I went to see the doctor
@GardenGerty (160665)
United States
November 28, 2017 2:00pm CST
I MIGHT have the start of pneumonia. Cannot tell without x ray but I do not have insurance. XRays are not cheap.
Some of my symptoms are indicative of pneumonia, so we are treating it as such. Doc said I might get better just with rest, or might feel really horrible and still have to come back, and miss more work.
I have a cough suppressant so I can sleep, and a strong antibiotic. I will take tomorrow off work as well.
31 people like this
32 responses
@GardenGerty (160665)
• United States
29 Nov 17
My daughter had it when she was 12 and was sick for quite a while afterwards.
2 people like this
@GardenGerty (160665)
• United States
29 Nov 17
@jaboUK Overall, I am in good health. I just work around kids that are not, and then lots of family stress makes it worse.
1 person likes this
@jaboUK (64354)
• United Kingdom
29 Nov 17
@GardenGerty Yes, my husband had it a few years ago and it took him months to recover. Mind you, he wasn't in very good health anyway, so that doesn't mean that it will take you as long.
1 person likes this
@CinnamonGrl (7084)
• Santa Fe, New Mexico
28 Nov 17
Uh oh. I hope the antibiotic kicks in fast.
4 people like this
@GardenGerty (160665)
• United States
29 Nov 17
I think we caught it in time. I had thought I was getting better. She said I would not have gotten so sick if my coughing had not kept me from sleeping.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (160665)
• United States
29 Nov 17
I am not old enough yet, but will be making some changes. Right now I do something called direct care, pay a flat fee that is cheaper than insurance and she gets a discount on testing and has meds for me too. I can see her as often as I want or e mail, text, skype or whatever.
2 people like this
@allknowing (136445)
• India
29 Nov 17
Pneumonia cannot be taken lightly. Better get that xray done - beg, borrow, or steal.
2 people like this
@GardenGerty (160665)
• United States
29 Nov 17
She is treating me as if we had a firm diagnosis. It has not gone very far at all. My dad had both pneumonia and sepsis just recently and that made me more proactive about getting in to see the doctor. An xray would not improve the treatment I am receiving.
2 people like this
@GardenGerty (160665)
• United States
29 Nov 17
@allknowing If she had not provided treatment options, you can bet I would have gotten an xray. I know it is not cheap, but we would afford it. She just technically cannot say she is positive it is pneumonia, although it "sounds" like it when she listens to my lungs. I will see her again if it does not improve.
1 person likes this
@allknowing (136445)
• India
29 Nov 17
@GardenGerty Since you said "cannot tell without xray" prompted me to ask you to beg borrow or steal
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (160665)
• United States
29 Nov 17
I am, that is why I took today off and saw the doctor and I will take tomorrow off as well. Glad hubby could drive me as I was just falling asleep sitting still.
1 person likes this
@thislittlepennyearns (62506)
• Defuniak Springs, Florida
28 Nov 17
I hope you get better soon..
3 people like this
@GardenGerty (160665)
• United States
29 Nov 17
I am planning on it. Tomorrow will be much better I am sure.
1 person likes this
@BarBaraPrz (47313)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
29 Nov 17
Oh, poor thing! Hope you recover quickly.
2 people like this
@GardenGerty (160665)
• United States
29 Nov 17
I hope we got this taken care of in time. I used to stubbornly refuse to see a doctor and take too long to get things treated.
2 people like this
@GardenGerty (160665)
• United States
29 Nov 17
I bit the bullet and took time off for a couple of days. The medicine to stop the cough so I can sleep will help immensely, and so will the antibiotic.
2 people like this
@celticeagle (166976)
• Boise, Idaho
29 Nov 17
I have had pneumonia a couple of times. No fun. The one time I had to sleep setting up. I was sick for a month. I was weak and very ill. I wish you had insurance.
2 people like this
@GardenGerty (160665)
• United States
2 Dec 17
@celticeagle I have a tribal membership that will let me see a doctor at the low income/tribal clinic. We also have some excellent charity/community clinics available on sliding scale. I am going to be old enough for Medicare this summer.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (160665)
• United States
29 Nov 17
I was feeling really weak last night and finally talked myself into seeing the doctor. An xray would not make me better, so I do not mind. I do a program called direct care and for most things it is great and all my tests are much less than they ever were with insurance co pay. I am hoping that with the medicine and some extra rest I will be good to go for the last twelve days of work before Christmas break.
2 people like this
@celticeagle (166976)
• Boise, Idaho
29 Nov 17
@GardenGerty ......I do hope so. I remember back before my Medicare kicked in there was a community type insurance for people in certain income brackets. It sure saved me. Every little bit helps.
1 person likes this
@averygirl72 (37845)
• Philippines
29 Nov 17
Hope you get an xray soon. You need a lot of rest and good treatment to recover fast
2 people like this
@GardenGerty (160665)
• United States
29 Nov 17
An xray would not help my treatment, it would just give a definite diagnosis. I have medicine to help me rest and an antibiotic as well.
@GardenGerty (160665)
• United States
29 Nov 17
I get sick pay, but I hate to let my team down.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (160665)
• United States
29 Nov 17
My daughter had pneumonia when she was 12. Her doc did not xray her and it took her FOREVER to get better cause she was really sick before she ever complained.
