I had a cough for nearly four weeks, after which it suddenly got more painful. After one cough I collapsed on the floor and after that the pain was so bad I couldn't even push bowel movements (sorry to anyone who thinks that was one detail too many). I hobbled to my GP, who diagnosed pleurisy and gave me antibiotics and painkillers (codeine).
This seemed to help. Things were definitely improving after 3 or 4 days. A week later, I was feeling fine. The cough had stopped too. There was, however, a slight pain on coughing (and not-so-slight pain on sneezing) that did not go away.
That was three weeks ago. For the last 3 or 4 days, discomfort has been returning. It's not nearly as bad as it was, and is now mostly on the lower left side of my chest. I don't think it's bad enough to bother my GP with yet. Has anyone else had a similar experience? What happened next?
Less than half an hour after sending that message, I coughed and felt much increased pain. Every breath is now uncomfortable.
No more procrastination: I'm off to my GP as soon as I can.
Hi I've been exactly the same I started with a really bad cough nearly 4 weeks ago I eventually went to the doctors and ended up with antibiotics, just as the cough was easing I got a pain in my right ribs the nurse thought I'd pulled a muscle there and sent me for an xray to put my mind at rest and sent my bloods off. All came back fine but 3 days ago the pain moved into my left side and it's really painful especially when I cough and I keep losing my breath with it, went back to the docs and she's given me steroids saying this will sort me out but 3 days later theres no change at all and I'm begining to get worried. I've been off work almost 4 weeks now and just want to get better!
Hi jayneynic
Thanks for your message. Sorry to hear about your problems. Our situations sound very similar.
Does anyone else recognise this pattern of symptoms?
After posting my last message, I went to see a GP. It wasn't the one I had seen before. He listened to my chest and didn't hear anything suggesting infection, and his diagnosis was a musculo-skeletal problem. I was surprised, since it seemed similar to the previous pain, even though I wasn't coughing this time, and when I've pulled muscles before, the pain started at full strength immediately, whereas this had increased over about 3 days.
I've been taking painkillers and the pain has eased steadily.
jayneynic, could you tell me what the diagnosis was when you were given steroids?