persistent diarrhea, abdominal or stomach pain/cramping . . ."  Although a "bloaty" stomach is not specifically mentioned here, I have had boats of colitis before and bloating came with it.

I was looking around the internet about persistent coughing post-pneumonia.  My energy level is good and by all other signs, my pneumonia is pretty much subsided.  Just this darn dry cough that gets me day and night.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
itchy skin and messed up belly sound similar to antibiotic medication that didn't agree with you. Maybe next time be sure to ask for some other type of antibiotic that might agree with you better. Pneumonia can take weeks to get over....just do what you feel you can manage until you are feeling right again.
Helpful - 0
175861 tn?1428182413
Thanks, but I don't have the stomach flu (gastroentritis).  My digestive system is totally screwed up.  There's always a dull pain, I think from bloating, in my stomach.  Sometimes I feel constipated, but I'm still "regular".  It just feels totally off.  My stomach never feels good.  Is this some after-side effect from the antibiotic?  Did it just completely screw me up?
Helpful - 0
176267 tn?1216064567
Actually My Fiance experienced the same thing after He had what I believe to be walking pneumonia, and it turned out that he had some kind of stomach flu as well. What he did was eat as regulary as he could, took Tums, then tried Gasex, and after that he had a nasty bout of diahrea. Then he had to go on the CRAM (Cereal, Rice, and Milk)diet for a while (which turns out to supposedly be better than the BRAT-Banana, Rice, Applesause, and Toast)diet, but either one will help you). He said that the Tums helped his stomach feel better, so maybe that is something that will help you.
Helpful - 0
175861 tn?1428182413
Hi.
Thanks for the response.  I do have allergies, to environmental stuff.  But they haven't changed lately or anything.  And no asthma.  And I'm not kept awake BECAUSE of the cough; I'm not coughing that much.  I just cannot fall asleep.
Also, I've had a stomach thing during and since the end of the pneumonia.  It's like I'm bloaty or something in my stomach, as well as my lower abdomen.  I thought you could only get that sensation in your lower abdomen (like intestines).  But I think it may be causing my not wanting to eat.
Has anyone else had this after Pneumonia?  Or at all?
Helpful - 0
176267 tn?1216064567
Well, do you have alergies or asthma? It could be either one because I have the same problem coughing and not being able to sleep at night, and I do have both asthma and alergies. The only thing I can think of is that you need to eat even if you dont feel like it, and your electrolites might be off balance, so maybe try drinking some gadorade ( plus one cup of water after every botle of gadorade you drink because it can raise the electrolites too high.)

   I hope i helped you some
Helpful - 0
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