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Original poster

Help me

67 replies

anonymousxo · 22/08/2021 17:38

So I was diagnosed with a viral infection 4 weeks ago and was bed bound for about two weeks and went to the doctor about 3/4 times during that time saying I'm not getting better and they kept saying it's a virus, anyway I call again and they sent me to a&e because I developed sharp stabbing pains in my chest and upper back, a&e does bloods and vitals which are normal and chest x ray which showed a chest infection (I didn't have any typical symptoms of a chest infection at this point just really bad pain) they sent me away with anti biotics which are due to finish tomorrow and I ended up in a&e again two days ago because I wasn't improving and got worse with debilitating pain that made me cry it hurts that bad, I was admitted to the ward because on arrival I had low oxygen which went up as quick as it went down so no concerns there, they hooked me up to a heart monitor and checked my bloods and vitals, all normal but refused to do another x ray as they said my symptoms resemble costochondritis.
Now I know this isn't costochondritis because I have done my research and from what I've read, the pain is not always there. I've also read ibuprofen is usually enough, no painkillers have helped with this pain it's debilitating!
They gave me naproxen which hasn't helped either and I'm at wits end with what to do, I've called so many times and nothing has been done and the pain is truly a 10/10 it is SO PAINFUL please has anyone ever experienced this? What should I do?
The pain is constantly there in my upper back and spine, I keep getting sharp stabbing pains in my chest every now and again during the day and I don't know what's causing it :(

OP posts:
BrowneyedGirl2 · 22/08/2021 17:49

Have you had an ecg?

StrongArm · 22/08/2021 18:05

Are you coughing stuff up? You might need different antibiotics if the infection is still there

Have you ever had pleurisy? That's terribly painful

Original poster
anonymousxo · 22/08/2021 18:21

Yes I have had multiple ecgs recently & I'm not coughing at all! That's the weird thing about it, when i had my virus initially I had a terrible flemmy cough but I wasn't coughing anything up, now when I had the x ray it was a chest infection all I had was terrible pain! :(

OP posts:
LavenderPink · 22/08/2021 18:23

If you're not better after the antibiotics I'd ring the GP again.

Cocolapew · 22/08/2021 18:24

I get costochondritis and I'm in agony with it most of the time, it doesn't come and go with me.
Have they checked you for pleurisy?

Original poster
anonymousxo · 22/08/2021 18:26

Well I had the x ray last week and it was confirmed chest infection that's all they said to me, he really made it out like it was mild but when I saw the x ray it didn't look that mild to me, half of the left side was a black mark.
He didn't tell me whether it was anything else just said chest infection gave me anti biotics and sent me on my way

OP posts:
Original poster
anonymousxo · 22/08/2021 18:36

@Cocolapew

I get costochondritis and I'm in agony with it most of the time, it doesn't come and go with me. Have they checked you for pleurisy?
I had a chest x ray which was confirmed as a chest infection but that's it
OP posts:
Original poster
anonymousxo · 22/08/2021 18:38

@StrongArm

Are you coughing stuff up? You might need different antibiotics if the infection is still there

Have you ever had pleurisy? That's terribly painful

Just getting to use this app I didn't realise I had to quote, I'm not coughing at all, I was in the beginning with the virus but not anymore, chest x ray showed chest infection but they're refused to do an x ray a few days ago as they were convinced it was costochondritis
OP posts:
Original poster
anonymousxo · 22/08/2021 18:39

@BrowneyedGirl2

Have you had an ecg?
Yes I have had multiple recently, all been fine however when I had the viral infection in the beginning 4 weeks ago I had a fast heart rate on ecg but they put that down to a fever
OP posts:
CorrBlimeyGG · 22/08/2021 18:42

You've also had bloods. These would normally look for signs of inflammation and more serious infection. Do you know what tests were done?

What are your concerns now?

I'm not doubting that you're in pain, but is it really a 10? If your presentation doesn't match what you say, that can make HCPs take you less seriously. Someone describing their pain as a 10, the worst pain you can imagine, is unlikely to be able to focus to be researching and posting online.

Original poster
anonymousxo · 22/08/2021 18:46

@CorrBlimeyGG

You've also had bloods. These would normally look for signs of inflammation and more serious infection. Do you know what tests were done?

What are your concerns now?

I'm not doubting that you're in pain, but is it really a 10? If your presentation doesn't match what you say, that can make HCPs take you less seriously. Someone describing their pain as a 10, the worst pain you can imagine, is unlikely to be able to focus to be researching and posting online.

All my bloods were fine, the pain is unbearable. The reason why I'm writing on here is because I'm lost with what to do, if you read what I said I had an awful virus which then obviously turned into a chest infection (proven on x ray) when I had bloods they were normal, but my x ray wasn't so what you are saying about bloods being normal doesn't make sense because why was my x ray showing a black mark on my left lung (chest infection) the pain is unbearable and when I say 10/10 I mean 10/10.
OP posts:
BrowneyedGirl2 · 22/08/2021 18:49

Costicondritis wouldn't show on an x-ray and is diagnosed when everything else has been ruled out. Is your chest painful to touch?

Cocolapew · 22/08/2021 18:51

Whereabouts is the pain in your chest?

Original poster
anonymousxo · 22/08/2021 18:51

@BrowneyedGirl2

Costicondritis wouldn't show on an x-ray and is diagnosed when everything else has been ruled out. Is your chest painful to touch?
When the pain is there, it's very sore to touch but when the pain is not as bad throughout the day I don't feel it on touch however I've asked my partner to run where it hurts, it gives a slight relief?? (it radiates throughout the day)
OP posts:
CorrBlimeyGG · 22/08/2021 18:52

If your pain is 10/10 unbearable then you should go to A&E. Is there someone that can take you there?

Original poster
anonymousxo · 22/08/2021 18:53

@Cocolapew

Whereabouts is the pain in your chest?
The centre and rib aching/pain...been getting stabbing pains on and off throughout the day but right now it's all in my upper back and spine and feels like a strong muscular pain, very painful
OP posts:
Original poster
anonymousxo · 22/08/2021 18:54

@CorrBlimeyGG

If your pain is 10/10 unbearable then you should go to A&E. Is there someone that can take you there?
I went to a&e two days ago when they diagnosed costochondritis I was crying in pain they saw me crying and told me costochondritis can be severe but they told me naproxen should help, it isn't :(
OP posts:
Cocolapew · 22/08/2021 18:56

A few months ago I had pleurisy and costochondritis and then developed a plumonary embolism, the pain from the costochondritis was unreal, I thought I was having a heart attack.

Cocolapew · 22/08/2021 18:58

Xpost, the pain you describe sounds like costochondritis to me. Wet heat should help, I usually get codeine when I have it.

Losttheequipment · 22/08/2021 18:59

The black bit on the left hand side of a chest X-ray is your heart Grin

Original poster
anonymousxo · 22/08/2021 18:59

@Cocolapew

A few months ago I had pleurisy and costochondritis and then developed a plumonary embolism, the pain from the costochondritis was unreal, I thought I was having a heart attack.
Did you get upper back spinal pain aswell? :(
OP posts:
Original poster
anonymousxo · 22/08/2021 19:00

@Losttheequipment

The black bit on the left hand side of a chest X-ray is your heart Grin
They showed me, it was in the left lung, like a black mark on it
OP posts:
LavenderPink · 22/08/2021 19:00

Have 111 called you back yet?

LavenderPink · 22/08/2021 19:01

Or have you called them?

Cocolapew · 22/08/2021 19:01

Yes, I get shoulder pain and pain between my shoulder blades and slightly higher up.