Journal of a Back Pain Sufferer Friday 16th February 2024
It's been over a week since I have written my journal after going down hill after my recent MRI.
I finished my third lot of antibiotics and I hope this has finally cleared it up. I am still in a lot of pain when I cough, sneeze and do certain movements but my GP said this is to be expected with pneumonia. I didn't actually realise I had pneumonia until talking to my GP so it came as a bit of a surpise.
Pneumonia - Pneumonia is inflammation of the lungs, usually caused by an infection.
Symptoms of pneumonia can start suddenly or gradually over a few days.
They include:
- a cough – you may cough up yellow or green mucus (phlegm)
- shortness of breath
- a high temperature
- chest pain
- an aching body
- feeling very tired
- loss of appetite
- making wheezing noises when you breathe – babies may also make grunting noises
- feeling confused – this is common in older people
Pneumonia is usually caused by a bacterial or viral infection.
You can catch it from someone who has it, or you can sometimes get it if you have another infection such as flu or coronavirus (COVID-19).I guess it was the COVID that caused mine.
They say that when you feel fit enough a walk in the fresh air but not cold air is food for recovery of pneumonia so we had our first lovely short walk of this year last Saturday in the sunshine. It was just so nice to feel the fresh air and sun on our faces. We didn't go far just near our house but decided we would go a bit further the following day.
On the Sunday the weather did not dissapoint so we drove to the sea-side and had a lovely walk along the beach. We didn't really realise how far we had walked until the walk back to the car but it did us both the world of good.
The weather over the last few days has been very miserable but the sun is shining again today so we plan another trip to the beach with lunch out to make a lovely change. We are also looking for a charity shop that we have heard about that only sells toys which is what we always look for when we pop into charity shops. We get such bargains and the grandchildren love the new toys to play with when they come around.
I had a follow up appointment with my GP today who checked me over and said there were no signs of any infection in my lungs at the moment but that it will take a while to get over. He also said the awful pain in my chest and side is torn muscles in my sternum and ribs from coughing which he said will take about five weeks to heal. I have then also got to have another chest xray.
He told me to make sure I take all my painkillers on a regular basis and not miss any out as these torn muscles can be very painful. Night time is causing me a lot of grief at the moment as it hurts to lie on my back and front and on one side and the side that it doesn't hurt is not my usual position so it keeps waking me up.
I have to admit I have never been this poorly before and the pain in my chest and ribs is awful but I think I am over the worst. Both my husband and myself are so ready for a break but we will wait until my next xray before we make any arrangements.
The sun has been shining again today so it was lovely to be outside for a short walk.
I have downloaded a course from Domestika on how to embroider photos. I think I am just a bit bored really but it looked really interesting and I like a bit of embroidery. It will give me something interesting to focus on while I wait for my next paint by numbers to arrive. I have a suitcase of old pictures and it is inspiring me to pull some out and put some magic onto them with embroidery.
Books and tv has been our saviour over the last few weeks and yet I couldn't honestly tell you what we have watched. It's strange how illness can effect your brain.
