Pleurisy? Long post

[RebR95]

Hi, new here. 6 weeks ago I went to A&E with severe chest/ left rib pain and vomiting. Without performing an x-ray on me, I was told that it was a spinal disc that was protruding into my rib cage. They said this could have been as a result of giving birth just 9 weeks ago and my posture changing? I was prescribed codeine and Naproxen.

6 weeks later and I think I have been misdiagnosed and the more I research the more I am convinced I have pleurisy.

The severe chest pain is not constant, it happens in what I call ‘attacks.’ I can be lying in bed and the pain can suddenly come on very fast. As soon as the pain starts I feel the urge to vomit and begin to sweat.

I am still taking the medication but once the pain comes I just have to ‘ride it out’ with a hot water bottle. The pain usually comes on suddenly at random times and will last upto 2 hours. The pain is so severe I can’t even speak!

I believe if it was a protruding disc the pain would be constant? Does this sound like pleurisy?

The hospital performed a blood test and ECG, would pleurisy show up on these? They did say the blood test showed a ‘change in liver functioning’ but didn’t seem too concerned?

After giving birth I was also told my blood results had high indicators for infection.. could this have been pleurisy?

[sassy59]

Welcome RebR95, hope things are going as well as possible with being a new mum. Having such awful pain must be terrible though.

Unfortunately, nobody is qualified to diagnose the problem so do contact your doctor and explain how you’re feeling. You need to be looked at again.

Wishing you well. Xxxx

[Caspiana]

It's hard to say RebR95 . I would continue to go back to the hospital to get things looked at. Pluerisy is extremely painful and takes ages to heal. But I remember my pain being more or less constant.

Congratulations on your baby. I hope you feel better very soon. Best wishes. xx 👋😊

[Badbessie]

You need to speak again to your doctor. I have had pleurisy on numerous occasions and yes it can be very painful. However your experiences that you describe do not match my own experiences. Chest pain can have many causes which sadly have similar symptoms. Best advice is to keep going back to your GP until you get answers.

[peege]

Hi, I've had pleurisy a few times and what you describe isn't it. Pleurisy can be heard through a stethoscope as a rasping sound where the pleural membranes are rubbing, usually there's natural lubrication between them so they glide as you breath expanding your lungs. Extremely painful if you breathe deeply or move. Pain is very similar to broken ribs (I've hac those too).4%

Badbessie is right, could have one of several causes so keep pestering the medics.

Congratulations on the arrival of your baby- you certainly don't need pain at this time. Good luck. P