Bacterial Pneumonia

[Miserable 6]

Was sick for about 9 days, went to the doctor a couple of times and they just kept telling me I had the flu. Finally on Sunday after I almost passed out from getting a drink of water, my wife took me to the ER. Turns out I have Bacterial Pneumonia. I spent a week in the hospital and just got home yesterday. So far they were able to treat the infection so I'm not contagious but I still have issues breathing and no energy.

I have doctor's appointments, x-rays, blood work, and respiratory therapy scheduled up until 4 weeks from now. The doctor who first treated me said I would be down for a month but the specialist who treated me the whole time said before I was discharged that it could be with me for up to 3 months.

Anyone every have Pneumonia? Assuming that I'm healthy enough, how long am I looking at before I can skate again? I'm 31 and in good shape and this is really the first time I've ever been really sick and I'm having trouble dealing with it already. I really want to get back as soon as I can but I also want to make sure that I get rid of this completely before doing so.

[5minutesforfighting 0]

I've had it before.

I just slowly worked back into hockey as much as I could, but not push too hard, as its a cold environment and could just hurt you more then good. It took me about 5 practices, in two weeks,before I could go full throttle again, but even then I wasn't back up to 100%.

Slowly work back into a groove again, without pushing yourself too hard,..it worked for me.

[Deerok 3]

Hang in there man.

The fact that you are looking to get back on the ice means you've got the right mental attitude.

[Miserable 6]

Thanks guys. The good thing is I skate a pick up session with a great group of guys on the weekends so I could use that time to get back into the swing of things little by little as the weeks go on. Hopefully I can be league ready by winter playoffs if all goes well.

[bbruins8 0]

Judging by the fact that you said you are in great condition, and that statement alone, I would wait about 3 weeks before making a return to the ice even for one of your mentioned pick up sessions. 3 weeks of solid rest and browsing through MSH forums. Just hang out, watch some games, and relax. Rest is the best thing, and antibiotics of course...Are you allergic to Penicillin? Typically Amoxicillin is prescribed to patients with bacterial pneumonia because streptococcus pneumoniae (the infecting agent bacteria) is a Gram Positive Rod easily interfered with by drugs from the Penicillin family. If your doctor is an older one, he will use Penicillin if you are not allergic. If you are he will probably prescribe erythromycin. Younger doctors tend to steer clear of Penicillins all together and will probably prescribe you some type of fluoroquinolone. In the end, only you will be able to tell when you are ready to gradually return to the ice through skate and shoot, pick up, etc. But if I were you, I would get 3 weeks of rest, only getting up and getting active when you absolutely need to.

Sorry for my medical terminology, I like to bestow knowledge whenever I can and use this stuff I am paying a fortune to learn whenever I can ha.

[Miserable 6]

I was already on Augmentin from my doctor thinking I had the flu when I went in. They have me on Levaquin now, I honestly forget what I was on in the hospital but they said I was pretty much done with the infection when I was discharge partly due to being on antibiotics when I was admitted and party because I responded so well to treatment.

The last appointment I have is with the respiratory doctor 4 weeks from now. I also have one with my primary to review x-rays and blood work in 3 weeks. I was going to wait until then to see if he thinks I can get back on the ice.

I feel pretty decent now but have spots where I get really run done and need to sleep right then and there and I'm still coughing a bit.

I guess the toughest part for me will be keeping myself from over doing it. I can't see myself resting for 3 weeks straight without dieing of boredom.

[bbruins8 0]

Getting tired and needing rest is your body's way of telling you that your immune system is doing all it can and it's batteries are running low and they need to be put on the charger. With the assistance of antibiotics and constant lounging, you will be better in no time. Look at the boredom like this: be bored for a bit now, to be better sooner.

[Miserable 6]

Getting tired and needing rest is your body's way of telling you that your immune system is doing all it can and it's batteries are running low and they need to be put on the charger. With the assistance of antibiotics and constant lounging, you will be better in no time. Look at the boredom like this: be bored for a bit now, to be better sooner.

I know but sometimes it's tough to tell the brain what the body already knows is for the best.

I guess I can deal with the bordom, the last thing I want to do is try to over do it, get worse and end up being down for a longer period of time.

Thanks.

[biff44 0]

When you are totally better, go back to the doc and ask for a pneumonia vaccine. It lasts for something like 10 years. I did not know they had one, but the doc gave me one this year. It is good for around 10 different strains.

[barrett 0]

I honestly get pneumonia every year around the same time for the past few years. Not as severe as yours so ususally I take anti biotics for a week , and can play in two. Most of the time after two my breathing is stil not back to where it was. Shitty time to get sick too. Feel Better!

[Miserable 6]

Thanks guys.

Heard about the vaccine when I was in the hospital. Going to check it out. I really don't need this again.

[juiced 0]

just after halloween i had "bacterial on viral, bilateral pneumonia" which basically means i had it in both my lungs. i just thought i was really sick for about a week and crazy heat swings. for example, throughout the days i would be freeeezing and at nights i would sweat buckets just lying on top of my bed naked. so i finally got it checked out and they gave me some anti-biotics and i was on the ice the next week. but im also 17.

[DBLMINR 0]

i have had it once, i cant imagine getting every year like one guy was talking about. It just takes everything out of you and a while to fully recover.

[JR97 2]

I've had it multiple times and experienced the same thing you did drinking some water. I thought I was going to drown. Water is in my throat but it closed up and the water wasn't going down and I couldn't breathe. I seriously thought I was going to die.

Anywho, hope your'e fine now. I've played a lot of hockey with pneumonia and I won't do it again. I couldn't ever get enough oxygen now matter how hard I was breathing and I passed out more than once. The worst was the coughing attacks where nothing comes out. Just air and you can't get air back in. You'd think after the first few times I'd learn.

[Miserable 6]

Feeling a lot better now. The only real issues I'm having is the occasional run in with some mucus here and there and I'm still getting fatigued by the end of the day.

The doctor cleared me to resume exercising but cautioned me to take it easy for a while. Right now I'm doing about 30 minutes of cardio a day and some ab work and that hasn't bothered me at all really.

I plan on skating for the first time this weekend. Not going to push myself too much but I want to get on the ice and shoot around a bit. My only concern there is how my lungs will handle the cold air but there's only one way to find out.

:D

[bbruins8 0]

A lot of people find breathing to be easier in cold air when they have pneumonia or upper respiratory infections.

[Miserable 6]

A lot of people find breathing to be easier in cold air when they have pneumonia or upper respiratory infections.

Perfect! More reason to get skating again.

Why didn't my doctor tell me that?