Can anyone tell me about pleurisy (pleuritis)?

[Mellie2162]

I had surgery getting close to 2 weeks ago now. On Thursday I developed back pain that gradually got worse. It became painful all the way around my body like a band and it hurt to take a deep breath. I went to the ER last night and they told me I had back pain/pleurisy. They gave me pain meds and said to wait it out or come back if it got worse.

Have any of you had this? How long do you have to wait it out? Im absolutely miserable and cant work. This morning I woke up and I have a "kink" in my left side. It still hurts to breathe in and now Im coughing more. Is this going to get worse before it gets better?

 

[NMAmy]

I would either go back to the ER today or to your primary care doctor tomorrow morning. It sounds like it got worse and they told you to come back if it got worse, correct?

I've had pleurisy twice and both times was prescribed cough syrup with codeine. My primary care doctor told me that to heal, I needed to stop coughing.

I'm sorry you're going through this--I know that you feel terrible. Pleurisy feels as if you're having a heart attack.

Hope you're feeling better soon.

 

[Mellie2162]

I plan on seeing my PCP tomorrow. It sounded like the ER doc was grasping at straws last night.

 

[Kae]

Had it this last fall. I used the Delsym cough syrup & tylenol drank lots of water & got lots of sleep.

Kae

 

[Mellie2162]

Well thanks for the advice. Im heading back to the ER. Coughing isnt too bad just once in a while but my side and chest is hurting so bad and I cant catch my breath. Im lightheaded and can hardly move around.

 

[NotUrsula]

Pleurisy is inflammation of the membranes surrounding the lungs. It makes them swell up and scrape against the ribs every time you try to breathe. (There is a characteristic sound associated with it; like a creaking saddle; the sound of leather surfaces rubbing against one another.)

I've had it twice, and both times was given codeine syrup for the cough, and a small dose of prednisone to help get the swelling down. The pain lessened a lot once I took the prednisone, and I was able to go back to work after two days on it. I think I was sick for about a week both times.