Anne in TN
Deceased
I don't have it right now but I feel like I am very susceptible to Pneumonia. I had it once, and for years after that, I was allergic to all sorts of things. I took allergy shots for a while. When I was around mildew, I was not able to hardly breathe at all! At times I felt as though a heavy weight was pressing down on my chest. Every breath I took was laborious. Whenever we bake bread now, I have trouble breathing the odors and have to open windows and turn on fans. Also, my lungs feel like they are slightly burning all the time.
Somewhere along the line, I found out that my lungs have scar tissue in them from the pneumonia I had. I don't know how much scar tissue is there and I wonder if I should find out. I also wonder if my lungs have become compromised because of my previous bout with pneumonia thus making me more susceptible to catching pneumonia again.
Since reading about the Avian flu and its symptoms, I have learned that once someone catches the illness, they can quickly succumb to pneumonia and die. This knowledge had really opened my eyes and is the reason I have obtained the impetus to learn all I can to prevent that from happening to me!
For starters, I have purchased various medicines to fight the Avian flu and even have Amoxicillin on hand. The only thing I do not understand is that I think pneumonia is caused by a bacterium but Avian flu is caused by a virus. The Amoxicillin only kills bacteria. How then can it kill a pneumonia caused by a viral flu? Is the pneumonia just a secondary illness to the viral flu because the immune system is weakened from the virus? Or, is there such a thing as a viral pneumonia that cannot be cured with antibiotics?
Several times when I have gone for flu shots, I also got a pneumonia shot. I don't remember how long they were supposed to be good for and wonder if I can get another one this year even though it may be too soon to need it. Does anyone know just how much protection you get from those pneumonia shots? Also, how often can you take them?
I smoked for ten years between age 17 and 27. I think I heard that even though I have not smoked for over 30 years, I am still more susceptible to lung problems than I otherwise might have been.
When I was younger and thinner, I had lots of stamina for running and participating in physical activity. Now I have gained weight and am out of breath most all the time. I wonder if somehow I could lose that weight if it would be easier to breathe and if that could help me stave off pneumonia better.
I think I would like to know what your experiences have been with pneumonia and what information you have that could help me and maybe some other folks here battle it more efficiently.
I want to win this battle!
Somewhere along the line, I found out that my lungs have scar tissue in them from the pneumonia I had. I don't know how much scar tissue is there and I wonder if I should find out. I also wonder if my lungs have become compromised because of my previous bout with pneumonia thus making me more susceptible to catching pneumonia again.
Since reading about the Avian flu and its symptoms, I have learned that once someone catches the illness, they can quickly succumb to pneumonia and die. This knowledge had really opened my eyes and is the reason I have obtained the impetus to learn all I can to prevent that from happening to me!
For starters, I have purchased various medicines to fight the Avian flu and even have Amoxicillin on hand. The only thing I do not understand is that I think pneumonia is caused by a bacterium but Avian flu is caused by a virus. The Amoxicillin only kills bacteria. How then can it kill a pneumonia caused by a viral flu? Is the pneumonia just a secondary illness to the viral flu because the immune system is weakened from the virus? Or, is there such a thing as a viral pneumonia that cannot be cured with antibiotics?
Several times when I have gone for flu shots, I also got a pneumonia shot. I don't remember how long they were supposed to be good for and wonder if I can get another one this year even though it may be too soon to need it. Does anyone know just how much protection you get from those pneumonia shots? Also, how often can you take them?
I smoked for ten years between age 17 and 27. I think I heard that even though I have not smoked for over 30 years, I am still more susceptible to lung problems than I otherwise might have been.
When I was younger and thinner, I had lots of stamina for running and participating in physical activity. Now I have gained weight and am out of breath most all the time. I wonder if somehow I could lose that weight if it would be easier to breathe and if that could help me stave off pneumonia better.
I think I would like to know what your experiences have been with pneumonia and what information you have that could help me and maybe some other folks here battle it more efficiently.
I want to win this battle!
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