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Original poster

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

139 replies

worriedandfedup24 · 04/02/2024 18:24

I've had a viral infection for the best part of 3.5 weeks, awful hacking cough, coughing up green stuff, just generally feeling awful since the 2nd week of January. Earlier this week I started to get a horrible stabbing pain in my chest, just under my right breast, through my rib cage. It's markedly worse when coughing or breathing deeply, I'm having to take shallow breaths just to manage the pain. Coughing is reducing me to tears. I was seen by a GP on Wednesday who listened to my chest and said he could hear "crackling" on the side where the pain is and thought it was pleurisy. He said he could prescribe antibiotics just in case it was bacterial and not viral, but I decided I wanted to see how I got on first as I didn't want to take antibiotics unnecessarily. This weekend then pain has become significantly worse. I've never had a broken rib but I imagine this is close to what it might feel like. Every breath, movement and cough is agony. Rang 111 just now and they've advised going to A&E to be seen. I'm just wondering if there's anything at all they can do for pleurisy? Are there any treatments? Is it worth me sitting in A&E all night to be told to take paracetamol which I can do at home? The pain is unbearable and I can't go on like this. But also I'm not convinced they can do much for it.

Any experiences of this? Thanks.

OP posts:
PonyPatter44 · 04/02/2024 21:38

I'm glad you're being seen relatively quickly. Try and relax while you're waiting.

Tilllly · 04/02/2024 21:41

@Ladyj84 OP explained they mess with her digestive system, it's not unreasonable to see if she'd recover without

@worriedandfedup24 I've had pleurisy, it's horrible and very painful. ABs did shift it tho gave me an upset tummy.

And I caught every cough going all winter, afterwards

You're probably going to have to just take the ABs and deal with the side effects unfortunately, it's a nasty thing to have and you need rid

kirinm · 04/02/2024 22:01

Hope they're able to help OP. And at least you've been triaged relatively quickly.

orion678 · 04/02/2024 22:03

I've had pleurisy. It's hideous. Couldn't sleep and sometimes the pain brought me to tears. GP sent me home with the suggestion of paracetamol as there was nothing they could do since it was triggered by a viral infection. I found the only way to get relief was - counterintuitively - to lie directly on the painful bit of my lung so it was squished. Apparently it's due to the lining of your lungs being inflamed and somehow causing friction. Compressing the area helps reduce the movement and as a result it's less painful. I spent several nights propped up on the sofa surrounded by strategically placed pillows just to get some relief, but it did help

weegiemum · 04/02/2024 22:10

I had it in 2009. I still remember as it's seared on my memory. I caught a cold on a flight home from Venezuela and it took weeks, just getting worse and worse. My dh is a GP and eventually had a listen (sore patch was on the lower part of my left back) and he could hear the pleurisy crackles. Went to the GP for antibiotics but they didn't make much difference, it was likely viral.

All these years later if I get a cough I can feel a "pull" in my back, or if I take a deep breath of cold air. I've had babies and kidney stones - this was the third worst pain I've ever had, including a compound ankle fracture!!

Original poster
worriedandfedup24 · 04/02/2024 22:13

Seen a doctor and had a chest x ray. They are waiting on a second lot of bloods. Doctor said the chest x ray is to see how bad my lungs are 🙁

OP posts:
whatsitcalledwhen · 04/02/2024 22:15

Poor you OP. Pleurisy is so painful and scary as you stop breathing in fully so feel a bit panicky. I did, anyway. Really hope it gets sorted soon for you Flowers

IloveAslan · 04/02/2024 22:20

I had pleurisy, and was verging on pneumonia, many years ago - but my pain was nothing like you are experiencing OP. The doctor prescribed antibiotics and it soon cleared up. You were foolish to turn them down I think.

Siriusmuggle · 04/02/2024 22:24

I’ve had it- horrendous pain. I was given a couple of sorts of antibiotics to take at the same time as they weren’t sure which sort would work. Also lots of pain killers. GP decided not to send me to hospital as I had a young child and the stress and logistics would probably make me feel even worse. He gave me 48 hours and if no improvement it was hospital regardless. I was off work for almost 3 weeks. It was just rotten.

Dabralor · 04/02/2024 22:28

I've had pleurisy and pneumonia - it's shite OP but now that you're at hospital it will hopefully get better quickly with some strong painkillers and antibiotics.
Definitely lie on it- squish down on the painful side and try to swallow instead of cough. I don't know why this works but it does.

Get well soon 💐

Frances0911 · 04/02/2024 22:28

Yes, I had it in the millennium of 2000, when there was an outbreak of flu. Stupidly, even though I was asthmatic, I didn't go the doctors, as back then they were making a huge deal about MRSA and antibiotic resistance, saying that most chest infections were viral.

