Resuming training after bout with mild case of pneumonia

After my bout with pneumonia, where I was not necessarily bedridden, I was out of the water for a full 2 weeks. I did attempt a 1650 competition in the middle of being ill, and I was blue when I stopped at the 750 mark (NOT recommended!). Give yourself plenty of time after you start feeling better before you get back in the water. The exertion will bring on the cough. I coughed in the pool for at least a month. You will, however, feel like Superman after the course of steroids! (This is all my experience, I am not a doctor) I hope you are better quick!

I'm also recovery from mild pneumonia, unfortunately at the worst time, getting ready for national senior games. Been out of the pool two solid weeks, but now trying to do some swimming to assess if I have any chance of going to this competition. The cough gets me as does the fatigue. My inhaler helps with the cough, but the fatigue is still there. Using cough and fatigue as a guide, I can only do about 1200 yards, all short distance, long intervals. That's not going to cut it for the 400IM and 200 fly I entered. Should I throw in the towel now? I have exactly one month. I might be better by then, but what the heck can I possibly do to prepare and not go backwards? I had been excited about for once having heats with people near my speed, and a reason to wear a tech suit. Now I'm thinking I don't want to look at the board and see times 25+ seconds slower than my seeds. Anybody else have experience with this situation or suggestions? I'm quite frustrated and depressed.

In late winter I had some sort of respiratory/lung infection. I saw the doc and he didn't classify it as "pneumonia" (nor flu or anything contagious) of any sort...nor did he put me on prescription meds for anything other than the coughing. But my lungs were FUBAR at any rate, and my entire body was hit pretty hard too! I had some of the most violent coughing I'd experienced in my whole life. After a couple of weeks of no physical activity and the coughing had subsided significantly, the athlete in me convinced me that I was feeling good enough for a workout. But my lungs still felt somewhat compromised. Nevertheless I got on the bike and went for a 30 mile ride. That was a mistake, and probably pushed my recovery back a couple of weeks. So...just make sure that your lungs are feeling completely normal before you stress them with a workout. Otherwise it could be detrimental and/or cause delay in your complete recovery. Dan

Let your body tell you what you need. Keep track of your resting heart rate and use it as a gauge for exertion and how quickly (or not) your body is recovering. I had the fly bad last year and it took several weeks of working at a much lower pace and distance before the world started kicking in again. Let yourself sleep more. If you're still having issues breathing, take practices easy. It may be another month or so before you're 100% again.

Thanks guys. I kind of know I shouldn't be pushing it. But I hate to give up on anything. I'll start measuring my resting heart rate. that's a good idea.