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How Long Does Complete Recovery From Pneumonia Take?

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Posted on Tue, 21 Jun 2016
Question: hello, im wanting to know how long after p
neumonia do symptoms go away eg. a cough and fullness in the lung sensation.
i was diagnosed with homopholus influenzae. i had the infection in every part of my lung. my left lung collapsed and the ring had lower lobe pneumonia.
i have finished all antibiotics. around 3 weeks ago.

and im currently taking another round of amoxicillin for a sore throat and sinus problems.
is it normal to have a few infections after pneumonia? as i think my immune system is down and very cold where i live. thank you i am just concerned and suffer from anxiety too.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (41 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Usual time for recovery in pneumonia is 3-4 weeks.

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your question on Healthcare Magic.
I can understand your concern.
Recovery in pneumonia starts after 5-7 days of antibiotic.
First fever is subside with slight improvement in cough in first week.
Then in 2nd week of treatment, more improvement in cough and subjective wellbeing.
In 3rd week cough is almost gone and patient feels normal in all aspects.
So I must say Your recovery is delayed for routine pneumonia.
But as you say you were having very severe pneumonia, delayed recovery is expected in your case. It is better to get done chest repeat chest x ray after 3 weeks in very severe pneumonia.
So in my opinion, you should get done repeat chest x ray and compare it with previous x ray.
If it is improving then no need to worry.
No, it is not normal to have infection after pneumonia.
Hope I have solved your query. I will be happy to help you further. Wish you good health. Thanks.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Prasad
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Drkaushal85 (48 minutes later)
thank you i had the pneumonia for 5 weeks without it being diagnosed. as it wasnt showing on an xray. i also had a bronchoscopy done and they removed alot
t of phlegm.
i have a cough but it's not constant. worse at night but im.not up all night coughing like i was. i take ventolin which improves it.
i was just concerned on taking a deep breath in that having a slight bit of tightness is not normal.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (40 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Do you have breathlessness?

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Healthcare Magic.
I can understand your concern.
If your chest x ray is normal then you are not having pneumonia for sure.
For pneumonia, there has to be consolidation on chest x ray.
In my opinion, you are mostly having bronchitis.
And yes, some sort of tightness is normal in bronchitis.
Please let me know
1. Do you have breathlessness at present?
Please reply me answer of above asked question, so that I can guide you better. I will be happy to help you further. Wish you good health. Thanks.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Prasad
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Drkaushal85 (14 hours later)
hello i went to reply to a doctor last night but it wouldnt let me. it was in regards to pneumonia and after having it was light tightness in the chest normal. also wanted to know if steroids might work if their could be swelling. i was diagnosed 3 weeks ago amd have finished all medication.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (2 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Don't take steroids.

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Healthcare Magic.
I can understand your concern.
No need to take steroids.
Some sort of chest tightness is normal.
But more important symptom is breathlessness.
If breathlessness is there then possibility of post infectious bronchitis is more.
So please let me know
1. Do you have breathlessness?
2. Do you smoke?
Please reply me answers of above asked questions, so that I can guide you better. I will be happy to help you further. Wish you good health. Thanks.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Drkaushal85 (5 minutes later)
hello i do not have any breathlessness but i do smoke
doctor
Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (4 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Quit smoking as soon as possible.

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Healthcare Magic.
I can understand your concern.
In my opinion, you should quit smoking as soon as possible. This might give you central tightness.
Please let me know
1. Do you have belching or burping?
2. Do you have burning epigastric pain?
I am asking this to rule out GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease). Because this is very common in smokers and can cause central chest tightness.
Hope I have solved your query. I will be happy to help you further. Wish you good health. Thanks.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Drkaushal85 (38 minutes later)
yes i am going to try and stop smoking. i have experienced acid reflux and a burning sensation before but have taken gaviscon and it has gone. when i started feeling unwell the doctor said i h might have gerd. but it was pneumonia. but i just have tightness like i have asthma and when i take a deep breath in i cough
doctor
Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (13 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Possibility of GERD related chest tightness is more.

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Healthcare Magic.
I can understand your concern.
In my opinion, you are mostly having GERD related chest tightness.
Please let me know
1. Do you have stressful life?
2. Exactly where you feel chest tightness? Is it in the center of chest?
All these things are very important in treatment of GERD.
So please reply me answers of above asked questions, so that I can guide you better. I will be happy to help you further. Wish you good health. Thanks.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Drkaushal85 (20 minutes later)
i have a stressful work environment. i am a mental health nurse. not stressful home life. i am treated for anxiety and am on 20mg lovan a day.
the tightness isnt their all the time i feel it more when i take a deep breath. to me it feels like asthma as i had it when i was a child.
it is like my lungs feel raw. and the tightness is in my lung area. the only way i can describe it is that if you have had a big night and have been smoking way to much it's like a heaviness feeling.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (9 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Bronchitis can also cause chest tightness.

