[GNL685]

Right around Christmas I got pneumonia.. My dr. said it was weird because it didn't start as a cold or flu or any other symptoms.. I literally just woke up one morning with pneumonia.. Today I went and I have bronchitis.. I am also anemic I was wondering since I have been getting so many respiratory infections lately could this be from a greater underlying problem? I do smoke, although I quit for a month after seeing my nasty lungs in the x-ray from when I had pneumonia.. I did start up again last month.. I smoke about 2 cigarettes a day and sometimes none.. could something else be causing this that I should get checked out? Maybe by a specialist? Could my Dr be missing something more serious?

[twinkiedooter]

Stop smoking altogether. I had bronchitis for 9 months until I stopped smoking cigarettes and then worked in a nonsmoking office. You are just irritating your lungs - yes, even with to a day that's two too many as you do seem to have sensitive lungs and are irritating them with the chemicals in the cigarettes.

[twinkiedooter]

Your lungs will thank you I'm sure!!

[Holistic Doctor]

Did your doctor say you had lobar pneumonia?
I wouldn't think so!

[I]You might have gone down with a milder form of bronchopneumonia or an attack of asthmatic bronchitis... probably the latter, as it can come on rather suddenly, as it did in your case.

In either instance, cessation of smoking would be the right thing to do, because smoking can precipitate bronchitis (wheezing along with cough is called asthmatic bronchitis; if wheezing is absent, it is merely bronchitis, in a "lower respiratory tract infection").

Why not stop smoking completely then, and prevent further attacks?

[Holistic Doctor]

I have read the question carefully and that is why I mentioned 'lobar pneumonia'.
Fr_Chuck I think has misunderstood my post, so I will clarify.

The original author, GNL685, has written that it was pretty weird to be told all of a sudden that one had 'pneumonia', without there having been any predisposing conditions or a preceding illness at all. I entirely agree!

However, there exist lesser versions of 'pneumonia', called broncho-pneumonia (which is just a form of chest congestion, sometimes, rather than an actual patchy pneumonitis) and bronchitis (which can progress to broncho-pneumonia if left untreated).

I have come across instances when doctors (regrettably) use the term 'pneumonia' in the latter two conditions, whether intentionally or not, I cannot say.

The word 'pneumonia' raises an alarm in one's mind and it was my intention to try and explain what it could possibly have (also) meant.

I hope this explanation clarifies any doubt(s) that may have arisen, regarding the reference to 'lobar' pneumonia.

My answer also implied that GNL should look at the word 'pneumonia' in more than one way, since the question asked was basically whether there was something more serious that the doctor could have missed to which the implied answer is could be / perhaps and also, perhaps not.

I would hasten to add that perhaps not would be more appropriate, as the lung shadow would have shown up repeatedly in subsequent X-rays, in unresolved lobar pneumonia (even if that was what GNL had, in the first place).

Anyway, I'd also like to add:
What would be important in this Case is whether follow-up X-rays showed a persistent shadow (opacity) or has there been a complete resolution of the original lesion over the last three months.

[tickle]

I find it odd that the OPs doctor was surprised that she had pneumonia. Smoking, no matter how many cigs one smokes, will compromise lungs... and she was enemic to start with.

I do agree with holistic about the four stages of pneumonia. She had a mild case. If her doctor knew she smoked, then that should have sent up a red flag. One stage of pneumonia will inevitably progress to 2nd, 3rd or 4th stage quite quickly if not treated properly.

Tick

[GNL685]

Wow I didn't expect such a response! Thanks for all the advice I really appreciate it!