Has anyone had pleurisy and how long did it last?

Hello there

I had plural effusion on my lungs which caused painful bereathing/ struggle to take full breaths. My Rheumy put me on 40mg predisolone for a while till it settled. I have to deliver some bad news here, the pain lingered for almost a month! I even went to the dr about it again to be told that my chest was fine, in fact the effusion looked even better (x-ray).

The reason I was given for this is as the liquid drains from the lining of your lungs it can cause more pain/ discomfort than when the effusion was there! though if it gets too much for you to bear see a doctor or talk to your rheumy to advise you. You may find out it's getting better but increased pain may mean it's getting worse- A good way to tell is how breathless you are feeling.

Hope you feel better soon! X

Yes I have had pleurisy, twice, and it is absolutely miserable, and can take up to 2 weeks for you to start feeling better, this was certainly the case for me. With your having had pneumonia, your lungs have taken quite a beating, inflammatory wise, this does take time to heal. I hope you feel better soon.

Hi Iona467😊🌸🌿🦋

I have been having periodic pleurisy spells since my 20s and I’m now 67.

It usually lasts 2-3 weeks for me and I’m not treated for it.

Yes it is very painful. Yours is most likely complicated by your pneumonia. I’m so sorry that you’re suffering. I hope it resolves quickly. Best wishes.

😊🌸🌿🦋 🤗💕😘

I get this several time a year. I used to get antibiotics but it is generally thought to be inflammation rather than infection so now we hit it hard with prednisolone at the first sign.

My last bout took about 5 weeks to go. I hope you soon feel better xx

I used to get Pleurisy often. Now I've been on aza for 18 months its much better. For me it was due to inflammation rather than infection and a short dose of pred always did the trick, it was the only thing that would help.

It's a case of finding out the cause... generally it's infection, but for us auto immune folk it's inflammation therefore steroids not antibiotics.

Am vvvvvv much feeling for you, Iona...and just want to send you a hug + say how grateful i am to you for this discussion: i’ve been here in this wonderful forum almost daily for 7 years, and this is one of the best pleurisy threads i’ve noticed! Keep strong, stay close to your GP especially if symptoms don’t settle down within the next few days...when my husband had pleurisy after major crohns bowel resection surgery his GP gave him morphine for the pain! this is how i learned that cases of pleurisy need to be treated on an individual basis. For what it’s worth, my pleurisy lasted at least 2 weeks and needed doubled dose of antibiotics...my husband’s pleurisy cleared up in just over a week without antibiotics at all (just his usual prednisolone + morphine)

😘🍀😘🍀 coco

Hi Lona, I have Pleurisy at the moment too so feel for you 😔 It's the third time I've had it in the last 6weeks and the sixth time I've had it this year!! My dr normally gives me antibiotics to start which doesn't seem to work so I gently nudge her in the direction of steroids and this normally works after a 5day treatment but I still

get some pain for a few days after and then it returns properly again. It's like the gift that keeps on giving 😂 I don't know if there's anything more that can be done to help it, I'm in a position where I'm not officially diagnosed but am receiving help with taking Hydroxy for symptoms so don't have a specialised nurse to call for advise. My GP doesn't seem to worry about it so maybe it's just me that's worrying too much about it and the longer term affects that it may be having on my lungs if any?

Well wishes, rest up and lots of TLC 🌸