Recovering

[lvl42freak]

I caught a cold in June , never got over it. I was diagnosed with double pneumonia two weeks ago. Took Levaquin for 5 days, still can't  take a deep breath. My doc says give it a few  more days. How long should it be until I can take  a flight of steps or workout without thinking I'm going to die?

[National Jewish]

Sounds like the pneumonia had time to really take hold.  Even assuming that Levaquin® (levofloxacin) was the appropriate antibiotic, as it often is for mild-moderate community acquired pneumonia, you may require another course of Levaquin® (levofloxacin) or another antibiotic.  If you are at all clinically improved and/or there is x-ray evidence of improvement in the chest x-ray, you could safely, "give it a few more days."  The continuing trouble taking a deep breath and shortness of breath with one flight of stairs is worrisome and suggests incomplete resolution of the pneumonia.  Since 2 weeks have passed and you remain quite symptomatic, it is time for a repeat chest x-ray.

If you are still raising phlegm, it would be wise to ask your doctor to send a sample of it to the microbiology lab for culture.

[lvl42freak]

Thanks for your response. Went back to doc was sent to pulmonologist, am awaiting a battery of test for eveything from lung problems to liver disease to kidney failure. If you are out there reading these post like I was , trying to figure out what is wrong with you, turn the computer off and pick up the phone and call your doctor.