I am so sorry to hear you are ill. It sounds like you are getting good treatment and should recover soon. Time to do detective work as to how you got this?

Probably same place I got fungal pneumonia. Environment?

I live in a house that was built in 1918. I garden. I can't even think of the number of places I encounter mold. A billion?

I've had walking pneumonia several times, it's NO fun. I am surprised mold is the cause. I hope you get well quickly....and eating chicken soup is a nice way to spend a few days. ♥ ♥ ♥

Pneumonia can be caused by a specific bacteria or not. If you have the second presentation it can be caused by any of a huge number of conditions. It can be a physical thing. You need to know why. Walking Pneumonia usually resolves with care.

As if you haven't been through enough this year already! I am so sorry that you are ill, and I hope you're better and back to normal soon. And, yes, I think it was probably the restoration work that caused this. With the roof leaks that you've had, there was undoubtedly mold up there.

I really don't know if mold is the cause. I hope it's not, actually. That's a hard problem to fix. Maybe the bloodwork will reveal the cause? Patricia, what do you mean by "the second presentation? And "a physical thing"? I guess I need to read up on walking pneumonia. The last time I heard the term was when I was a teenager and one of my girlfriends had it.

My sibling was hospitalized with pneumonia when her system was stressed by chemo. I don't remember the specifics, but I remember her doctor saying most people when exposed to the thing that caused it, would easily fight it off and never even know it. Good luck reading up on it, and getting more info from your doctor, and take care of yourself!

Sorry you're sick, Alisande, hope you get better soon. Lot of respiratory crap going around right now. That and possible ear infections apparently. I got 4 calls today about left ear pain...all left ears, no right ears. Weird.

Sorry to hear you have pneumonia. Early one morning in March I was sitting on the couch and experienced a sudden severe crushing feeling in my chest that didn't go away. I thought I was having a heart attack so called an ambulance. In the ER after checking my heart and lungs I was told I had pneumonia. I hadn't been coughing at all. I did have some shortness of breath though which the doctors attributed to severe edema which they also said caused the pneumonia. After being in the ER all day the pain finally subsided and the pneumonia went away after they took litres of water off of me. I wouldn't wish that chest pain on anyone. Hope you feel better soon.

Hope your recovery is quick and uneventful.

Perhaps your situation may be a reminder to get pneumonia vaccinations. There are two PCV13 and PPSV23, that should be spaced apart.

Have you had the pneumonia shot?

@lily316, shotS, be sure to get both. 😊

Blastomycosis is the official diagnosis for my 43 year old son, who has lived his entire life in the farmland of central Illinois. He has been hospitalized since January 14. He did/does not have the ability to handle this fungal pneumonia.

Make sure that your pulmonologist is up-to-date on Fungal Pneumonia. No vaccine for that.

After a long period of masking and distancing many typical germs/bugs things that impact health were held at bay. Many of these have a season. Medical personnel can tell you Feb is cold and flu, Jan is pneumonia (as an example) etc. etc. I was at a meeting with a head of our hospital last week. She said these things are having an explosion all at once now that hosts are available once again. Clinics are seeing many things "out of season" that they typically deal with with in a year. They hadn't seen near the bugs they were used to. Proof masks work for keeping germs to ourselves. They also compromise our immune systems and we are all in weakened states due to these protections. Take care out there.

I meant to mention that the doctor who diagnosed me is a cardiologist. I was there for a routine visit. He mentioned mold before he listened to my chest, because I seemed to be having an allergic reaction to something. When he realized I had pneumonia he said he thought it might be mycoplasma. One of the blood tests was for mycoplasma, so we'll see how that turned out. I guess I'll find out today, as I have an appointment with my PCP.

I had both pneumonia shots a few years ago, a year apart. A friend of mine refuses to take them because if she ever ends up in a nursing home pneumonia might be her only way out. My DH died of pneumonia in a nursing home, so I know what she means.

Alisande, did you doc test you for covid? I ask because one of my brothers has been in the hospital for 7 days now and was diagnosed with covid related pneumonia. He may be released later this week if his O2 levels steadily increase. He was the one hold out in my family who did not get vaccinated (idiot).

Really sorry to hear this, Alisande. It doesn't sound as though mold caused this; more likely a reaction to inhaling the dust from work done in your home. Our defenses decrease with age. REST is the best 'cure' for pneumonia. Hydrate as much as you can. Are you able to control any coughing? (Exhausting.)

