And that's why you go to the doctors

[DAFFY]

Well what a crappy month it's been, Xmas did not happen just spells in and out of hospital. I posted back on the 28th Nov that I felt like cr*p due to picking up the flu (well what I thought was the flu)

November drifted into December and still found myself couging continueously and one minute feeling cold and clammy and the next it seemed as if somebody chucked a bucket of water over me. i had phoned the doctor at some point who confirmed that it seemed like the flu and the only course was paracetamol and fluids. It all reached a peek on the 16th december when i had to go home early because I was coughing and occassionlly bringing up blood. The following day, after much nagging and begging from SWMBO, I actually booked an appointment to see the doctor.

Explained to the doctor that I had been coughing and running a temp on and off for several weeks, also about the hot/cold flushes. After a chest examination the doctor diagnosed probable pneumonia and promptly wrote out a letter for my hospital to have a x ray off my lungs as i was having issues breathing. I was put on a course of antibiotics as well as oxygen treatment.

I am now finally back at work (after checking with the doctor) I am still coughing but feel alot better.

I was shocked when I was diagnosed with pneumonia as I always thought this was something that old people caught or something people caught in the old days.

You all know what the next question is, how long before i can get back into the water again??

[PBrown]

Glad you are feeling better.

Originally Posted by DAFFY

You all know what the next question is, how long before i can get back into the water again??

I'm sure a more medically knowledgeable person will be along shortly, but I would be looking to get an exam from a diving medical referee (list here: UKSDMC medical referees), the pneumonia may have damaged your lungs.

cheers,
Paul

[Divingminxsy]

Originally Posted by DAFFY

I was shocked when I was diagnosed with pneumonia as I always thought this was something that old people caught or something people caught in the old days.

Pneumonia is fairly common. It can be serious in the very young or elderly and actually accounts for about 15,000 deaths annually in England and Wales. It's basically an untreated chest infection which has got out of hand resulting in areas of lung tissue becoming solidified by inflammatory material , making gas exchange impossible.

It usually clears up well after treatment and the likelihood you get it again is no more than anyone else in the population ( unless you smoke ). You may find you have ' sore ' feeling lungs for some months after as the pleura ( lung lining membrane ) may have been inflamed.

Sadly we had a 19 year old die from it here last year - she developed it and arrested right in front of our GP when he arrived at her home. Dreadful.

Look after yourself for a while and you should be in the water again soon.

[Paul Oliver]

Glad you are on the mend, just to let you know you missed two cracking dives reports are here:- DUE Xmas Cracker - SS Cuvier dive 21 Dec 08

and here:- Well 'ard DUE Afghanistan dive - 4 Jan 2009

See you on the boat again soon mate

[Steve Summers]

Originally Posted by Paul Oliver

Glad you are on the mend, just to let you know you missed two cracking dives reports are here:- DUE Xmas Cracker - SS Cuvier dive 21 Dec 08

and here:- Well 'ard DUE Afghanistan dive - 4 Jan 2009

See you on the boat again soon mate

Kick a man while he's down why don't you? Good luck for a continued recovery and a speedy return to th'water Daffy.

Safe diving,
Steve

[paramedic paul]

Originally Posted by Divingminxsy

Pneumonia is fairly common. It can be serious in the very young or elderly and actually accounts for about 15,000 deaths annually in England and Wales. It's basically an untreated chest infection which has got out of hand resulting in areas of lung tissue becoming solidified by inflammatory material , making gas exchange impossible.

It usually clears up well after treatment and the likelihood you get it again is no more than anyone else in the population ( unless you smoke ). You may find you have ' sore ' feeling lungs for some months after as the pleura ( lung lining membrane ) may have been inflamed.

Sadly we had a 19 year old die from it here last year - she developed it and arrested right in front of our GP when he arrived at her home. Dreadful.

Look after yourself for a while and you should be in the water again soon.

I read you OP and was going to reply to the bit about "something old people got" but I have to say that Minxy has already said everything and more than I would have! Good luck with your recovery and hope you're wet again soon!