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Healthcare Magic.
I can understand your concern.
Now you are opening your Pandora's box.
So you are also suffering from anxiety and taking daily anxiolytic drugs.
See all these little little things are very important when you are suffering from more than 1 disease.
Now, by your history and description, possibility of bronchitis is more.
But you may have asthma also because you are symptomatic since childhood.
So please let me know
1. Have you ever consulted pulmonologist?
2. Have you ever undergone PFT?
3. Have you ever tried inhaled treatment?
Please reply me answers of above asked questions, so that I can guide you better. I will be happy to help you further. Wish you good health. Thanks.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Drkaushal85 (5 minutes later)
i have never gone to a specialist about any of this only have seen the surgeon 2 weeks ago after the bronchoscopy. i use a spacer with ventolin and it seems to improve symptoms slightly. no other inhaled treatment.
i havent been treated for asthma in about 15 years
doctor
Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (4 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
What about PFT test?

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Healthcare Magic.
I can understand your concern.
So in my opinion, you should definitely consult pulmonologist and discuss all these.
I am surprised that surgeon is doing bronchoscopy.
In XXXXXXX where I practice, only pulmonologists are doing bronchoscopy.
Please let me know
1. What about yours PFT (pulmonary function test)? Have you ever advised by any doctor?
2. Where do you live? I just want to know where surgeons are doing bronchoscopy.
Please reply me answers of above asked questions, so that I can guide you better. I will be happy to help you further. Wish you good health. Thanks.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Drkaushal85 (12 minutes later)
i havnt had a pft test. i had bronchoscopy because the pneumonia wasnt showing up on xray only ct and their were a few weird things on the ct scan that je wanted to look at. i had alot of phlem in their that he washed out and did a sample of my lung to check for TB. the only bacteria they found was hemopholus influenzae
doctor
Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (11 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Do you have weight loss, low appetite?

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Healthcare Magic.
I can understand your concern.
You have never told me about this,CT scan and suspected TB.
See, I am practicing in XXXXXXX and I am sure we are seeing the highest number of tb patients as compare to rest of the world.
I am not taking proud on this. But my concern is that western doctors can miss tuberculosis.
And TB can present even with negative bronchoscopy.
I still don't understand, you have never consulted pulmonologist and went through all the investigation and stamped as negative for tuberculosis by a surgeon.
I mean, this is crazy practice.
Please let me know
1. Do you have weight loss?
2. Do you have decreased appetite and anorexia?
Please reply me answers of above asked questions, so that I can guide you better. I will be happy to help you further. Wish you good health. Thanks
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Drkaushal85 (5 minutes later)
well i was going back and forth to my doctor for 5 weeks and getting chest xrays and everything was clear. and then on the 3rd week he heard crackles in my right lower lobe. he pit me on antibiotics and they didnt work. i ended up going to emergency at the hospital here in NSW Australia and they admitted me and i had a ct scan and they said in the morning a surgeon is coming to see you that specialises in this and talk about surgery. hes from XXXXXXX he did the broncoscopy and i seen him again 2 weeks ago and he said that their is no need for concern as i dont think you have TB as the results take a long time to come back. when i jad pneumonia i was vomiting and did lose 8kg. but my appetite is back to normal now
doctor
Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (10 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Can you tell me your detailed CT report?

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Healthcare Magic.
I can understand your concern.
I just want to rule out tuberculosis in your case because if we can't pick it up early, you may face a lot of trouble in further.
So can you please send me detailed report of your CT? Do you have images of your CT plate?
Did CT report mentioned cavitory lesion or tree in bud appearance or mediastinal Lymphadenopathy?
Please reply me answers of above asked questions, so that I can guide you better.
Wish you good health. Thanks.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Drkaushal85 (20 minutes later)
i really dont know and i dont have any of the reports they didnt give me anything
doctor
Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (3 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Exactly what did your doctor say regarding possibility of TB?

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Healthcare Magic.
I can understand your concern.
It's unfair on the side of patient that you don't have your medical reports even after 3 weeks of discharge.
Can you recall what doctor said about tb possibility?
I mean type of lesion, chances of tb etc.
Reply me this if you recall. I will be happy to help you further. Wish you good health. Thanks.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Drkaushal85 (6 minutes later)
this is what i have
doctor
Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (26 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Nothing mentioned about CT and TB in those images.