2 people like this
@GardenGerty (160665)
• United States
29 Nov 17
@Juliaacv Well, it gives visual proof. This old doc she had knew more about medicine than any three young ones. I am sure that my doctor will not say conclusively, because she did not get an xray, but we discussed treatments and all of them are basically for pneumonia. She also told me what symptoms supported the diagnosis, and what might contradict.
1 person likes this
@Juliaacv (51197)
• Canada
29 Nov 17
@GardenGerty I do not understand how anyone could accurately diagnose pneumonia without an x-ray, as far as I knew that is what determines it conclusively.
1 person likes this
@sallypup (61117)
• Centralia, Washington
28 Nov 17
I'm sorry to hear this. Once I went to a doc cause of an upper back ache. She put a scope to my back and said You have pneumonia!! Wow. I easily get bronchitis so I shouldn't have been surprised. I went home with antibiotics. No X Rays but antibiotics.
2 people like this
@GardenGerty (160665)
• United States
29 Nov 17
I kind of thought I might have bronchitis, I have never been diagnosed with it. I took antibiotics home with me as well. There was no real need for the xray, she knew I felt crummy and did some diagnostic listening as well as taking note of my increasing symptoms.
2 people like this
@GardenGerty (160665)
• United States
29 Nov 17
@sallypup Instead of insurance, I go with a program called direct care. I pay a flat monthly fee and can see the doc as often as I want and she takes the time to discuss all kinds of things with me.
1 person likes this
@sallypup (61117)
• Centralia, Washington
29 Nov 17
@GardenGerty I'm glad you have a good doc. Some docs don't take the time to really find out what is going on.
2 people like this
@db20747 (43440)
• Washington, District Of Columbia
28 Nov 17
Hope you are well. Do they have a charity hospital or center like Unity Health Care or urgent care where you pay a small fee to be seen at the hospital. If no insurance call the Department of Health in in your state and ask about insurance, medical charity, and state insurance programs and free health centers. Hope you're well. And soon!!
2 people like this
@GardenGerty (160665)
• United States
29 Nov 17
I have a direct care coverage that is very good and not too expensive.That is for the doctor I saw today. She has the ability to get me inexpensive tests for other things, but I do not thing I would have even felt well enough for the xray.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (160665)
• United States
29 Nov 17
I also have tribal membership and can go to a free clinic because of it, if necessary.
1 person likes this
@LovingMyBabies (85288)
• Valdosta, Georgia
29 Nov 17
I'm sorry. =( I hope you get better really soon.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (160665)
• United States
2 Dec 17
I am working on it and I do feel immensely better.
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (471508)
• Switzerland
29 Nov 17
If it's a viral pneumonia the antibiotics will not help at all, it's dangerous to give antibiotics only on the feeling it can be pneumonia, it can be, but which kind? If you have bacterial pneumonia, you’ll get antibiotics. If you have viral pneumonia, you only need to rest, drink a lot of fluids, and take something if you have fever.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (160665)
• United States
29 Nov 17
I know about the differences between viral and bacterial infections. I had some symptoms of a bacterial infection, not viral. I had little to no fever either. I only have had antibiotics for dental problems for the last several years. Since I have had my flu shot it is less likely to be viral. It is more like a secondary, bacterial infection growing as the aftermath of my cold virus.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (160665)
• United States
2 Dec 17
@LadyDuck I try to always rest up well and be healthy before my shot. I work directly and closely with children who get one infection after another and so I get exposed to a lot of things. One of my coworkers is ill as well.
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (471508)
• Switzerland
29 Nov 17
@GardenGerty In some people I have heard that the flu shot has triggered a pneumonia, their immune system was low when they had the shot and they got the problem.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (160665)
• United States
29 Nov 17
As soon as I am on Medicare I will get a pneumonia shot. I get my flu shot every year and I am pretty certain that is why this is not any worse.
2 people like this
@Courtlynn (67085)
• United States
29 Nov 17
Sorry you dont have insurance and are still sick.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (160665)
• United States
29 Nov 17
I pay kind of a subscription fee to the doctor, which is much less than insurance and has no copays, etc. She can get a good rate on most tests, but she knows that I am concerned about money, and the xray was not necessary for treatment, so we did not get one done.
@fishtiger58 (29820)
• Momence, Illinois
29 Nov 17
Good thing you went to the docs. Hope that antibiotic helps.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (160665)
• United States
29 Nov 17
It seems to be. It will only be one a day. Getting more sleep helped, too.
1 person likes this
@kobesbuddy (78882)
• East Tawas, Michigan
28 Nov 17
I've had pneumonia twice, it's not fun! Take good care of your self and those antibiotics should get rid of it:)
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (160665)
• United States
29 Nov 17
I was smart enough not to be stubborn. I saw the doctor and that should take care of it, if not, well I can always go back.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (160665)
• United States
29 Nov 17
@kobesbuddy In the past I have tended to neglect my own health. I would figure that eventually I would get better. I probably do not need to put myself through that misery.
1 person likes this
@kobesbuddy (78882)
• East Tawas, Michigan
29 Nov 17
@GardenGerty I'm so glad you did go see the doctor!:)
1 person likes this
