What Causes Severe Fatigue While Treating Pneumonia?

Posted on Thu, 17 Mar 2016

Question: How long does pneumonia lsat?
I have had it for two weeks. I rest all day. I am an a 65 year old man.
I am getting slightly better but I am stlll too tired to do much or go to work
Thank you very much
XXXXXXX

Thanks

Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (27 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Get done repeat chest x ray to rule out worsening of pneumonia.

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your question on Health Care Magic.
I can understand your concern.

With appropriate antibiotics, pneumonia starts recovering in 1 week and by the end of 2 weeks, patient is feeling much better.

By the end of 3 weeks, pneumonia recovers fully.

So in your case, you are only slightly improving even after 2 weeks. This is something we should see vigorously.

So we should definitely rule out worsening of pneumonia in your case.
And for this get done fresh chest x ray and compare this with previous x ray.

Please let me know
1. What were your symptoms at the time of diagnosis?
2. At present, do you have fever, cough, chest pain, expectoration?

Please reply me answers of above asked questions, so that I can guide you.

I will be happy to help you further.

Wish you good health.
Thanks.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Arnab Banerjee

Follow up: Dr. Drkaushal85 (2 hours later)

Thanks.

There were two initial symptoms
Cough and being very tired

The cough is still there but much better I do not need to take cough drops
I cough a bit once a hour at most. There is some white phlegm--not that much

The cough is not the main problem.

Being tired all the time is.
I rest at home on the couch all day. I almost never go out. I just did a two block walk to te store which tired me out pretty well
Its hard to imagine going back to work in the next week. Maybe more

I am concerned about how long I might be out. There is no magic answer but I would appreciate your thoughts

I have a follow up chest xray on Feb 22

Thanks
XXXXXXX

Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
Start multivitamin tablets and drink plenty of fluids orally.

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Health Care Magic.
I can understand your concern.

If you are not improving and continue feeling tired then perhaps you should follow up early and get chest x ray. You may also start multivitamin tablet and drink plenty of fluids orally. This will help in tiredness to great extent.
You should start fruit juice and high protein diet like pulses. This will help also help in recovery.

Sometimes tiredness may last for a week or two after recovering from pneumonia. However it is more important to make sure pneumonia is resolved. Hence my suggestion for early follow up.

Hope I have solved your query.
If you are not having further queries, then please close the conversation and rate my answer.
You can ask me directly on bit.ly/askdrkaushalbhavsar.
Wish you good health. Thanks.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Prasad