Lobar pnemonia, but no cough, no congestion?

[PickyArtist]

Hi!
I’m 38, Mom of two young boys. I went to our local urgent care center this past Friday because of strange chest pain and upper back pain that “just didn’t feel normal”. I’ve been diagnosed with lobar pneumonia and was put on antibiotics. It’s been two days (5 doses of antibiotics, so far) and nothing has changed! There is still no congestion, no coughing (I’ve even had 5 doses of Musinex)...just fatigue and shortness of breath. The pain is on and off....I feel crazy!!! HELP?!? (No, I’ve not been sick...my Mom was treated for the flu, but I only had contact with her after she had begun her medication...)

[specialmom]

Pneumonia is funky and doesn't always follow the classic path.  My younger son had pneumonia and I had no idea because he wasn't coughing. He had fevers.  On and off fevers.  One day fever, stay home from school, fine.  Then back to school, another phone call from school that he had a fever.  Stay home the next day.  Then back to school and ANOTHER call that he had a fever!  That's when I took him to the doctors and he was diagnosed with pneumonia.  No cough!!  He did feel better after about 2 days though with antibiotics. Anyway, there are different reasons we get pneumonia. People think of bacterial or viral.  We can also have chemical or traumatic.  And pneumonia is not like bronchitis.  So, symptoms are not always as predictable.  It can take a while to get over.  If you still have your symptoms on day 5 on antibiotics, I would call your doctor.  The thing with antibiotics is that different ones treat different pathogens.  What pathogen caused your pneumonia if it is bacterial?  Or if it is atypical or walking pneumonia due to mycoplasma, that requires a different antibiotic.  And if it is not bacterial or viral, you should know!  So, follow up with your doctor for further evaluation and information.  (and I know this was all over the place and not that helpful, sorry!)  Let us know how you are doing!