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

[worriedandfedup24]

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.

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.

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.

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

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

@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.

Get some laxido

It's vile but it works

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

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.

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

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.

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.

@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.

@justdoit45

Oh gosh, this thread brought back memories! The worst illness I've ever had - the pain was unbearable, like being stabbed through the rest repeatedly 😫 I think it took around 2 weeks after starting on the ABs to feel properly better, and even then it was an aching pain in my chest rather than a sharp stabbing every time I coughed. The cough lingered for a while.
Get antibiotics if you can - doxycycline massively helped me. Hope you feel better soon, it's truly hideous! X

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