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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to think pleurisy can just fuck off?

74 replies

MyCatIsThickAsMince · 29/09/2019 20:16

Fuck me I feel rough. My GP sent me to hospital last week and they diagnosed me with pleurisy - I’ve had it in the past but don’t really remember it, so this is a shock. I thought pleurisy was something from the past, I think I remember it from Chalet School books Hmm

My chest is so so painful and I’m feeling very sorry for myself. It hurts to breathe, and it’s not like you can just stop doing this. Propped up it’s just about bearable but it’s a real struggle to get up to go to the bathroom etc.

Anyone had this? Am I being a massive wimp? How long does it last, if anyone has had it? I have Naproxen and codeine already for another health issue but they aren’t touching it - it’s as though I haven’t taking anything at all .

If anyone has any useful advice (or sympathetic shoulder pats) I would be very grateful. I would even be grateful if Matron took me to the San and gave me castor oil, if it bloody helped!

Come and join my pity party. My cat (who really is very cute but very thick) tried to join in and tried to jump on my fucking chest so she has been thrown out already.

OP posts:
vampirethriller · 29/09/2019 20:25

I had it last year. It's bloody awful. Try lying on the side that hurts, that seemed to make it a bit easier to sleep.
You should have antibiotics? Painkillers don't do much, I was on morphine and it barely touched it at allSad
I hope you feel better soonFlowers

QualCheckBot · 29/09/2019 20:28

I had pneumonia followed by pleurisy. Got rid of the former but not the latter which was on and off until I went to a doctor on holiday in Spain. Prescribed Prednisalone for 5 days, cleared it up after 3.

CrazyDuchess · 29/09/2019 20:32

Yup - I totally get it... have never known pain quite like it (aside from childbirth)

Unfortunately aside from popping nurofen like they were skittles there was little else aside from trying to to move or breath until it passed Sad

silly248 · 29/09/2019 20:32

So sorry to hear that
I had it too a few years ago it’s fucking awful. It’s so frightening that feeling of not being able to breathe
Since then I suffer from wheezing when weather gets cold , dust and it’s so debilitating
I never ever get ill . anyone know how to best manage on going issues ?
I hope you feel better soon op. Xxx

TheGoogleMum · 29/09/2019 20:34

I had it approx 6 years ago. So painful :( (although having had a baby since, not so painful as childbirth). Don't watch something funny to cheer yourself up, laughing will hurt!

Wearenotyourkind · 29/09/2019 20:34

I feel your pain, OP. I had pleurisy 5 winters in a row. A hot water bottle on the most painful side was my go to. And tramadol! Lots of it! I also read somewhere to lie on the side that hurts the most. Wishing you a speedy recovery Thanks

raspberryk · 29/09/2019 20:37

It's horrendous, I agree you need antibiotics.

BettysLeftTentacle · 29/09/2019 20:37

I had it earlier in the year. The GP thought I could have a pulmonary embolism which was thankfully ruled out but what a shit alternative it was!!

Lots of pain killers, hot water bottles and loads of rest. Loads and loads and loads of rest. And fluids Flowers

TwattingDog · 29/09/2019 20:39

Keep an eye on it. Get a 2nd opinion and additional pain relief if you need it.

My mate, aged 27, has just been discharged from several weeks in hospital after badly diagnosed pneumonia. She was told it was a muscle tear Hmm then eventually on her 3rd trip to the GP was advised to go to hospital because they weren't prepared to give her any more pain relief - bear in mind no one had listened to her chest yet.

The hospital diagnosed pneumonia and sent her home with some pills. 3 days later she was admitted in the middle of the night with sepsis, a badly collapsed lung and dire warnings that they weren't sure she'd survive this.

Extreme scenario, I know, but my DH (39) ended up with pneumonia after bronchitis, so it's still a common enough disease.

PatsyStone39 · 29/09/2019 20:42

It is the Antichrist!

I had it after accidentally breathing in some chemicals. For several weeks it felt like an elephant was lying on my chest - especially when lying down. I feel so sorry for anyone who has it often.

Here's to a very speedy recovery for you!

Original poster
MyCatIsThickAsMince · 29/09/2019 20:45

Thanks for replies, some terrifying stories here though!

Well it's quite reassuring in a way that other people have found it so terrible though, now I don't feel like such a wimp.

The hospital thought it was viral in origin, so didn't want to give Anti Bs, they told me to see my GP if I needed extra pain relief, foolishly I thought "nah I'll be fine, I have a high pain threshold" (I do, normally!) I rang the GP surgery on Friday morning to see if they could prescribe something over the phone as there was no way I could get there - but no one rang back. I'll try again tomorrow. Sadly can't have tramadol as I'm epileptic. I need something though, I've not slept longer than an hour since Wednesday!

Actually typing that has made me realise I definitely need to ring the GP and be more assertive, especially as lack of sleep is a seizure trigger for me. Thanks for advice, I shall take it on board!

OP posts:
Sirzy · 29/09/2019 20:45

It’s horrendous. I had Plurisy and pneumonia a few years ago and it was awful, I was almost admitted to hospital but I refused because of Ds which in hindsight was an awful idea!

