Pleurisy, recovery time?

[MrsNutkin]

Been feeling ill for a few weeks now, got diagnosed with a chest infection and then pleurisy. Has anyone else had this and how long, in general, does it take to recover from it?

I'm just feeling a bit fed up, in pain and so breathless, have 3 DC's and feel guilty as I just don't have the energy to do anything with them. Just want to get back to normal!

Hi MrsNutkin, I've also just been diagnosed with pleurisy after having suffered with a chest infection for a couple of weeks. I don't know about the recovery time but just wanted to let you know that you're not alone and I sympathise with you as this is soooo painful! I'm 11 weeks pregnant so can't take any anti-inflammatories for the pain unfortunately. Can I ask if you've been prescribed anything for it? I was put on amoxicillin last week but they didn't shift the chest infection so have now been prescribed Klaricid (not sure if it's safe to take in pregnancy though)? From a bit of internet research, I think recovery time varies from person to person. Some people seem to recover after 10 days and others take months! Let's hope we're in the 10 day camp! Take care and try to get as much help with the kids as possible. One of my NCT friends has taken my DS for the day and is having him overnight - she is a true lifesaver!

Hi, thanks for replying. Poor you, hard enough being pregnant&looking aftr another DC without having that on top! Hope you are right and it's the 10 day recovery time. Couldn't bear it for months on end, saying that I have been getting recurrent chest infections since having DS2 last year.

I was on Amoxicillin, just finished the course. I go back to the GP on Mon and think I'll ask about getting something for the pain.
I was also prescribed a steroid inhaler, have just had the dosage of that increased. Hopefully it will do something sooner rather than later.

I've been signed off work for now&fortunate to have good support from family&friends, to help with the children.

Hope you feel better soon&forgot to say congrats on your pregnancy

Sorry, this is probably not what you want to hear but it took me quite a few months before I felt back to normal.

I was very tired for a long time after and my immunity was shot to pieces, caught every cold going off the dc, thanks to what I'm sure was the numerous courses of antibiotics that wiped out all the good bacteria too. The tenderness and pain lasted for quite some time, although not at the same intensity at the height of the infection and having never needed an inhaler before, several months after I was still having to rely on it.

I know it's hard with young dc but try and rest as much as possible, listen to your body, it's had a hard time! Healthy diet and multi-vitamin and lots of fluid.

Hope you both feel better soon.

Blimey, that's not good, hope you are ok now?
I haven't been right for ages, then just seemed to hit a wall, the tiredness is awful and the constant pain&breathlessness were a worry! It was a relief after a chest xray and numerous blood tests to find out what was actually wrong!

I am already on the multivitamins, able to rest on the days when kids at grandparents, they look after them when I work&still willing to do so even though I'm off just now. Dh will have to do everything at the weekend as I think I will stay in bed!

Thanks for the advice.

Great that you have he support of friends and family, makes such a difference! I'm planning to do nothing but stay in bed at the weekend too, in the hope that a block of rest will improve things. I've heard of other people having an inhaler to help with the symptoms but I suppose as I'm pregnant, it might not be suitable. Thanks for your advice Howdoidelete, I'm pleased you're back to normal now. Gives me hope!

I'm 4 weeks down the line with pleurisy and still having problems :-(

Sorry to hear that Groovee, are you on antibiotics at the moment?

Can I just ask what you all did about work? I'm starting to worry, I'm signed off this week and next, hopefully will be ok by then, but still feeling pretty awful&can't see it. I wouldn't manage work as the slightest wee thing is such an effort!

Have had the antibiotics and chest is better but the pain is still there. Been off work for 4 weeks :-( But I'm a nursery nurse so if my immune system is low then I'll just end up ill again x

That's a shame Groovee, the pain is horrible, i'm finding it gets worse as the day goes on and feel exhausted by teatime!
I'm a teacher so the same situation, so many germs at this time of year. I just feel so guilty being off but I really don't think I could manage

Hope you feel better soon Groovee&YellowBananas.