Even though you begin to feel better, Step, you should continue the course of treatment as directed by the doctor.  A decongestant should help with secretions.  Does your health plan offer a call-in telephone line for questions that you have? It will take more than a few days to recover.  Keep on the course.  Keep healing!

Iris

Iris, so sorry for being short on my post!  I know you mean well and wish me well. I finally tried the Afrin and it sure opened my sinuses.  I can see how it could be habit forming.  Not sure that it helped the post nasal drip. The allegra may be helping   Today I took the guifenison through the day, thinking it would help me tonight. But the throat phlegm is back tonight. I will try to work with what meds I have.  

When I reached out to the insurance nurse line they wanted my entire health history before they would even help.  That was too much for me to handle right now.  Thanks for the idea. 

Step, although you thought you were mostly cleared, you have continued to complain of persistent symptoms. That was my basis for suggesting that you continue the medications prescribed by your doctor.  You are slowly improving.  Again, it will take time to recover completely.  Keep healing!

Iris

STEP!

how are you doing? breathing ok?

I finally woke up and could take deep breath without coughing up white woven matter. 

seriously, hope you are doing better.

love and courage

1 Step at a time:  i had pneumonia 2 yrs.ago and thought i was going to die. Prednisone REALLY helped me, and if u feel it helped you, tell your doc that and ask for a little more. 

Everyone on this site had GREAT SUGGESTIONS!  I would add the following:

Drink LOTS of water as it thins down the mucous.

Ask the doc if u can hav a NEBULIZER at home? Tell ur doc how that helped and ask for one!  It made a big difference for me.  Alot of times docs are more than willing to giv u something, but u hav to ask (im sorry to say).

I slept propped up for months as it was lots easier and helped me with mucous issue.

I found myself really tired all the time, so i listened to my body and slept when i was tired. My doc said that EXTRA sleep was important for pneumonia!  He also said to NOT do any kind of housework, so i had to giv that up.  Found i didnt get as "DRAINED" if i just took it easy. That was VERY HARD for me to do as im a very active person.  It DOES TAKE LOTS of ENERGY for our bodies to heal from pneumonia!  So everything that others said, is correct!  It took me 5 mos.to get rid of most of the coughing.

Hi, thank you for asking!

Alz+ that is awesome. Vic, so sorry you were sick for so long! Just scary! I hope my cough doesnt last so long.

 I think the sinus infection is what i have left.  I am on a proper tapering prednisone now thanks to my PCP.  A tip from a friend made me realize my really red face and maybe some added congestion was a reaction of prednisone.  (ER was NO help!!! I even asked them if I was having a new food allergy. They said I was just having an anxiety attack, congestion, and irritated pharynx.  Told me to try a sudafed...and that seemed worse. What a waste of monies. )

I was still struggling to breathe at night!  My throat and airway felt like was closing up.  Yes, I was scared, and had anxiety, being I live alone. Albuterol seemed to have minimal help anymore.  

Last night, out of desperation finally put some time between the pred tablets and ......my sinuses finally started drain and the sinus started to open, and less red face! So that change, being back on that higher dose of mucinex (600mg) at night is helping, along with saline nasal irrigation.  My lungs felt raw but seem open today, going to discuss at PCP appt tomorrow.  I think I have more hope of recovery.  Actually had an hour of sleep tonight. Yeahhh!  

I have been sleeping propped up on sofa arm with pillows for over a month.   Some new cricks in the sofa from tossing.  Oh well.  To rest and breathe are more important.  

Thank you all for the support and feedback!

Hope this dont jinx my progress.

Hello Step . . . . sure hope that your doctor was able to be helpful to you.   It may be that when you are able to be tapered off the prednisone which is a steroid, your insomnia may be much better.

One of the most common side effects of prednisone is very intense insomnia.  My son and DIL had it when they were ill at different times, and both said they did not sleep at night because of the insomnia side effect and were exhausted.  Once the physical condition is stable and the physician has deemed it the right time to taper the steroid, your ability to sleep may well be much better.  Of course, Prednisone is not a pill to be taken now and then; it is something that must be taken on a firm, fixed schedule just exactly as the doctor orders it until it tapers off and is done.

It does take time, a couple of months or so to get over a cough that comes with pneumonia.  Do you think that if you propped yourself up with pillows in bed or got one of those reclining bed wedges, (seen them on Bed, Bath and Beyond and Amazon mail order sites), that you would be able to sleep in your bed and perhaps be more comfortable?  Perhaps the sofa feels best at this time though; just thought I would bring it up.

Hope things begin to improve for you very soon.

Best wishe are being sent your way,

J.

Step, I keep a notebook in which I note my medical appointments, because once I leave the office, I forget what was said.  I write down my questions and concerns for the appointment.  I write down new prescriptions and any other change in treatment.

I hope the doctor was able to address your swallowing problem.  Be sure to remain hydrated. 

