Suggest Treatment For Pneumonia In An Elderly Person

Posted on Thu, 18 Feb 2016

Question: Hi.. I am a 60 years old young woman :)
I was diagnosed with Pneumonia on Dec 14. I took it pretty easy.. My Md gave me a Z pack.. saying it was viral and it would take 4-6 weeks or longer .. The original X-ray said.. I likely had Pneumonia bc of the right middle lobe opacity ..It also stated that I had a retrotracial opacity which was seen on the lateral view.

My Dr said he spoke with a mother radiologist who said that I had that opacity a couple years ago and there has been no change in size .. etc.

Anyway.. My energy is almost back .. but I if I run up the step.. my heart beat goes up .. I have always been fit.. exercise .. never smoked etc.. .. What are your thoughts .. as I am a bit anxious .. I will speak to my Dr on monday.. Thank you! ..

Answered by Dr. Ralf Von Seckendorff (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
May need more recovery time to fully recover

Detailed Answer:
Dear patient,

pneumonia may need 4-6 weeks to fully recover until you regain your full strenth again, even though on the x ray and blood results everything is already good.
Still in a case like yours i would recommend an ekg to check out this heart beat problem you are describing, to rule out any heart issue. In very rare cases infections may affect the heart muscle, but your case does not sound like that at this point. An ekg may show signs of that too. Depending on the ekg result, further diagnostics like ergometry or echokardiography may check out your heart function further.

best regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Raju A.T

Follow up: Dr. Ralf Von Seckendorff (9 minutes later)

Thank you,

The follow X-ray - I had on Friday seems to indicate .. no change ..
I am a working commercial photographer.. a lot of health care etc.. so I have slowed down significantly.. I am not sure why after 4 weeks the X-ray indicates .. no change..? Is that normal?

I will get an ekg,Echo .. will chat with my PCP tomorrow

Answered by Dr. Ralf Von Seckendorff (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
Opacity exists already longer, pneumonia shorter

Detailed Answer:
Dear patient,

i understood that in the x ray the opacity was there for longer period already and hasn't changed. You haven't stated exactly what it said about the pneumonia getting better. If the x ray on friday indicates no change on the pneumonia, then this can be normal after 4 weeks since the x ray shows the healing process potentially slower than it really is.

Best regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Raju A.T

Follow up: Dr. Ralf Von Seckendorff (1 hour later)

Dear Dr. Von Seckendorff
Thank you so much .. I have never done any online questions etc..
The only thing that has gotten better is that
I am not as tired .. I was terribly exhausted.. Now I am feeling noticably better .. except for the whole racing heartbeat when I run around .. If I walk around not so bad.. .

Hmmm

Kind regards, XXXXXXX

Answered by Dr. Ralf Von Seckendorff (10 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Opacity needs CT followup, pneumonia geting better

Detailed Answer:
Dear patient,

.the report indicates a chest ct followup of the opacity. The tiredness and heartrace will most likely get better soon. EKG is recommended still as advised above.

Best regards

Note: For further follow up on related General & Family Physician Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Prasad