Has anyone had pleurisy?

tillytop

Just after a bit of advice please because I am wondering if I might have pleurisy.

I have been coughing now for almost 4 months, with intermittent stabbing pains in my left side, ribs and breastbone.

I have recently stopped taking Humira and GP originally said it was just my immune system waking up after being suppressed by the Humira. He prescribed a ventolin inhaler which actually made me cough more.

Cough got much worse and very bad pain in side - thought I had pulled a muscle from coughing. On basis that it might in fact be a long-term chest infection which had been masked by the Humira the doc then prescribed antibiotics and 30mg pred for a week.

Cough got much better and pains improved but neither really went so I think the problem was just being suppressed by the pred, rather than being cured by the antibs.

Currently taking 15mgs pred daily (for RA, not cough) but cough is coming back (funny crackling noise sometimes when I cough) and stabbing pains in side etc when I breathe, move....

Went for a slow walk today for first time in a few days and found myself quite breathless and breathiing really hurt.

Got GP appt tomorrow and plan to ask if I can have a chest x-ray - suspect I will have to plead.....

Any thoughts/experiences would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Tilly x

frogmorton

Hi Tilly

Oh poor you

I had pleurosy years ago once and it was really painful. It hurt so much to breathe that I started taking small breaths.

Had some antibiotics for it which began with a k...was it keflex??

andy way got fixed pretty easily and the doc spotted it straight away. I did have to have achest xray as I remember too.

I do hope whatever it is it gets sorted

Good luck


Love

Toni xx

janie68

Hi Tilly

I have also had pleurisy. You would know if you had it, you can hardly breathe and the pain is terrible. I think you are right to get an X-ray, could it be cracked ribs, low grade infection?

Hope u get sorted
Janie

kerrycc

Hello. I've had it too, long time ago. It was so bad that I couldnt even get my body raised enough off the bed to speak to the doc! Very painful, take care xx

speedalong

Tilly that sounds very unpleasant and painful. Hope the doc can sort it out at appointment tomorrow - it sounds as if it has been going on long enough. Definitely push for that x-ray.

Speedy

tillytop

Thanks all!

Doc's appt is first thing so hopefully he will be a) on time and b) in a good mood!

Ho hum.

Tilly x

skezier

Hi Tilly,

I agree get an xray! The trouble is though its very painful the preds might be masking it and damping it down so its not feeling as painful if that makes sense?

I also think you should check with the doctor cus preds can interfere with the effectiveness of some antibiotics.... you might need a stronger dose or type.

Really hope they will help you and you soon feel much better. love and a ((((( ))))) cris xx

tillytop

Thanks peeps for your replies.

That was my concern Cris - that the pred could be masking what's really going on, cos it's pretty painful even with a reasonable dose of steroids.

Anyway, had chest x-ray this morning - expected a long wait but done quite quickly which was a pleasant surprise. Have to wait 10 days for results to be sent to the GP, which seems a bit long to me - so just hope it's not somethiing that's going to get worse while I am waiting :roll: .

Thanks again,

Love Tilly xx

barbara12

Hi Tilly
You poor thing, I have not had pleurisy myself, but I know someone that has.
They said its was so painful to breath in or out, It was cleared up with strong antibiotic's, I do hope you get to see your gp soon, please dont leave it, maybe a walk in center could help.
Hope you soon feel better.
Love
Barbara xx

trisher

Hi Tilly

I have had it 3 times now and the pain is really bad you don't want to move.
My doctor told me it is fluid in the lungs.

He also said that becasue of the pain you try not to breath too deeply. He explain that the fluid tends to stick to the lungs.

I had strong AB's and it did go. You do need to have the x ray though.

I hope that you get the results and the AB's that you need. I do hope that you feel better soon
Love Trish xxx

dorcas

Hi tilly...


I've not had pleurisy but have also known someone who has......it was murderously painful when he breathed out....so sorry you have this to deal with.

If the pain gets worse then please phone the doc or nhs24 if need be over the weekend. :!: it's not something that should be ignored.

hope you' ve got someone there looking after you :?: take care and let us know how you are?.

lots of love,

Iris x

tillytop

Thanks Barbara, Trish and Iris

Hopefully that's not what I've got! But done everything I can do for now - GP didn't seem particularly worried when I saw him yesterday and he didn't mention pleurisy so fingers crossed (mind you he hasn't been particularly concerned about anything that's been wrong with me so that doesn't say much really!)

But I'm generally much better today so maybe whatever it is is finally sorting itself out.

And, thanks Iris, I do have my lovely hubby looking after me! He is been an absolute rock whilst I have been so poorly over the past year or so and I know how lucky I am to have him. It was our wedding anniversary yesterday and when I thanked him for putting up with me for 23 years he grinned and said "well, it's a blessing - and a curse" (if you've ever watched the detective series "Monk" you will know the way that phrase is supposed to be uttered) which made me laugh a lot not good for the chest but hey ho.

Thanks again - don't know where I'd be without this forum now. Just wish I'd known about it a long time ago!
Lots love

Tilly x

dreamdaisy

Wow! Wedding anniversary and birthday so close together, the second week of July is paaaaarrtaaaay time in the tillytop household! If I've read the thread right you are due to get the Xray results today: do I hope they show something, or nothing? Not sure which is better - pleurisy or just a cough? Rotten choice, but I think I'll opt for the pleurisy 'cos then you can have meds and get better. Let us know the outcome and wishing you well. DD

tillytop

Thanks DD -
Party time indeed - except this year I felt too rotten to even think about partying. Oh well.
Got x-ray results back and all normal (results have, I think, been with the GP for a week now, so obviously they weren't going to tell me- grrrrr) which is a relief in one way, but doesn't answer the questions as to why I have been coughing and in pain. But cough is actually hugely better over past week - still there though but being surpressed nicely by the the pred methinks. So perhaps it was just a long-term infection which is finally clearing now I am off the Humira.
Thanks all for your input to this.
Tilly x

dorcas

Hi Tilly

I'm glad your cough is better but it is hugely frustrating not really knowing what was causing it and being left to make assumptions!

fingers crossed that you are really getting over it now...and that your hubby is still 'looking after you'. his comment after your anniversary made me laugh!...wicked..

love n (((hugs)))

Iris x

dachshund

Yes i had it with bronchitis.
very painfull.
i hope you feel better soon
take care. joan xx