They say I have Pleurisy

Chest and lungs
1

I woke up in early January with sharp chest pains. I'm young, but of course I did not discount heart ailments. Two ER trips and a Doctor later, after every medical test to my poor body, I have been diagnosed with pleurisy.

I have kids, they are great and understanding and have helped me a lot, but it's been almost 14 weeks. I hurt. This came from nothing, I am extraordinarily healthy, I just hurt...

Today I suppose I'm at my wits end. I am terribly healthy, I should not have this. I have been crying all day.

2

this is a.type of disease.that can also be triggered by stress and taxes your immune system.  I still have some residual pain when I cough very hard or am very tired.  Get as much rest as feasible and have your veggies and vitamins and little by little it will go away.  Also, you need pain medicines when you are in severe pain.  Some find relief with heat applied to the acfected areas

3

I meant affected areas.

4

Heat doesn't work for me, but I am drawn to cold.  It's just so frustrating

5

It is very frustrating.  I also think doctors find it hard to treat because what works for one doesn't necessarily work for the other.  Have they given you any medicines? Or have they advised you to take Ibuprofen?

6

Yes, I'm taking vicodin, 800 ibuprofen, I did have a steroidal inhaler and now I'm using albuterol.  I also take prilosec due to the pills, and benadryl at night to help me sleep.  Oh, and sometimes a piece of cyclobenzaprene tablet at night because I am always so tensed up from the pain that I get kinked muscles.

I rest a lot, there really isn't anything I could do anyway as it hurts so much.  And I make green juices most mornings and eat a mainly raw and pescotarian diet.  I'm pretty healthy, this is one of the rare cases that did not stem from any injury or illness, it just appeared.

The worst thing I have found is people get irritated that I have had this for so long.  They dont understand because it does not have a cause...  I suppose that would make it difficult, but I am one of those people that always listens and offers my shoulder...  Now, when I need it, the shoulders are elsewhere...

7

It sounds like you are doing everything there is to do so just know it will get better in time.   Try to avoid overdoing it on the days you feel good which can then make it flare-up again.  Hope you have a full recovery soon. 

8

I am totally guilty of that!  On my ok days I try to get everything done that I've been neglecting, then suffer for the next three days! 

Thank you for talking with me, I really appreciate it.  And I hope you have a complete recovery soon as well. 

9

No problem!

10

It does seem to take an extraordinarily long time to get over. Rest seems to be the key factor to help it heal up. I can sympathize since I got sick Dec. 3rd and was really out of commission for four months. I still have an uncomfortable sensation in that area but can now breathe without pain and my energy level is just about back to normal.  Hang in there. It does go away, apparently, with proper rest and treatment.  Did the Dr. give you something adequate for the pain and any possible infection? I would insist, if he hasn't. 

11

This week the doctors now say I have costochondritis. They think. It's frustrating as they do not know. Either way the treatment is the same, rest and pain management. I have a narcotic pain reliever and 800 mg ibuprofen. It only dulls out a little but it's better than nothing. I've been tested and do not have an infection.

Costo is basically almost the same thing pleurisy, but lasts longer. There have been cases of it lasting 30 years.

I'm consulting alternative therapies. I try but rest is difficult when you have three boys wink

12

Update

Next month (January) will be my one year anniversary with pleurisy.  I'm now on morphine, and at least with that I've been able to begin working again.

Been to every specialist, changed primary care doctors...

It seems like they all just want to keep me on drugs as opposed to fixing the situation.

I've read that costo had lasted thirty years in patients, but the doctors swear I have pleurisy- makes me wonder if that isn't a loose term to say I Don't Know What You Have Sui Herr, Take These Pills And see Me In A Month...

So so SO sick of the pain and frustration. This stupid condition is trying to break me of my sanity.

13

I know this is an old post. But I'm hoping this will sry the very least help someone out there. I've pretty much given up on help for myself.

I still have the pleurisy. Or costochondritis. Depends on the doctor and day I suppose. I was switched from morpheine to dilaudid six months ago, and I'm very grateful for that. The morphine created a nasty feel in me, I suppose some would call it a 'high', but it was just gross, for lack of a better word. It helped the pain better than the m, but left me feeling like sh*te, lol. The dilaudid take away a bit more pain, and I can function almost normally without the disgusting feeling from the other pills.

