How painful is pleurisy?

[JulietSierra]

I’ve been under the weather with a viral thing for a few days, really very mild
This afternoon I noticed a bit of a twinge under my right boob and I started to feel freezing cold.
As the day has gone on the pain has become really bad. It’s under my boob going into my side. It’s really sharp and is much worse when I breathe or move.
Im wondering if it’s pleurisy. I don’t actually feel terribly poorly (just freezing and under the weather) but this pain is awful.
Has anyone had pleurisy? Was it terribly painful? Planning on speaking to the GP tomorrow obviously.

I did and yes, it hurt to breathe. Strangely lying on the affected side relieved it. That's how GP was able to diagnose. Didn't last too long

I’m in bed now lying on the affected side and it’s still really painful 😭

yes, it's very very painful. Felt like a spear going though me under the left boob and also felt it on the side, exactly as you've described.

I had it over 30 years ago, but Dr gave me v strong ibuprofen for it. It did pass very quickly though after i'd seen the Dr

It's very, very painful. Lying on the affected side does help.
Mine went through the right side of my chest to my shoulder and under the shoulder blade and I couldn't stand up straight or lift my arm.

Thank you all for your replies.
I can’t take ibuprofen and paracetamol hasn’t touched it.
Lying on the affected side hasn’t helped so I wonder if it might be something else (Health anxiety rearing it’s ugly head).

It’s very painful. I’ve had it twice.
You need to see a Doctor. I was prescribed anti-biotics, steroids & codeine.

Mine was incredibly painful and I am quite good at tolerating pain. I thought I might be having a heart attack and rang 111 to see if I should be worried. They set up an out of hours gp appointment at our local hospital and I got diagnosed there. I am allergic to anti inflammatories, so just had pain killers.

I had pleurisy when I had pneumonia years ago and honestly, it was worse than childbirth and I had two home births with no pain relief. It’s incredibly painful, though that doesn’t mean it’s the only thing that could cause upper abdominal pain along with flu like symptoms.

It’s horrendous, don’t think I’ve ever felt pain like this.
I’ve had to get out of bed as I can’t bear it. It’s marginally better sitting on the sofa

You really need an out of hours GP apt. Do you have a partner there who can help get you organised or are you on your own with DC's?

I've had it twice. Horrendous pain. Try hugging a pillow tightly to the affected side and get a GP appt tomorrow. I ended up needing antibiotics, diclofenac and dihydrocodeine which just about made it tolerable. Hope you can seek medical help and feel better soon x

Worse thing ever, you can't take a full breath in because of the pain. You feel like you're suffocating.

My DS had it about 12yrs ago as well. School sent him to the hospital, they said it was a panic attack. I told them it was pleurisy and I was right!

You may find that you have that same pain every now and then for a few years. Just every now and then.

I remember that pain more than giving birth - and that wasn't a walk in the park!

I hope you feel better soon.

Yes. Very painful. I had it when pg and the GP thought I had a pulmonary embolismand called an ambulance. Spent 4 days in hospital on bed rest rest and IV antibiotics.

I’m definitely better sitting up, it’s bearable now. It’s a night on the sofa for me.
Never had pain like this!

Awful. Hurts every single time you breathe. Sending thoughts for a night with some sleep in it xxx

First time ever to A&E for me when I had pleurisy, thought I was having a heart attack.

However another possibility is gall stones.

Well I spent the night on an armchair and got a few hours sleep. Definitely not so bad this morning, bearable anyway but it really hurts to breathe.

Have you got a temperature? If you’re feeling freezing cold you might have, and should get checked out. I had pleurisy following pneumonia and only felt moderately ill with both, but the GP took it very seriously and put me straight on antibiotics. My symptoms were chiefly a ‘cold’, then a temperature and one-sided lung pain.

I’ve done an e consult with my gp so I’ll get a call back today. I had pneumonia 5 years ago and I think that’s what’s causing me to worry.

That's good, I hope you get sorted out soon.

Gp surgery texted to advise me to go to the walk in centre🙄 The lovely nurse there says she thinks it’s muscular (not sure how as I was sitting at my desk when it started?) and my chest sounds completely clear.
So that’s good news I suppose but I was kind of hoping for antibiotics to cure it!
I’m aching head to toe now but that might be the viral thing I’ve had hanging over me or it could be spending all night in an armchair!
Going to have 2 paracetamol and a deep, hot bath.
Thanks for all the responses.

Very bloody painful! I needed steroids when I had it.