I'm an otherwise healthy 38 year old woman, and I just had my third bout of pneumonia. All three were in the lower lobe of my right lung. One was in autumn 2003, another in spring 2008, and the last in winter 2009. The third was the worst with a big area of consolidation. I was in the hospital for 5 days on IV antibiotics and oral antitbiotics. I had a repeat CT scan after an initial one, 4 weeks apart. The first showed a lot of consolidation and the second showed haziness where there had been full blown pneumonia. I saw a pulmonologist who diagnosed me with asthma and put me on corticosteroids. Does that sound right to you? I took a flu shot and a pneumonia vaccine yesterday. Will that keep the pneumonia from recurring?
I'm really sorry you keep getting pneumonia! I know it's horrible-but I'm only 13 and I usually get it 2-3 times per year. I don't have health insurance any more so I kind of have to fight it out on my own with left over antibiotics.
My only advice is to stay away from cardiac exercises and dairy. Try to be sitting/laying as often as you can. Usually when I have pneumonia and I stand up, I completely black out for about 30 seconds because I'm not getting enough oxygen.
I know you weren't asking for advice but I feel like I sort of know what I'm talking about. ;)
Hope you feel better soon!