Soon after the doctors switched my meds and I was feeling better, I tackled many chores I'd been neglecting. I came across my original ER discharge papers. The er docs clearly wrote that my pcp needed to start me on antibiotics and anti vials, or my condition could become permanent. They also sent her the same paperwork.

That was early 2013. I fought with her, trying to get the medications the er docs had insisted on. She refused, staying her colleagues did not believe this could be treated that way.

If you are reading this, and have Costo or Pleurisy, please immediately insist on antibiotics and anti virals. Find a doctor who WILL treat you-not just bandage the broken leg. My current pain doctor agrees that my (then, since replaced) pcp should have began treatment immediately- it's stated that way in the Medical Manual.

And no, former pcp didn't not give me the meds because of a health concern- I had every test known to the medical community and I'm terribly healthy, besides the excruciating pain and anemia in the winter, and not allergic to anything.

She has since been brought up to the medical board three times in fourteen months with cases unrelated to mine.

I used to hike, backpack, work, play around with my boys, drive, carry more than seven pounds, climb a flight of stairs without stopping, and so much more. Now, I'm lucky to leave my house. This pain is sometimes unbearable. And terribly saddening. And isolating.

And to think, it could possibly have been healed if a doctor would have done the right thing.

14

I was wondering if you had a CT Chest Scan? and if so did it show any inflammation or thickening in the Pleural? 

I have this same problem and I am starting to get worried. It's been going on for 3 weeks now. 

I went to the ER for chest pain, all was normal but my CT chest scan showed Mild Pleural Thickening. The doctors said my pain maybe from costochondritis but I asked why do I have Mild Pleural Thickening and they could not tell me why.

I had to figure it all out myself. I went to a Pulmonologists and he couldn’t tell me much either. All he wanted to do was watch and repeat another scan in 6 months. He told me to take inflammatory medicine for the pain. I am assuming what I have is Pleurisy from a virus I had 3 weeks ago.

I read if the inflammation does not go down it could cause permanent pleural scarring. 

When I breath I have a raw burning sensation with pain and it gets worse when I am active but calms when I take inflammatories and rest. My back shoulder also hurts with this problem. This is really getting scary. Just when I think I am getting better it comes back with activity.

The doctors have not prescribe me anything but I read this could be from bacteria, fungus or virus and medication must be giving to rule out infection.

Thank you for your information, I am going to call my doctor and ask him about this.

For now I going to load up on Vitamin C and see if I can knock this virus/infection out of my lungs.

I hope you feel better.

15

Ct scan, yes. No thickening, only inflamed.

Keep at your doctor's. Get this taken care of NOW. If they won't help, find another. You don't want to end up with this permanently sad

16

It is scary. This causes anxiety in everyone who has it. Try to take it easy, I know it's hard when you've had it for awhile but you must. I tend to over compensate on my good days, try to rush and get everything done I had neglected, but then I end up something worse for days after, lol

17

I do have anxiety and stress from it. I tried a long relaxing bath to see if that would help but for some reason it only made me feel worse. I also get this annoying painful throb in my chest.

I can't wear a bra for long because it makes my chest feel more uncomfortable. I pretty much just stay home and my husband has been doing everything. Out of all the times I have been sick in my life I have never felt anything like this in my chest.

18

Same here. Heat makes mine way worse, so no more baths.

I've had to switch from regular bras to the hanes comfort sports bra.

I totally know exactly how you feel. I rarely leave the house. My boys have learned to do so much in the last two years.

Is it your right or left shoulder? And do you get kinks in your upper back/neck, and/or numbness in your arm?

19

All the pain is mainly in my right lung and back shoulder but radiates to the center. My right arm does go numb and feels tingling when the pain flares.

My neck and back hurt too but I am not sure if that's from stress or the virus aches and pains. 

20

I know this was a year ago. I have just been diagnosed today.

How long was your pleurisy. I'm kind of frightened. I was basically healthy.

Thanks for your help, Mark