I really hope someone can give me some advice. Before Christmas I came down with a cold which turned into a chest infection. I didnt go to a GP as usually these things clear up. However by Christmas Eve I was starting to feel pretty bad and called the doctor but they were closed so I didn't go. Went on the 27th and was diagonosed with a chest infection and given Amoxicillin. I finished taking these but still felt bad and started to develop a pain under my right breast, almost like a pulled muscle or bruising of the ribs... I asked a doctor and he checked my pulse to rule out a pulmonary embolism???? and said you have pulled a muscle from coughing.... With that I left and carried on taking Ibuprofen which helped ease the pain. The Monday I had a strange incident where my heart was beating really fast and irregular and I felt sweaty, dizzy and couldnt stop shaking. I went home from work and thought about going to the doctors. Plus the pain in my right side was getting worse. I went back to the gp who said I was probably suffering with Pleuritic pain from the infection and he described me more antibiotics.. Amoxiclav...
I still felt bad and he asked me to go back the following Friday to check my blood pressure as it was slightly high.
Finished the Amoxiclav and suddenly felt bad again... nothing I have ever expereienced. Chest Pain, really bad cough, weak sweaty, extremely exhausted...no sense of smell, taste etc... so tired.
I went back again to the gp and broke down in tears as now the middle of January and things seem to be getting worse. He took blood and sent me to the hospital for a chest xray and the blood test he states shows an infection but no blood clot on the lung. The chest xray has also returned clear??? I rarely go the the doctors but he almost made me feel like a hyperchondriac...
He prescribed me more antibiotics but this time Clarithromycin 500mg twice per day.
I was hoping these would have kicked in by now but still feeling terrible and am taking these alongdside extra strength Ibuprofen and paracetamol for the pain in my chest.
I am starting to wonder if I will ever get better. I feel so low and down, I havent left the house for days and just want to sleep as I am feeling so exhausted.
Has anyone suffered from anything similar or know how long it takes to get over this... Its been over a month now and I just cant remember what it feels like to feel normal...
Sorry for the long post...
Hello
First of all in you had two lots of ab's and they did not really work then is it worth having another lot normally if you are on ab,s they would kick in by about the 3-4th day also i would be wary as to why if you chest was clear why is he also presrcribing more for you
not sure if this will be any help or not....but for the last two weeks i have not been feeling well, the first week i had all the symptoms of starting a cold, then on Sunday last i started a cough.
For the first few days i had an excruciating throat then green catarrh and then started cough quite badly often ending in an urge, it also made me feel nauseous.
then on Thursday i started having pain in my jaw, chest and into my back, i thought it was indigestion so would have a mint and a glass of water but realized that this was not curing it, in the evening had some painkillers it took the edge of it, then on Friday it was there most of the day and then slowly got worse to the point i thought that i had or was having a heart or angina attack.
In desperation i rang my husband who was no where near home and so i then rang the doctors and they fit me in at the end of surgery,.....
the result was that she checked me over temp, bp (that is another story) then listened to my chest, i was not wheezy then she poke and prodded my back and asked me if it hurt and i said very much so she then told me that i had got costochonditus and did not need ab's as i have no infection but just to take regular painkillers, so
so could this be what you have got from all the coughing and other symptoms,.
maybe there are others who can comment on it,.
hope this helps 
Thank you for your advice.. That could be a possibility but I don't have pain in
my back but do around the right hand side of my rib cage, almost underneath my right breast.
I'm really not liking these tablets either. They leave a terrible taste in my mouth and are making me feel quite unwell. Also this evening, I have noticed my cheat feeling raspy again and the glands in my neck have enlarged! I wish there was something I could do to feel myself again.
Hope you get better soon! Sounds horrendous but not too dissimilar to the pain I experienced!!
You feeling any better?
I had a strange cold which turned into chest infection on the lower part of the left lung. Was prescribed amoxycillin and an inhaler as I was wheezing too (something I have never done or suffered from). Doc said if I didnt feel any better to go back, was at the nurse 2 days later for a routine check and asked how long I should wait before going back as the Doc thought I might also need a course of steroids. She gave me steroid prescription there and then. Finished all medication on Monday past but was back yesterday as still wheezing and breathless, lower part of lung still crackly. Now on clarithromycin and another 5 days (40mg at once per day) of steroid - prednisolone. Today I feel quite a bit more "me". Still wheezing and a bit breathless but not nearly as bad. I'm back for a checkup next Thursday, so fingers crossed. January has been a poop month so far. Take care.
hello are you any better. I still have loads of catarrh and am still coughing and the pain has come back at myu back and by the shoulder blades. also had a nose bleed today
hope you have got to the bottom of your problem
Hi
My first post on this site. I've been in a very similar situation for 2 weeks now. I've been to docs and gave me amoxicillin but my chest pains are getting worse !!
How are you getting on now ??
Any advice on what can help me..... I'm a 36 yr old male 6ft 1inch and feel like crying !!