So I had what started off as a persistent cough, that developed into coughing up thick green phlegm, then on the four week mark, sudden unbearable severe pain when breathing in. Had to go to A&E, where I was given Pethidine injections for 24 hours (couldn't have Morphine as asthmatic) and IV antibiotics. Pain went away within a day, and I spent a week in hospital by which time the infection cleared up, but I felt quite weak for a while. Also told that my sputum sample showed I had influenza B.

reflecting2023 · 04/02/2024 22:32

It's usually bacterial pneumonia but can be a sign of a clot/ PE

uncomfortablydumb53 · 04/02/2024 22:55

My DM had several bouts of pleurisy
I hope you are made as comfortable as possible very soon
Ask for pain relief if you haven't been given any( they don't routinely mention it much now I find)

OkPedro · 04/02/2024 22:59

Oh this brings back memories. I've had pleurisy just the once but I'll never forget it. I first thought it was a pulled muscle, went to bed that night and woke up unable to catch my breath.. honestly thought I was having a heart attack.

I hope you're feeling better soon op

Ouchmyarse · 04/02/2024 23:08

I had it once. I went to A&E they didn’t do anything. didn’t do a chest X-ray ad they said it would just show inflammation.

I could only say one word at a time on a breath. I felt like I was dying.

A&E Just gave codine and antibiotics.

I had that horrendous paid for 4 weeks. it’s the worst pain I have ever had.

Laying on a hot water bottle on my ribs helped.

Original poster
worriedandfedup24 · 04/02/2024 23:10

I'm home with antibiotics (doxycycline) and codeine for the pain. Chest x ray showed inflammation but the doctor wasn't concerned about pneumonia thankfully.

OP posts:
Nannyamc · 04/02/2024 23:15

Take things very easy and rest. I had pleurisy that ended up as pneumonia..pain was unbearable. Ended up in bed for 4 weeks. Fluids painkillers antibiotics and chicken soup. Mind yourself.

Istheregoldattheendoftherainbow · 04/02/2024 23:24

OP I get pleurisy a lot. If it doesn’t settle definitely see about getting a course of steroids. They definitely help me.

Moier · 04/02/2024 23:33

Yes l had pleurisy and pneumonia 10 years ago though.. l was in hospital for 10 days on steroids..and IV antibiotics took me about 6 weeks to start to feel better.

TeaAndTattoos · 04/02/2024 23:38

I’ve had it twice it was so painful the doctors just gave me painkillers and told me it would go away on its own and it did but every cough, movement and breathing made me hurt so much. I phoned 111 the second time I got it because I thought I had broken a rib they sent me to the out of hours GP and they gave me painkillers and sent me on my way.

Tilllly · 04/02/2024 23:39

I hope you get some sleep and feel better tomorrow

Jingleballs2 · 04/02/2024 23:43

I had it as a teen, horrible doctor.. told me there was nothing I could take and to stop smoking (I was barely breathing never mind smoking)
Certainly no painkillers. I just lay in bed for about a week and it went eventually. It's bloody painful

tulippa · 04/02/2024 23:53

I've had it a couple of times. You won't want to hear this now but it's important to breathe as deeply as you can manage. Very short breaths will encourage whatever's causing it (bacteria, virus or fungal infection) to pool which might turn into pneumonia.
Things that helped me were: sleeping propped up by lots of pillows in a near enough sitting position, alternating co-codamol and ibuprofen every two hours, rest and time. But your doctor will advise you best.
It takes ages to recover from and you'll think you feel better, physically exert yourself and go back to square one again. Your patience will be tested.

MadinMarch · 04/02/2024 23:57

Just to say, check out costochondritis, which is inflammation of the ribs where the cartilage holds to the breastbone. I had it after a long and severe chest infection, and initially Pleurisy was suspected. It was very very painful, but I was somewhat relieved that it wasn't actually to do with my lungs.
I remember feeling every bump in the road when I was being driven to hospital!
I hope you're feeling better soon.

PJsallday123 · 05/02/2024 00:00

Oh gosh awful. Yes had it twice. Hospitalised for a week both times. Also both times had been 2 x out of hours docs and 1 x a&e before anyone took me seriously and gp for the final appointment in 10 days called an ambulance for me, couldn’t walk without being propped up. It escalated quickly. Keep pushing back on gp if you don’t start feeling better it’s so so nasty. Agree with PP sleeping on the side that hurts with your arm underneath you pushing on it helps..no idea as to the medical reason why!!