Anyone had pleurisy? On way to a&e, so fed up

Ah sorry for the reminder 🙈 it’s just awful though isn’t it. I’ve never felt this unwell in my whole life. I was starting to wonder if it’s something more serious but does sound similar to posts on here. Been on antibiotics 8 days now so really hoping I turn a corner soon. Glad to hear you made a full recovery x

@worriedandfedup24
how are you feeling and how long did it take to feel better. Currently going through what you described. It’s awful.

Hope you have recovered fully.

I have had pleurisy since post partum pneumonia 17 years ago.
It has never left and is the result of damage to the lining of my lungs.
It flares up at times and feels like a red hot burning pain burrowing in my back.
A hot water bottle pressed up against my back brings relief.
It is exacerbated by my feeling stressed.
For me it's my left side that feels the worst. It is very wearing.

Yes I had it three weeks ago. Very sharp pain on the right side of my chest, then a few days later even worse on the left side. I couldn't breathe properly due to the pain, so went to A&E where a chest x-ray showed I had broncho pneumonia.

I was given IV analgesia and antibiotics. The analgesia worked within ten minutes and my breathing eased up. My CRP was also 355 which is really high, and liver function was also very abnormal, which doctor said is to be expected with pneumonia.

Well after reading some of the comments on here I thought I’d comment .. I went to the doctor the other day who doesn’t seem too concerned about the fact I have crackles when I lay down and I have had for around 2 months the took bloods and said I e are checking for ‘heart failure’ and you need to book an ‘ECG’ which is booked for nearly 3w time .. (let’s hope I am still alive) is it me or is my doctor being lax .. I am not normally a worrier but this is one of those times I might need to be

How are you doing OP?
I’ve just finished my antibiotics and although I’m better than I was the pain in my right side is still bad. I’ve still got painkillers and this week off work so hoping I’ll recover more.

Lactulose is the biz for this. Glad you're feeling a bit better x

Get some laxido

It's vile but it works

@worriedandfedup24 So pleased to see your Update. It does sound like you are turning a corner. Drink plenty to help with the codeine effects and don't do more than you feel you can manage at any given time

Hopefully you'll be a lot better in a few more days, but take it easy until you are 100% back to normal - which might take a little while.

My mum has pleurisy when I was 12 op - only time I have ever seen her properly sick. She was bed bound for 4 weeks. Take care of yourself

Meant to add, ring 111 again and stress painful breathing! And FGS accept ABs if offered again!

I had it in the same circumstances as you, viral infection, hacking cough, went on for weeks, then the pain on breathing and coughing.
I have had it before, so knew immediately what it was, got a drs appointment, he prescribed antibiotics, I took them, it went away. I think when it gets to pneumonia or pleurisy antibiotics are necessary. I don't rush to the drs for antibiotics for a cough or cold, even if it hangs on for weeks, but infections in the lungs are dangerous, if not treated.

Yes, had it last year, but only after I’d l ready been in hospital for 8 days with pneumonia (one side only thank goodness). 3 weeks in hospital altogether - 5 weeks of ABs.

They put a drain in my lung (it didn’t hurt) which improved the pleurisy quite quickly.

Hospital is def. the best place for anything like this. I have to say I was very grateful for the treatment I received throughout.

That sounds like a great improvement OP; very glad you are turning a corner.

Could you try drinking some prune juice or eating some dried fruit to help with the constipation? Not too much as I imagine your insides will be delicate from the antibiotics already!

How are you doing? I’m on day three of my antibiotics and feel a little better.

How're you doing @worriedandfedup24?

I wonder if the arm pain is something like nerves jangling, with the inflammation in your lungs?

Go back to A&E now.

The symptoms of pleurisy can be very similar to a pulmonary embolism. I went to A&E with exactly the same symptoms as the OP and if I hadn’t I’d be dead by now AND I was misdiagnosed with a chest infection beforehand. GPs don’t have all the answers and they do get it wrong. The OP was absolutely right to go to A&E.

My neighbor had pleurisy a few years ago along with a terrible chest infection. Turns out it was Tuberculosis. They caught the TB through a blood test (a random doctor suggested they did a T-spot test) then they did a CT scan that showed it too. She had treatment and is now cured.

She still feels the pleurisy pain several years later a little bit and her doctor says it takes years after the antibiotics for the pain to fully disappear. Biggest pain is when she sneezes.

I hope all goes well for you.

You need to go to A&E now OP, I know it's a pain and you're already absolutely shattered but it's really important you get looked at asap with this new symptom.

Please seek urgent medical help, you need to be seen again which is probably what 111 will advise.

@worriedandfedup24 That's what happened to me ( see my post at 14.10). Please phone your GP/111 or go back to A & E