Sad to say that I have exactly the same thing. Started in October as a heavy cough and went from there. Had Amoxi and claritho. Now on a steroid pump. Chest has really started hurting at base of trapezius. Was hoping this was persistent coughing but not sure now. Have had some solid mucus in cast form - checkout "plastic bronchitis". Off to the states on Monday and worried I will take a turn for the worst whilst on my trip( business).
Feel like I am getting on top of the cough and mucus. Have had white frothy, green and pink catarh , as well as the solid casts. Had this once before for 2-3 months. Was during my divorce and hence stress related ( consistent with some papers on plastic bronchitis). Two days left of the steroids. Has ruined Xmas party season, Xmas , new year etc through persistent hacking and hence lack of sleep and total exhaustion. Every spare minute I'm not at work , I collapse on the sofa or in bed . I am diabetic hence suppressed immune system really doesn't help. Symptoms are noticeably worse when my sugars are high.
Nightmare. Slightly comforted to know others have the same thing as thought I was on my way!!
Will follow this thread . Can anyone who is further along with this give us poor souls some light at the end of the tunnel please?
Hi,
I hope you are starting to feel a bit better now. I experienced the same thing several years ago and had 6. courses of antibiotics before my chest infection and sinus infection finally cleared up.
Like you I developed pain in my right side under my rib cage and in my shoulder blade which felt a bit like a. pulled muscle, which my doctor advised me is pleurisy where the lining of the pleura becomes inflamed and rubs every time you breathe. It made me feel exhausted and very low, I struggled to breathe doing simple
tasks.
As long as any cause or infection is treated then the only real treatment is painkillers and rest.
I am currently suffering with pleurisy again only this time I have not had any infection, the doctor thinks it was caused by a virus as I have a weakness in my chest.
I have had it now for 3 weeks and still feel pretty exhausted after getting washed and dressed in the morning, like you I haven't really been out for days.
The best advise I have is just rest as much as possible and keep up the painkillers. Movement really seems. to make me worse so although it is frustrating I am doing a lot of sitting around.
Try and stay positive, it will pass eventually.
Hi Caroline. Thanks for your response. The chest is now clear thanks. I do have chronic backache and rib ache still though. Your explanation seems to feel right. The only thing I can liken it too is a partially slipped disc but I haven't done anything to warrant that!
I guess it will pass as you say. I have a ten hour flight Monday, so at least I get to sit still for a while! Take care mark.
Hi!!
I hadn't realised I had so many replies to this post until today!!
I am much better now and thankfully have had no reoccurance of that episode last year!!
It turned out eventually that I had pneumonia which caused pleurisy and it was around 3 months before I felt back to normal health.
My father has just been admitted to hospital with fatal IPF (ideopathic pulmonary fibrosis) hardening of the lungs. He used to be a heavy smoker but gave up 20 years ago!! There is nothing they can do for him other than try to help his symptoms via warm oxygen and IV steriods. This doesn't appear to be helping as yet but the prognosis doesn't look too good and he's only 64!!
I'm not sure if anyone knows anything or anyone that has this disease but would appreciate any advice!!
Thanks again for your advice
What lead me to this site today was an attempt to find some information and relief from this terrible virus which apart from the fever which has now lowered, shows no signs of improvement whatsoever.
The pain in the back & lungs became so severe that at one point i was coughing up blood and my fever rose to 103.
The phlegm almost choked me and sleep became impossible. The noise and wheezing from my chest is so loud and no amount of coughing can clear it. I feel like I am being smothered. The doctor gave me a five day course of A/B. They didnt touch it at all. I'm now on my second course. Clarithromycin. but even those have had little effect. My skin also feels sunburnt and I am totally and utterly exhausted now. Today, even raising my head or arms became an effort. Absolutely every joint hurts. The cough is crippling me and I dont even have the strength to get from one room to another.
Personally, I believe this is either a superbug, or a form of viral pneumonia. Over the years I have colds and flu, but absolutely nothing like this has ever had such a debilitating effect and I;'m a 6'3 male. This is absolutely horrendous.
I would be interested to know if anyone has any thoughts as to where they may have contracted this. I believe I caught it after a visit to my local hospital. Before then, I never had any sign of anything like this, but nothing I do or take seems to improve it.
hello xantal, you really need the ambulance, if you've been coughing up blood, you cant carry on like that, they will be able to help you over the phone as they ask you questions while the paramedics come out to you. im a 36 year old female, had the flu like 10 times worse symptoms for just over 2 weeks now, I had to go to the docs yesterday, couldn't take anymore ( actually the doc coudnt get out to see me so he paid for a taxi for me there and back, as he didn't like the sound of my symptoms, he said be ready in half an hour) scared me a little with him saying that. he checked me over and said I am on the verge of pneumonia and e gave me amoxocilin 500g, I don't know whether my chest is getting worse or its the tablets but is quiet scary, my chest is so tight, hot, and have a job breathing, I am going to ring the pharmacy when they open, I thought I would see an improvement with tablets, not get worse. I feel so bad as ive got a 14 year old and an 11 year old and cant do a deal for them, feel terrible, my youngest started with it last week, but hes just got a cough now, hope he dosnt get worse. ive never had anything like this. its a new kind a thing im sure of it, I wouldn't wish it on anyone, keep warm everyone who has this, my thoughts are with you all. let us know how you get on xantal
It seems I have the same symptoms as you. I have also been I'll since before Christmas. Three lots of anti bionics and a chest X-ray. The cough is still horrendous and now the area under my ribs on the right side is very painful. The X-ray showed my lungs are now clear but my heart is enlarged. No idea what that means, ECG on Monday. To be honest it is a comfort to know that I am not the only one suffering from this 'virus' just wish it would go now, 7 weeks is just too long.