Hope you feel better soon

BettysLeftTentacle · 29/09/2019 20:46

If you have no joy with the GP, try a pharmacist.

Sirzy · 29/09/2019 20:47

Phone the Ooh gp they should be able to arrange stronger pain relief for you tonight

BettysLeftTentacle · 29/09/2019 20:49

And pleurisy is usually viral unfortunately. The flu virus is usually the culprit Sad

cacklingmags · 29/09/2019 20:50

Hi,
Had pleurisy before and have got it again now. Take the antibiotics and if it is not really cured get back to the Docs for more. Don't mess with this illness - it is serious. Can last a long time if Docs give you the wrong antibiotics and they do - keep going back until you are fixed. Next you could have pneumonia and maybe fucking die. Take care of yourself.

thenewaveragebear1983 · 29/09/2019 20:50

Oh god it's awful. I just felt like my lungs were all torn inside every time I breathed. Have you had the strange flaky phlegm when you cough, like tissue paper coming up??

I thought it was a medieval/extinct disease but no apparently it's a real thing! Who knew?

It does get better relatively quickly but I found I felt absolutely washed out for weeks afterwards after the initial symptoms had gone. Rest up and take care of yourself, even when you start up feel better. Thanks

MrsGrindah · 29/09/2019 20:52

I’ll tell you my experience of it to cheer you up. On holiday in Vegas..boiling hot. Feel asleep due to jet lag. Woke thinking I’d slept on something cos of sharp pain. Stood to realise I couldn’t walk for the pain. Ended up seeing the on site doctor..he’d to get a wheelchair from room. Got wheeled through casino and kitchen! Saw a Dr in green scrubs ( this was about 30 years ago) so I thought her was the janitor at first. They prescribed pleurisy and gave me drugs “ to get you through the holiday”. Went to the Grand Canyon next day completely off my tits! I feel for you. It’s very scary how quickly it comes on

Flude · 29/09/2019 20:52

Sorry you are feeling so rough OP. I had it (alongside whooping cough). My GP advised I lie on my front with pillows under my chest.

Like you I have epilepsy triggered by lack of sleep. The pillow trick really helped.

PookieDo · 29/09/2019 20:53

I am usually given steroids. I’ve had it 4 times and it is horrendous but I know the symptoms now so tend to go see GP or OOH when I realise I am going that way. I seem to get it in the left lung every time

maloofhoof · 29/09/2019 20:53

I had it a couple of years ago, wouldn't wish it on anyone. I hate to say, even when I thought I'd got through it, I still had to crouch down on the floor clutching my chest/ribs if I needed to cough for months after. Even laughing hurt. Hope you feel better soon.

Original poster
MyCatIsThickAsMince · 29/09/2019 21:00

"Next you could have pneumonia and maybe fucking die." This is the sort of thing I fucking love Mumsnet for Grin We should run the NHS (and the country!)

Unfortunately the only OOH service here is 111, and I know what they are like with the words chest pain, even with a diagnosis Hmm I have downloaded a new Kindle book (768 pages) and this with the pillows and hot water bottle and heated blanket and the cat (not on my fucking chest though) should get me through the night. I'll whisper assertively down the phone to the doctors tomorrow. I was quite surprised no one rang back on Friday. The receptionist took lots of details and said she'd put it in front of a doctor.

This thread is making me feel much happier SmileI do feel a lot better knowing other people have found it so shit too though. (That sounds awful but you know what I mean!)

OP posts:
user1471453601 · 29/09/2019 21:00

I feel your pain. I have asthma, copd and have had part of one lung removed so I'm a prime candidate for plurisy.

I try to sleep sat up supported by pillows when my chest is not good. I also always have stand by antibiotics and steroids. At the first sign of a cold (sore throat is my usual starter) i have been advised by GP to start taking both.
I was a bit reluctant at first (mis use of antibiotics being dangerous and all) but I took their advise and, fingers crossed, so far, this year I have avoided my usual A&E visit with consequent stay in hospital.

As far as managing your current issue, I would say try to sleep sitting up, if you get breathless while sitting down, doing nothing, get someone to dial 999.

A strong coffee sometimes (only sometimes) helps. If you have a "spacer" use it. Up to ten ventalin puffs ( shaking it inbetween each shot) and try to breath from your tummy, not the top part of your chest.

Good luck. I know fee!ing unable to breath is shit

NearlyGranny · 29/09/2019 21:02

Had it twice. Worst pain ever. Had it with chest infection after dose of flu all over Christmas. Two weeks on the sofa sleeping propped up. Horrible cough and trying not to because coughing was like being knifed.

Everyone laughing because they thought pleurisy was something in Victorian novels.

I thought I'd broken a rib...

Hope you're better soon!

Original poster
MyCatIsThickAsMince · 29/09/2019 21:02

Oh and yes to the weird phlegm, it's a bit like when the bloody DC leave a tissue in the washing machine. But it hurts too much to cough it up. I sneezed before too. Bloody hell. I almost passed out.

OP posts: