6 weeks is a long time to be sick.

@writersedge (22563)
United States
September 27, 2010 12:02pm CST
The doctors told someone I know that she will be sick with pneumonia for 6 more weeks. They sent her home because her insurance said only 1 week they would pay for. I do hope they're wrong. That's a long time to have pneumonia. If you were told that, what would you do? I'd be looking for some way to get better faster! So have you every had pneumonia? How long did you have it for? 1st time, I had it for 2 weeks, the next time, was much shorter, like a lot shorter. You'd think it was the 24 hr flu if you didn't know better.
2 people like this
9 responses
@Ted3_uk (114)
28 Sep 10
6 weeks is along time, but maybe there is more than just pneumonia There are many diffrent types too. Leigons Air and Micoplama are just 2 type and there are many others.. Once when i had pneumonia after having flu my lungs became damaged and one of my lungs punchered and deflated, this took 6 weeks to heal.. Maybe your friend has some issue like this.. if there is damage it much heal or it could get much worse.. As for healing faster the only real way is to take things easy, eat really healthy and i think dry air is good for it, maybe try a dehumidifyer?
@writersedge (22563)
• United States
28 Sep 10
Very true. From what I'm reading, I guess I was just lucky.
@rameshchow (4426)
• India
28 Sep 10
6weeks is really a lengthy time, and here you mentioned about insurance, care to enlighten me about that, acually here in india we have no sophisticated insurance schemes........
@writersedge (22563)
• United States
28 Sep 10
Insurance can swing 2 ways in the USA. You pay a little money each month and when you go to the Doctors or the hospital, the hospital bills your insurance. So you only pay a little bit to the insurance and a little bit to the doctor, the insurance pays the rest. Let's say I pay $100 a month. I go to a Dr. and he charges $80. I pay $20 and the insurance pays $60. Let's say I go into the hospital, the hospital charges $80 a day, plus dr fees of $60 a day plus food, etc. So the hospital charges let's say $160 dollars a day. I pay $30 a day and the insurance pays the rest. But the insurance may not want to pay for long insurance stays. So in her case, they told her hospital they would pay for one week.
@Sreekala (34312)
• India
28 Sep 10
Hi writersedge, Pneumonia may take time to cure completely. My son (now three year old) had pneumonia in last year and he took medicine for two weeks. Fortunately he was not hospitalized but cured at home only but there was regular visit on doctor. If somebody is there to take care of the patient well then the recovery may be speed up. Love and care have an important role to cure the person in half and other half portion is doing the medicine. I do hope your friend may recover at the earliest. I wish a speedy recovery to her.
@writersedge (22563)
• United States
28 Sep 10
I hope she recovers quickly, too. She's mostly sleeping and drinking liquids.
• Singapore
28 Sep 10
I don't have pneumonia. But 6 weeks is very long to be sick. Your acquaintance must be feeling super terrible and sick. Imagine lying down in bed and not having any appetite. Oh my.
@writersedge (22563)
• United States
28 Sep 10
She has a little appetite, but not for very many things.
@harry89 (2330)
• India
28 Sep 10
oh 6 weeks! Thats really a long time
@writersedge (22563)
• United States
28 Sep 10
That's what I thought, but according to many of the people above you, that may not be that long.
@pinoycity (575)
• Philippines
28 Sep 10
Get a second advice. Sometimes there are doctors who will give you better advice or diagnosis on your ailments. It doesn't hurt to be safe.
@writersedge (22563)
• United States
28 Sep 10
She's too weak for that, she shouldn't have even been sent home. She was because her insurance ran out.
@carolbee (16230)
• United States
27 Sep 10
That seems like a very long time to be sick. If I was forced to come home from the hospital because of insurance reasons, I would definitely make chicken soup, drinks tons of water and take antibiotics as prescribed. Would also stay home and rest as much as possible. Last time I had pneumonia was 30 yrs. ago and I was in the hospital 3 weeks. I had surgery and went right into pneumonia. It was a close call according to my doctor at the time. I wish your friend well and soon.
@writersedge (22563)
• United States
28 Sep 10
Wow! Sorry to hear you got all that after surgery, one or the other is bad enough.
@GardenGerty (157546)
• United States
27 Sep 10
My daughter was ill for over two weeks, and on antibiotics at that time. It took her fully six weeks, I am sure to feel better and to be back to normal. I have a friend who had pneumonia within the last month, and because she has asthma she is still being given various prescriptions. I am sure it depends on whether it is bacterial or viral pneumonia, and which bacteria or virus is causing the symptoms. My daughter had a bacterial pneumonia, but if you have viral pneumonia, there is nothing to take except for symptoms. If you have underlying health problems and if you let it go too long it can last a whole lot longer.
@writersedge (22563)
• United States
28 Sep 10
Glad I have had a pneumonia shot in that case. I just think 6 weeks for pneumonia is a long time. Years ago, I had the flu for two weeks, then bronchitis for 2 weeks and then pneumonia. 3 different problems that ended up being 6 weeks and I didn't end up in the hospital. Yes, there are underlying problems to consider and it may be viral. Viruses are such a pain, they have to work the course through. Thanks and take care.
@ElicBxn (63235)
• United States
27 Sep 10
I think it can depend on how sick you are. My mom, in her early 70's, got "walking pneumonia" and was sick for weeks, not sick enough to go to the hospital, not sick enough to even stay in bed - but if she had, she might've gotten better faster. Pneumonia is a complex problem, and depending on how much of the lung/s are affected can determine how long the illness will last.
@writersedge (22563)
• United States
28 Sep 10
I guess, it just seems like a long time to me. But after reading some of the answers here, esp. #1, I can see why. Thanks and take care.
1 person likes this