Finally I'm over it. The bad back turned out to be a partially slipped disc in the upper back from so much coughing - to be honest as painful as it is , a mechanical injury is way better than serious infection so I'm happy with that. So in all that was 3 months start to finish of the chest infection. Still exhausted, especially with jetlag on top but I'm smiling again. Hang in there. Steam and menthol inhalation. Double antibiotics and a steroid inhaler to clear. Forget the cough mixture - just makes you feel worse. Manuka +15 honey helped fight the infection too. Best of luck and wishing you well xx
I agree with Xantal that there is a superbug doing the rounds at the moment. The number of people I speak to who have had something like this for 4-6 weks plus is incredible, I've been struggling for about 5 weeks now, think I'm getting somewhere and it bites back. Started with a cold, then chest infection which floored me and knocked my peak flow form 560 to 300. Doc started me on a relief inhaler, then Prednisolone a week later, Amoxicillin followed and another course of prednisolone. It eased a bit after some nasty thick green spaghetti like mucus (apologies for anyone eating!) made an appearance then came back. Had an Xray that appears to be ok and just finished a weeks course of Clarithromycin and another short burst of Pred again. Think I am coming down with a bloody cold again now probably due to the steroids weakening my immune system. I am better than I was when it first started but just soooooo sick of coughing, breathlessness and feeling unwell. I'm rattling with all the vitamins I'm taking, feel partly related to bees as I've had that much money and feel like I should be declared an asset on the balance sheet to Kleenex!!
It helps to talk about this horrible stuff so thanks for the forum, hope you are all getting there in your recovery. Keep the faith ad fingers crossed. John.xx
There seems to be something going around I started out with a cold at the end of january and still have a
chest infection _ I have had a week of amoxicillin which worked a bit but have been back to GP and am on Clarithromycin so really hope this works - I am tired of coughing and waking up at night coughing or feeling hot and sweaty.
I know they are trying not to over use antibiotics here now, but when I have been abroad many countries sell them over the counter which I don't think is helping maintain their integrity as a medication.
Thankfully we have antibiotics still that work. And hope all of you and myself will be better soon! Jane
Hi, I am male 43, 6ft 1in, Triathlete. I became ill on Jan 9th 2014, It started with flu like symtoms, I worked until the Thursday and came home, By the weekend it had gone to my chest. I went to the docs, Confirmed chest infection, given amoxocylin and week off, Week of coughing and feeling sicker than I have ever felt in my life, Back to Docs at end of that week, Given two more anti biotics and a steroid, by the end of that week I was feeling a little better but still coughing. Went back to work Monday 10th Feb, 6am start, by 8.30am i could not breathe, colleagues started to arrive, their reaction said it all, " i will run you to the hospital right now, don't speak" Went to Docs at 10am, given an Inhaler sent to Hospital at 10.30am Chest xray ( should get results tomorrow 24/02/2014) Full bloods done aswell. 14th Feb phoned Docs hoping results would be back early! Told bloods showed up abnormal, they could hear me struggling to breathe over the phone and asked me to get there in 1 hour. Bloods turned out to be ok. Chest x ray not back. Pain in all around ribs back and front, told was pulled muscles from coughing.
Have been coughing up mucus casts ( friends have seen the pictures that I have taken to show the docs, they have said they will get Sigourney Weaver on standby) The mucus looks like I have been invaded by aliens. Now 23rd Feb, still feel ill and still coughing up casts. Docs tomorrow at 4pm!
P.S Oh the one doc I saw told me 3 weeks ago my chest is clear and I will feel fine by the Monday!!!!!
Have been using honey, lemon, ginger teas, steam, hot baths.
Hi,
I have exactly the same symptoms at Giuila, was starting to think I was the only one.
I was taken into hospital in Nov with pneumonia and tachycardia which was treated.
I have now had these symptoms back for the past 8 weeks but with an added pain under my right breast.
I am on my 3rd lot of different antibiotics and steroids but I am so fed up of feeling ill, breathless and constant coughing.
The doctors seem to be fobbing me off with antibiotics and make me feel like a hypercondriact.
It is comforting to know some of you are feeling better - hopefully there is light at the end of the tunnel for me.
Xray results in, chest clear, sputum samples normal??!!? So why? I asked the doc. Am I coughing up mucus casts and feeling so ill, pain in the chest. He doesn't seem to know! Has now put me on Doxycycline and another inhaler. Signed me off work for 2 more weeks :-(
This is now week 7............