i think my body is finally giving up

[karen547]

Well as you all know, I have been sick with Pneumonia. I havent felt the same since... I woke up last night and was nauseated, had bad chest pain and today I have a stiff neck, and am worried because even with me taking a percocet it has not gotten much better. I am so frustrated with this. I think that dialysis is kicking my butt big time and I am just getting sad. I dont know what to do because I have to go to school today in a lil bit. I think I am going to take winter quarter off because I am so tired most of the time, and am not very productive.. It saddens me because I like school, but at the same time, my health is just taking a beating from all the stress. I just wish that I woke up feeling good for a change, as i'm sure we all do! I am thinking about calling my doctor as these symptoms have only started recently.

[annabanana]

Definitely call your doctor. And it's ok to take time off...let yourself do that! Get your strength back first, then you'll feel better.

[willieandwinnie]

karen,  Pneumonia can take weeks or months to get better. Give your body the time it needs to heal. If you try to push it will take that much longer to get better. Now, get some rest. 

[Joe Paul]

Get well soon 

[Rerun]

I know you look at all your friends and see them bounce back from illness and go to work and school and have a social life.  Dialysis does slow you down and you don't heal as fast.  Give yourself a break and take care of you.

[okarol]

The pneumonia can also mask fluid collected around your heart. Please be sure they are checking this. I am sorry you're having a rough time and I hope it improves soon. 

[Sluff]

Only you know how you feel. Take time to get well. 

[monrein]

Karen, pneumonia can take a long time to recover from and especially if a person is old (not you) and/or not in tip top health to begin with(you, me and most of us here unfortunately).  Overwhelming tiredness is the symptom  and for us it's a double whammy since we're kinda tired all the time anyway.

You do need to take time to recover fully from it and definitely talk to your doc about the symptoms. 

Big hug to you and keep us in the loop about how you get on.

[Sunny]

Give yourself more time to heal. We don't bounce back as quickly as others. Let your teachers know you have kidney disease so they will understand where you're coming from. In time you will heal but you need rest so maybe just do the bare minimum for a while. That might mean just concentrating on school for now and worrying about other things later. Get well soon.

[twirl]

do not give up and give in
you are so young
and you have a life ahead of you

[draven]

i also have to balance college and dialysis. Having a cold or pneumonia is terrible as a dialysis patient. it took me 2 weeks to come right, when it would take like 4 or 5 days for a non dialysis patient. i really recommend taking a few days off. your school will understand.

Get well soon

[MiSSis]

Having to give up something you love, even if it's school, can make you feel even sadder.  Although I agree that you certainly need to take some time to take care of yourself, I wonder if taking an on-line course would be an option for you.  That way you would work at your own pace, rest when you need to and yet still feel as though you're working towards your goal of finishing school. 

When I worked full-time, it wasn't the work that got to me.  It was the physical aspect of getting up, getting ready, getting myself to work and then having to walk a fair distance to even get to my desk.  I was totally exhausted and I hadn't even started my work day yet!  If I could have done my job from my home, I would have been in heaven.  I can't imagine the physical strain of getting from classroom to classroom in all kinds of weather and conditions.

Hope you begin to feel much better soon.  And be sure to run all of your symptoms by your doctor.  He needs to know how you're feeling.