Please report back after you've seen your primary.

Oh gosh, one more thing to add to your already full plate.. Feel better soon!

@arcy_gw, surgical teams, surgeons, anesthesiologists, nurses, technicians often wear masks 8-12 hours per day, their entire career, with NO compromised immune system. Please do NOT spread medical misinformation.

I was tested for Covid when my symptoms first started, before they got a lot worse. I'm fully vaccinated, by the way.

It wouldn't surprise me if drywall dust caused the pneumonia, or at least was a big factor. Everything was covered in white dust. I was stupid not to run my air purifiers, but I wish the workers had suggested it.

Vgkg, I hope your brother recovers quickly.

A somewhat amusing update on one of my recent kitchen events: The dishwasher installer called yesterday morning to apologize for not showing up, and said he'll get me on the schedule as soon as he can. I had to tell him he was confused, as he delivered my dishwasher last week. (And he ran it through a cycle without removing the plastic and Styrofoam inside. Sigh.)

When I was a study coordinator for several different antibiotic trials for pneumonia, I noticed that one factor was simply being under a lot of stress, whether physical or emotional.

Physical could be a preceding viral infection (like the flu), irritated airways (like dust inhalation), physical injury, a lowered immune system (from aging or induced), or strenuous activity/exhaustion. Emotional - self explanatory, whether from work, school, relationships, (home repair?).

My observations are purely anecdotal, mind.

The most common bacteria that causes community acquired pneumonia - Streptococcus pneumoniae- can most simply be described as "it's just around". You don't have to be in contact with another infected person to become ill.

There are around 100 different types of S.Pneumoniae, and the vaccines don't protect against all of them - just the large majority and the most likely to cause illness (why you need both vaccines). Also, like any vaccine, not everyone will get full protection, but may be less ill.

If you are getting better quickly on the antibiotic, it was either viral (in which case the antibiotic isn't making any difference) or bacterial. Too bad it was a cardiologist, because a GP, FP or internist could have got a bit of coughed up phlegm on a slide and seen whether there was bacteria there (but good for him for recognizing it!)

You should know that the cough and fatigue can persist well after the bacteria is killed- I have seen up to a month after.

Alisande, Pneumonia is a physical condition, inflammation and fluid in the lung tissues that can be caused by any number of things. It can be minor or very serious depending on the extent of the problem and what is causing it.

"Please do NOT spread medical misinformation."

Not the first time and not the last.

PS- alisande, wishing you a quick recovery, of course.

Hope you're better soon, Alisande!

I hope you are feeling better! I'm wondering if you could have been exposed to asbestos, which is commonly in tile ceilings in older homes. Arcy, just stop. I wear a mask for up to 12 hours a day, and my immune system is just fine.

Oh my goodness, so sorry to hear this! Hope you get your lungs cleared up quickly and everything turns out okay.

Loved the story about the DW installer, btw. I have to replace mine and am not looking forward to the hassle. We're switching from a wired to a plug-in install so I'll have to coordinate the new DW delivery and then get the electrician in ASAP to do the wiring before we can actually install the DW. Ugh!

Alisande, I hope you feel better soon.

If there was that much plaster dust, your air cleaners might have just gotten clogged up. I think plaster dust can even clog vacuum cleaner filters/bags. I hope the workers cleaned up most of the debris with shop vacs.

Incredible that the repair people didn’t use a better technique that wouldn’t have filled the house with so much dust, drywall or plaster debris and perhaps mold. what were they thinking? And you were at home all during their work?

Wishing you a speedy recovery.

I'll have to coordinate the new DW delivery and then get the electrician in ASAP to do the wiring before we can actually install the DW. Ugh!

Why? The electrician can come at anytime beforehand to place the receptacle outlet in an appropriate accessible place near the dishwasher.

Just checking in to see how your doctor's appointment went today. Did your PCP have the test results? Are you feeling better now that you're on antibiotics?

I had mycoplasma pneumonia when I was in my mid 30's and it must have been a severe case. I was in bed for few days with a fever and extreme fatigue. I still remember my 5 year old son coming into the bedroom and asking when I was going to bake my birthday cake. DH had to stay home because I wasn't able to get out of bed - I was so ill that I didn't care what the kids ate. It's also possible that I developed both bacterial and viral pneumonia - which might explain the severity of my symptoms. I've never felt so sick before or since. Fortunately DH was home and could keep an eye on things. But I was miserable, and sweaty and oh so tired.