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Healthcare Magic.
I can understand your concern.
I have gone through the images you have attached.
In those, nothing has been mentioned about CT and TB lesion.
But I found few interesting things about you.
You are having high BMI and kyphosis.
Both of them can cause chest tightness and breathing difficulty.
So please let me know
1. Do you have kyphosis since birth?
2. Are you trying to loose weight?
Please reply me answers of above asked questions, so that I can guide you better. I will be happy to help you further. Wish you good health. Thanks.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Drkaushal85 (4 minutes later)
my BMI is 30 and i gained 20kg in pregnancies. i have not always been overweight. and i have rolled shoulders wich i wear a posture support for. its not severe. but i have never had problems until i had pneumonia i have been in good health
doctor
Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (19 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
No need to worry for tuberculosis.

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Healthcare Magic.
I can understand your concern.
After knowing all the facts about you, I don't think you are suffering from tuberculosis.
Your current symptoms of chest tightness can be due to GERD, obesity, anxiety, bronchitis or asthma.
All these diseases are interconnected and simultaneous treatment of all are needed.
So please let me know
1. Are you motivated enough to quit smoking?
2. Have you ever undergone deaddiction training?
3. Have you ever consulted psychiatrist and get done counselling sessions?
Please reply me answers of above asked questions, so that I can guide you better. I will be happy to help you further. Wish you good health. Thanks
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Drkaushal85 (7 minutes later)
i see a psychiatrist monthly i dont have panic attacks pr anything and i sleep well.
the weight is slowely coming off...as every woman can tell you it's hard to get the baby weigjt off and my youngest is only 9 months. i am seeing someone in regards to a gastric sleeve. the only thing you can do in australia to quit smoking is nicotine patches etc. or tablets but they will interfere with my lovan. such as champix. might be a case of bronchitis as my immune system is low and i am around patients all day coughing sneezing and spitting. im om amoxy at the moment and the sore throat is improving.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (4 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
How many cigarettes you smoke in a day?

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Healthcare Magic.
I can understand your concern.
I don't believe in nicotine replacement therapy unless and until patient is not motivated.
So if you are motivated enough time quit smoking, no one can stop you.
It's just matter of few days only.
And I guess being a mother, your children should be your biggest motivators for this.
Please let me know
1. How many cigarettes you smoke in a day?
2. Since how many years you are smoking?
Please reply me answers of above asked questions, so that I can guide you better. I will be happy to help you further. Wish you good health. Thanks.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Drkaushal85 (4 minutes later)
roughly 8 a day and for about 10 years
doctor
Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (4 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
I must say you are a heavy smoker.

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Healthcare Magic.
Sorry to say but you are a heavy smoker.
Please quit this habit.
Please let me know
1. Do you breast feed your child at present?
2. Were you smoke continuously while you breast fed your children?
3. Is anxiety force you two smoke these much heavily?
Please reply me answers of above asked questions, so that I can guide you better. I will be happy to help you further. Wish you good health. Thanks.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Drkaushal85 (8 minutes later)
i dont feel as though it is heavy i know people who smoke more a day. no i dont breast feed now as i am back working full time. i stopped breastfeeding when they were 6 months old. and yes i was smoking
doctor
Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (8 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Don't you think this will harm your children?

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Healthcare Magic.
I can understand your concern.
I am surprised why you don't think this as heavy.
Being a hospital staff, you should be more vigilant in such bad habits.
Don't you think you are harming your children?
Is stress and anxiety force you to smoke?
I was going through previous conversation of ours. You think that you are still risk by getting respiratory diseases by patients. Don't to take adult respiratory vaccines regularly?
Please reply me answers of above asked questions, so that I can guide you better. I will be happy to help you further. Wish you good health. Thanks.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Dr. Drkaushal85

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How Long Does Complete Recovery From Pneumonia Take?

Brief Answer: Usual time for recovery in pneumonia is 3-4 weeks. Detailed Answer: Thanks for your question on Healthcare Magic. I can understand your concern. Recovery in pneumonia starts after 5-7 days of antibiotic. First fever is subside with slight improvement in cough in first week. Then in 2nd week of treatment, more improvement in cough and subjective wellbeing. In 3rd week cough is almost gone and patient feels normal in all aspects. So I must say Your recovery is delayed for routine pneumonia. But as you say you were having very severe pneumonia, delayed recovery is expected in your case. It is better to get done chest repeat chest x ray after 3 weeks in very severe pneumonia. So in my opinion, you should get done repeat chest x ray and compare it with previous x ray. If it is improving then no need to worry. No, it is not normal to have infection after pneumonia. Hope I have solved your query. I will be happy to help you further. Wish you good health. Thanks.