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Suggest Treatment For Pneumonia, Weakness And Tremors

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Posted on Mon, 11 May 2015
Question: I recently had pneumonia & was intubated for 10 days. I've been home for a few weeks now but am still extremely weak, shaky, & extremely uncoordinated. I'm a bit of an emotional mess as well & have cried daily since taken off of ventilator & medication that kept me unconscious. I can't seem to get any real answers from my doctor other than, "you've been through a lot". It seems to be taking an extreme amount of time to feel like myself.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Shubham Mehta (58 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
probably secondary depression.

Detailed Answer:
Hello
Welcome to HealthcareMagic.

I can understand your concerns.

Some serious medical illnesses, medications can cause secondary depression.
Knowing the severity and nature of illness one has suffered can itself be a big stress to cause depression.

I think you have developed this secondary depression.

In my opinion, you should seek for a psychiatric consultaion. Psychological treatments like cognitive therapies and antidepressant drugs(if needed after evaluation) will definitely help you.

Hope you find my advice helpful.

Take care.
Thanks.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Yogesh D
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Shubham Mehta (6 hours later)
Thank you for responding to the emotional part of my question. However, my physical questions have not been addressed. I'm referring to the weakness, hands shaking, and I failed to mention the edema that I'm still experiencing in my lower legs and feet. My kidney function is fine and I drink plenty of water. I've also lost 25lbs since the illness, which is just approached a month.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Shubham Mehta (3 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Blood pressure monitoring; sugar rich meals.

Detailed Answer:
Hello again.

You have lost so much weight (25lbs in a month) after illness.
I think this would have been the reason for most of your symptoms like weakness, hand tremors.
Please keep a regular check on your blood pressure. Hypotension can be another reason contributing to your symptoms.

You are taking plenty of water. That should help. If BP is low, you can increase salt intake in your diet.
Other than this, take sugar rich foods.
Take frequent and small meals.

You must have taken antibiotics for pneumonia.
I think this could be a probable cause for edema.

Keep a regular follow-up with your physician.

Hope this helps.
Feel free to ask further.

Thanks.

Note: For further guidance on mental health, Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Answered by
Dr.
Dr. Shubham Mehta

Psychiatrist

Practicing since :2008

Answered : 2145 Questions

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Suggest Treatment For Pneumonia, Weakness And Tremors

Brief Answer: probably secondary depression. Detailed Answer: Hello Welcome to HealthcareMagic. I can understand your concerns. Some serious medical illnesses, medications can cause secondary depression. Knowing the severity and nature of illness one has suffered can itself be a big stress to cause depression. I think you have developed this secondary depression. In my opinion, you should seek for a psychiatric consultaion. Psychological treatments like cognitive therapies and antidepressant drugs(if needed after evaluation) will definitely help you. Hope you find my advice helpful. Take care. Thanks.