Hi, I went to the hospital last nite after a month of coughing, first it was a productive cough then for the past two weeks I was getting nothing up and the cough was getting worse so I knew something was not quiet right.

After many test the xray gave the answer..pneumonia. The doctor said since I dont have insurence that I can come home and take the antibiotics, which cost 149 dollars,(levaquin 500 mg once a day) thing is I only take one between the time I left hospital till the time he told me to return if not better....which was 7 hours ago. Im not better, I dont think...sorry but I know very little about pneumonia. I know its in the bottom half of the left lung. Vicodene, codiene, hydrocodone, all help the cough thank goodness but I have to not take the codeine based cough medician they gave me a little less since I am starting to itch which is common for me and that type drug so I know im ok there.

Should I be trying to cough and getting this stuff up? Is that how this works? I am starting to get up little bits of whitish stuff.
As far as going back if not better then im not....however im in the bed, have been here all day and therefore I am breathing easier because im not doing any activity. I wish they would have just kept me last nite so I could have gotton treatment over the weekend. To go back in the week makes it much harder due to children.

Unless Im not able to breath should I continue what im doing for a day or so and try to cough up some of this stuff? I took the coughing as a bad sign and was thinking maybe the stuff filling the lungs will evaperate into the body but I guess it has to come up? Is sitting in bathroom with hotwater running and breathing steam a good idea with pneumonia? Is the idea to get the cough to stop? I just know nothing about this and am a bit scared.

jewels

Hi jewels,
You're on the right track---the idea with pneumonia is to cough up the phlegm. You must drink at least 6 - 8 glasses of water to help thin the secretions making it easier to cough up. You should take deep breaths and cough every 1 - 2 hours while awake. You should not lie flat in bed, sitting at a 45 degree angle or more helps promote proper lung expansion and help secretions to mobilize. Don't stay in bed all day that's the worst thing you can do. Get up and move around, sit at the dining table for meals , walk around your living room --movement will prevent complications but you don't need to tire yourself out.Try not to take pain meds unless you are actually having pain as they can depress respirations. Take your temperature once daily or if you're feeling feverish and call the MD if it goes over 101 degrees. Make sure you're eating and include liquid nutrition drinks (like ensure) if you don't feel like eating. Make sure you finish all of the antibiotic. If you do everything suggested you should be fine. Alot of people are treated for pneumonia at home and usually do fine.

Thank You for your advice. I guess I have been more scared then anything.
What you suggested sounds great. I am drinking tons of gaterade, I know it would be better if it were water but I know I would get down very little. Im going to work some more movement into tomorow. I have been resting but I think im resting to much as im feeling crudie..crudy...not worse just the crude feeling...Ill learn how to spell it when im feeling better lol.
thanks again :)

I would also recommend that when you go to an emergency room again that you go to one that is the "county hospital" or whatever... where they take everyone regardless of ability to pay. If the only reason the doctor told you to go home was because you didn't have insurance that doesn't sound quite right to me...