Iris

Jo and Iris thank you for the information. My body stopped congestion recovery.   Although I still have have another couple days of prednisone taper. Doctor sending me to GI specialist but i think I will also ask for ENT.  My throat and sinuses has a gradual swell starting at 10pm and is at worse at like 6am. Right before sun comes up. Prednisone not draining as before. Unfortunately allergy season is also starting up.  The decongestant the ER doc recommended made me worse so I have avoided decongestants.

II take doctors notes as best i can. Once they give me more than three things to remember my brain go blank on overwhelm. They say they have instructs on the patient exit paperwork but it is not usually detailed. The nurse line has been helpful. Been taking notes as i take my meds and even with food items. No consistent results when I think I have a schedule setup.

I would like to know why my throat airway closes up most at 6AM. CLonopin helps relax and open sinus area. But lower part of throat is swellon.  Albuterol does not work. Sometimes more gauifenesen works, most time not.  Doctor office approved trying additional mg.

I am grateful I am not worse at least not yet.   But i write off nighttime sleep cause of airway problrms.  Maybe i am developing sleep apnea, dont know.  Sometimes i get an hour in. When Awaken to need to cough the drying phlegm.  

Hello Step.  Although you are complaining of persistent phlegm and congestion, I can't say that this is unusual.  It can take a while for symptoms to resolve, especially if there is a co-morbidity, such as allergy.  

The questions you asked above should go into your notebook, because if you are like me, you will forget once you reach the doctor's office.  This is true for all patients, not just PWDs.  Make sure the doctor answers all of your questions.  Get the nurse to review everything with you before you leave the office.  This is not being a bother; doctors want patients to be clear on what is happening with their bodies.

Good hydration is still important, both orally and in the air around you. Are you eating well?  If you are not sleeping well at night, are you able to get a nap during the day? 

It may take a while, Step, but I anticipate you will be feeling better and back to your usual activities.

Iris

worried about you becoming so drained from handling the battle to breathe

I know the medical people here will keep you going and you are doing as much as you can where you are with doctors. Migraines added onto this is too much.

sending you strength - when it goes on and on and on a body get worn down in new ways, are they certain it is nasal fluid? 

hope this isn't really weird to share 

https://www.webmd.com/brain/news/20180509/womans-runny-nose-actually-a-brain-fluid-leak

Keep questioning.

Step - any healing happening yet?

I can't recall the mental list I had about meds not to take with ALZ but Benadryl is one, even spraying it on an itch causes a mental cognitive slump that is pretty severe in me.

If anyone knows a list of meds to avoid I  wish they would post it. I was on a few before I was diagnosed.

 really hard to recover on your own, please share when you are up to it. I posted a link about a woman with runny nose who sought help for months and it was brain fluid. Not suggesting that is what you have but sometimes your gut tells you when doctor picks right or wrong diagnosis.

be careful of med reactions. sending you love and healing power

Hi alz+, thank you for your concern. Sorry for the delay.  Lots happening in life at the same time.  The azelastine helped but still had tight throat at night and then some day hours.  Had a referral to get scopy video of throat. Now telling me I have silent reflux. Was taking omeprazole with some success but I had random pains on my upper left side and felt totally lousy today.  Worried about possible heart problems.  Today They gave me Rx for protonix (they said works differently), I took 6 hours ago but I think the acid is now increasing.   I  guess give it a few days.  Im still struggling to get quality sleep. Been so fatigued.

I need to read up on the posts.  I hope you are well!

Thanks again!

You've been dealing with this for a long time, Step.  G-E reflux can be serious.  You will need to adjust your diet.  I was told I had severe G-E reflux over ten years ago.   Don't lie down after eating.  I hope you will be able to get a handle on this, Step.

Iris

STEP -

If you took antibiotics recently you may ease acid pain by taking probiotics. I learned about this use from a Costco product review people said it helped their digestive problems and they noticed acid reflux stopped a couple days after starting to use this brand. I realized I had not had burning throat or acid issues  in awhile, since I started taking it. I forget I ever had a headache when it disappears, forgot I had acid reflux when it stopped hurting.

I always take probiotics after antibiotics or antiviral meds, I found florastor brand worked better than others

How are you holding up? This feels like a long time to endure. I know what it's like to battle body events, we have enough to deal with. exhausting. 

probiotics are really safe to try, and fairly cheap. 

(when they kick in the live bacteria rebounds and might flush out intestinal stuff that smells like it needed to be flushed out - smell goes away in couple days and symptom relief comes within a week or less)

just another idea. 

Hi Iris and Alz+

I no longer take, much if at all, of azelastine.