I hope you're improving - let us know how things went today.

maire

I hope you feel much better quickly and I believe as you do it might be from inhaling drywall dust. Many of the first responders in NYC on 911 came down with pneumonia from inhaling the dust.

I hope you feel better soon. I had pneumonia when I was much younger, like in my 40's. As I remember, I was "ok" but it took me a long time like maybe a month or so to get back to my normal stamina. So, be patient and don't push yourself too hard. Slow but steady.

I don't have anything to add except my very best wishes. I get bronchitis annually (except this year, perhaps because of the masks). I don't have any (nor do I wish) experience with pneumonia.

Sorry, but I had to smile at your first run of the dishwasher. :-)

"@arcy_gw, surgical teams, surgeons, anesthesiologists, nurses, technicians often wear masks 8-12 hours per day, their entire career, with NO compromised immune system. Please do NOT spread medical misinformation."

It looks like the comment that provoked this response was removed, whether by the author or by the moderators.

I've never understood the motivation of those who repeat comments that are so blatantly untrue and unfounded that most people can correctly assess them as being lies almost instantly. Is it to provoke or troll others with, or are the speakers themselves fooled? Thanks to regulars mdln, a physician, and sleeperblues, a nurse anesthetist (excuse me if I got these wrong), for speaking up authoritatively with real information from their years of education/training and professional practice.

Well, it turned out my appointment wasn't yesterday after all. Someone's mistake--probably mine. The PCP's office just called with my test results. The chest x-ray and blood work were all "fine." No pneumonia. No mycoplasma. No nuthin. I think the sounds the cardiologist heard must have come from my bronchial passages. I felt from the start that my chest congestion was higher up than my lungs.

The only thing I know for sure is that the antibiotic is helping. I still do some coughing, but it's nothing like it was. I'm still short of breath, but I'm happy to say for the first time in many weeks I'm getting more sleep.

A few responses to comments: Sleeperblues, no asbestos here. The ceiling that was replaced was only 18 years old. Before that, the ceiling was the underside of the bedroom floor above. My house is unusual in that most of the walls are wide hemlock planks, the original 1850 double-plank construction. There are some drywall walls here and there in the bedrooms, but none downstairs. The house has a lot of exposed beams, and sturdy posts. I love the look, and I hear a lot of favorable comments when workers and other people come here for the first time. They also love my old ice house, as do I.

Maire_cate, that does sound severe. I'm glad you recovered! Petalique, yes, I was home when all the kitchen work was done. The drywall dust wasn't evident where I was, though. Although the house has an open floor plan downstairs, the dust was confined to the kitchen and dining areas, at least that I noticed. Lily, that's interesting about the first responders.

Jakkom, when I first started shopping for a dishwasher Home Depot told me the code had changed, and new dishwasher installations required a plug into an outlet. So that's what I expected the installer would do with mine. But no, the new dishwasher is hard-wired, like the old one. So maybe this is optional? HD didn't sound like hard-wiring was an option, but I bought the dishwasher from an experienced, authorized dealer, so I would think they'd know what to do.

Thank you, everyone, for all your good wishes!

So glad to hear you are better and that it wasn't some sort of Pneumonia. You certainly did not need that. Congrads on the dishwasher!!

I'm happy to respond to you. Just to start, I believe mdln, whose comment I quoted and about which 16 people have "liked", is an ER doctor who faces Covid patients each day, risking her own life to do so. Sleeperblues' workplace is a hospital and its operating rooms, where she administers anesthesia, and where she is also at risk. Both of them called the comment bogus and wouldn't think of deviating from their established practice of wearing masks while at work.

Mask wearing to protect oneself (not one's self) and others is wholly uncontroversial and globally accepted. And not new. Suggesting that wearing a mask compromises one's immune system is a joke. Untrue. An unfounded misunderstanding at best, a lie at worst.

Something like 9 out of 10 of current deaths in hospitals are people who are unvaccinated, and that fact (not speculation) has been in the media. Why can't people recognize what's so obvious? Why do they continue to threaten the lives of our medical first responders by denying truths?

I have a close relative who has a PhD in immunology and works in the field. Another is an MD who faces Covid patients every day, risking their own life. I speak to both regularly. Both advocate wearing masks in public, getting vaccinated, and say neither offers any health risk. This is consistent with what all the docs say, what all the experts say, over and over. If you or anyone else have facts suggesting otherwise, what are your competent sources?

