What does it feel like to have pneumonia?

Pneumonia is a serious lung infection that can be deadly. The symptoms come on suddenly and include coughing, chest pain, shortness of breath, rapid breathing, sweating and fever. I was lucky enough to survive pneumonia, but it was a close call. For weeks, I was completely bedridden, too weak to even sit up. I could barely breathe, and every breath I took was excruciating. The coughing was so constant and violent that it left me feeling bruised all over. I lost my appetite and dropped a lot of weight. Even now, months later, I still get tired easily and get short of breath with even small amounts of exertion. Pneumonia was one of the hardest things I've ever been through, but I'm grateful to be alive.