Any medics around? Does this sound like pleurisy

[bloodyeverlastinghell]

I did have a lurgy at start of December but I shook that off weeks ago. Christmas Eve I felt out of breathe on normal dog walk, I’m prone to anaemia so thought probably that. By evening bottom of left lung was really quite painful like a sharp stabbing pain when I breathed in. Ibuprofen a hot water bottle and lying on the effected side helped. Googled thought pleurisy and decided to wait it out and see if it self resolved by time Gp reopened.

It has sort of come and gone over last two days. Quite painful on Christmas after dinner I had to go for a lie down. Yesterday was ok ish and I thought I probably wouldn’t need GP after all.

Last night I night I woke at 3 am and it was agony. I could only take short breaths and it was very painful like a muscle spasm when I tried to breathe in. Raided the medicine cabinet for strongest painkillers I have and took two Co-codamol 30/500 and Naproxen as anti-inflammatory. It took 30 minutes to an hour to kick in fully and even then I couldn’t lie down I ended up going to sleep propped up on the sofa with many cushions at 5am

Today I feel ok it hurts a bit to breathe in but like a 3 and I can breathe in half way before it hurts. Last night felt more like 10-20% and possibly a 9/10. No cough, cold or temperature.

mMy question is does this sound like pleurisy. Or should I be concerned about something else?

Could be. I’d also be worried about a PE (blood clot). You need seeing, IMO.

No-one can tell without physically seeing you or listening to your chest. Get a GP appt or take yourself to urgent care

Yes pleurisy feels like you are being stabbed every time you breathe. You need to try and get to a doctors ASAP. And be prepared for a fair while to recover.

You need to seek medical advice. The symptoms of pleurisy are very similar to a blood clot.

It could also be costochondritis brought on by the previous lurgy. I had flu which became bronchitis just before Covid started and the rib/lung pain went on as you describe for weeks and weeks.

Do go and get yourself checked though in case it's something more sinister. Hope you feel better soon.

That sounds similar to when I've had it, but you'll need to seek medical advice asap.

In my experience it took a long time to go away.

Please seek help. Mum had very similar symptoms. It was a PE. Unfortunately she collapsed whilst getting ready to go to the wall in centre (she refused to go to A&E the day before) and passed away.

Not wanting to terrify you. But it could be potentially very serious.

Could be pleurisy, or a spontaneous pneumothorax (collapsed lung).

From what you have said, you really need to go somewhere to be seen in person and examined. Someone needs to listen to your chest.

Last night felt more like 10-20% and possibly a 9/10. No cough, cold or temperature.

Surprised you didn't go to A&E.

When I had pleurisy I had pain in my shoulder and arm too and couldn't put any pressure on that side. Only a Dr can tell you though.

I had pain similar to this (but not as bad) on Xmas day. You need to be reviewed by a doctor asap for PE, pleurisy or pneumonia.

I had pleurisy and it felt like a chest infection but mainly felt in my back rather than the higher chest tightness I felt before with a chest infection. I think I had a mild case because although I felt rotten I could always breathe. Yours sounds worse, please seek medical advice.

Sounds very much like it. Pleurisy is so, so painful.

If you’re needing that amount of pain killers you really should go and get seen. The other possibility is you’ve broken a rib from coughing so much, my DM did it one year and it was incredibly painful. But rather than everyone guessing go and be seen by a medical person who can assess you.

I contemplated it but lone parent kids plus dog. There’s no way I could of drove so would of needed to call an ambulance and emergency call to ex. It was brutal but I wasn’t turning blue so thought painkillers/ anti inflammatory and if that fails I’d press the doomsday button. I didn’t take Ibuprofen before bed as I thought I’d got through the worst of it probably wouldn’t of happened if I had. Lesson learned there.