The purpose of mask wearing is the same as vaccinations, to slow the spread of the disease. If the consequence of doing so is a rash or acne, I promise you that healthcare providers won't risk their own health or that of their patients by stopping wearing them. Ordinary citizens, you and me, need to follow that example and follow the uncontroversial and consistent advice.

Thanks for your questions.

I'm glad to read your tests were negative, Alisande! That must be a relief for you. It's interesting that the antibiotics are helping you so much--could you have had a long-term case of bacterial bronchitis?

Jim, I'm sorry to read about your son--what a difficult situation. That is a very long time to remain in the hospital and I hope the tide will turn to the positive soon for him. My good friend's daughter was mis/undiagnosed with a lung infection for a few years now and is on oxygen. She is considering a transplant which I read only buys some time. I hope I misunderstood that but am too sad to look it up again. I'll say a prayer for your son.

Pneumonia does not always show up on chest x-ray; this study found 9% were only found on CT imaging. (Am not recommending exposure to that much radiation for confirmation.) Glad you are getting better.

https://www.jwatch.org/na46290/2018/03/08/pneumonia-with-negative-chest-x-ray-positive-ct-scan

I hope you feel better!

I'm sure it's not at all related but I would feel bad for not mentioning it, but one of my mom's first symptoms of her lung cancer was a hoarse voice. Just something to keep an eye on!

Alisande, thanks for clearing up the asbestos comment I made further up. I'm glad you were not exposed to it, and it was just a thought. Glad you are feeling better.

Kevin, Elmer and jmm have responded to your ludicrous statements far better than I can, so I'll just leave it at that. The only risk I have from wearing my mask is having to smell my own coffee breath, so pity me for that fact.

I'm beat down by the anti-vaxxers, anti-maskers, and general non believers. If you could see the world from my eyes....

I hope you feel better fast. I do not like pneumonia!

When my sister and I were in Spain when I was 16 and she was 21 we contracted walking pneumonia.

My sister realized she was sick and sent me to get a doctor. However when I realized I had it was when I awoke after a plane ride to Copenhagen in Denmark. I was in my aunt and uncle's apartment with a stranger doctor leaning over me.

I think that was scarier than realizing how sick I was at first.

I remember being awakened by the flight attendant on the empty plane and nothing about the flight before that and nothing about the trip back to my aunt and uncle's place.

I often wonder how many people I gave walking pneumonia to on that flight.

We have no idea how she got it. We know exactly that I got it from her though.

@jmm1837 you got me, you easily proved my theory wrong and I stand corrected and very well done referencing creditable sources I can't deny.

"Kevin, Elmer and jmm have responded to your ludicrous statements...........so I'll just leave it at that."

I'll be doing the same.

I have NO trouble distinguishing truths from untruths, especially with such easily assessed matters as are being discussed. I also have no trouble sticking to the truth, I never say anything that's untrue, no matter what it is and no matter what the situation is. Like it or dislike as you wish it but don't make things up as you seem to do.

Kudos, Kevin, for at last admitting your ERRORS. I hope we've read the last of them.

Mdln, that's interesting about some pneumonias being detected only on CT scans. No worries about me asking for one, as I'm gun shy when it comes to radiation. Or perhaps I should say radiation-shy. Radiation was used to destroy my adenoids when I was only 6 years old . . . they thought radiation was safer than surgery back then. Add to that various x-rays, fluoroscopes, and CT scans in adulthood, and at some point (I wish it had been earlier) I became very cautious about adding more.

Thanks, Chi, but I'm not hoarse. I sound more nasal than anything else. There goes my voice-over career (the one that was never gonna happen lol). I miss talking to you! Please send me a message, here or on Facebook.

Sjerin, it's very possible I've had bacterial bronchitis for some time. Actually, the way this developed, I wouldn't be surprised if I've had two separate ailments. We'll see how it goes from here.

Thanks again, everyone!

Alisande, you'll be fine. I've had 'walking pneumonia' twice. Nasty business. Mine was diagnosed by x-ray. I was walking around, working handling the household, etc but couldn't stop hacking. Night was the worse. Laying in bed was horrible. I was sleeping in a chair.

I agree with you about radiation. I had so much over my 72 yrs. I'm amazed I'm still walking around. It will get better and you will get back to feeling normal.

Jane

Alisande, Glad to hear it wasn’t pneumonia and that you’re feeling better. I hope you recover fully soon.