The doctor had me taking clonopam but I switched back to more gauifenesen. Felt like my body was starting to need more clonopam.  Having more of the recommended cepocal lozenges.  I also went to OTC omeprazole. Seems to help. And been slowly trying more of old foods like milk and yogurt and cheese. And Been decreasing gauifenesen and clonopam. Every once in a while I have coughing but it is also allergy season.  I hope the improvements continue. Yes, this feels like it has been a long journey. 

Alz+ I will look for that probiotic. Good point! 

My nails started to grow back healthy when on the prednisone, but now they are starting to peel and break again. Darn!  

Something is triggering RLS. Maybe because I have been trying to build my exercise back up. Overall, beyond a few down days and easy exhaustion, I am better.

Thank you again!

Your recovery has been slow, Step.  You probably are sick of being sick!  Hang in there!  I'm wishing you continuing improvement.

Iris

Hi, so i was on the way to almost full recovery and been hit with a virus 2 days this week. A cold and cough again. Sometimes the phlegm is discolored... how do i know when to visit the doctor so it doesnt settle into my lungs??  I feel so stupid not knowing how to care for myself.

Im back on guifenison... and tried xyzal and felt like the antihistimine is holding on to the phlegm too much.

Step - living alone like this...been there. It is super draining, you have to sleep propped up and can never really cave in and rest deeply.

I have fought to figure out what is wrong when the doctors kept giving me drugs and then having to wait 3 weeks while they don't work, then my immune system weakens further and I get shingles, then the drugs for that leaves my immune system in shock, and on and on.

You may need a FRESH look at all this, A friend of mine was treated for "profound tiredness" and worked in medical field, had excellent doctors.  After 3 years they found she was very low on Iron and she began over a year of infusions but her iron levels never increased. She went to an old holistic doctor who said, "What kind of vitamin C do you take with the infusion?" she said "none". He said it does n't work without some special kind of Vitamin C. She got it and the whole thing was over.

The head draining stuff - and the continuing battle plus after effects of drugs makes me really concerned for you. 

I don't know your insurance but you need fresh eyes on this. People don't understand how it robs you of life, your body can't keep breaking down.

any sedative or anti-anxiety med is a muscle relaxant which can imitate or make reflux worse. Your esophagus is suffering, I don't know how to help you find a fresh look at this.  This is too hard for too long.  Below I pasted article on woman with runny nose search for help, I want you well asap. NOT suggesting you have brain fluid leaking but the story shows how a fresh look might help.

*****

posting this here:

https://www.webmd.com/brain/news/20180509/womans-runny-nose-actually-a-brain-fluid-leak

FROM THE WEBMD ARCHIVES

This year, Jackson sought the care of doctors at Nebraska Medicine, who quickly realized her symptoms were likely due to something more serious. A CT scan revealed she had a rare condition -- a cerebrospinal fluid (or CSF) leak -- caused by a tiny hole in the thin bone that separates her brain and nasal cavities.

Thank you alz+

I was actually pretty far along from recovering from my January cold virus (and past pnuemonia) . I was told by many that even 'healthy' people had the illness long time.

 I suspected the antianxiety med was causing some issues. But guifenisen may also be causing reflux.......But since I acquired 2 viral hits ...last week! ...  Im back to higher dose guifenisen, and Primary doctor office said use albuterol too, to clear the phlegm.  I am much better than Friday when I had fear of getting pnuemonia again.  Still some random coughing. Sometimes seems like metal.  I hope I don't have a leaky brain.  

Been a week since been on the antianxiety med.  I have been obsessive about different things during this past week so I may eventually need that medication to calm down.

Thank you for the info alz+

living alone with pneumonia and after, and all this other stuff is so hard. You seem to slugging it out.

You can count on me for WEIRD IDEAS on everything. The idea was/is sometimes the guessing and meds is because the doctors don't really know and we are guinea pigs.

I remember crawling up the stairs to my bedroom for months after pneumonia but I was down to 95 pounds and had been near death.

Just wish someone would have a light bulb go off and help you. The anxiety is another energy drain. You are always (here) so calm and patient with everyone. You have a good group watching over you and me second guessing.

Can't wait until you start feeling better, I want to know what finally worked.

thinking about you Step.

Sure hope you are getting some relief. It is incredibly hard to endure this stuff on your own. I had to deal with flu last winter and still care for dog 24/7. Having to go back to doctors is draining, trying meds, no sleep, always uncomfortable is super hard.

Highly likely when this clears up and the stress goes down you will be regain cognitive power. I am hoping you have problem identified by now. 

love and courage

Wishing you well! Hugs!

great news!

well done. Going through all of this on your own - what an achievement. Sometimes when the pain or condition stops or improves you forget how hard it was to cope with.

Give yourself time for the post pneumonia fatigue to pass. really glad you got help here, you were a champ about the whole thing.

love and courage

Recuperation after an illness takes time, because we don't have the bounce-back that we used to have.  When we are recovered, for those of us who live alone, we have to put systems into place to prepare for the next illness.  This is what I am doing.

Iris