Pleural effusion

[N-A-58]

Hi ladies,

I hope you’re all as well as can be.

I’m wondering what symptoms you had with a pleural effusion.

My mum was diagnosed with HGS OC stage 3A in Jan 19. Finished chemo in July 19 with a ca125 of 13. The number has bounced around as 13,11,10,15,18,17,16. The 16 was done is September 2020.

Her quarterly review is next month but my mum has just come to my house and I’ve noticed she is a little out of breath.

She is fine when sitting and resting, so I’m wondering if breathlessness needs to be a constant thing to count as breathlessness if it’s just when walking up stairs etc.

We are going to monitor it over the weekend and of course ring 111 if it gets any worse.

Any advice or guidance would be appreciated.

Thank you xx

[Mumsie13]

Hi. I am replying to say that if you are at all worried you should of course ring 111 or contact you CNS for some advice. Not all breathlessness is necessarily caused by pleural effusion; far from it. Are there any other symptoms? I am not a doctor so I strongly recommend you get some professional advice rather than drive yourself mad guessing at causes. Incidentally, I get short if breath going upstairs (I am in my last chemo infusion) at the moment. I am pretty sure it is not pleural effusion but just to do with the weakening effects of treatment but that's my story. I am sure someone with more knowledge of pleural effusion symptoms will reply shortly. Meanwhile i send all my best wishes to you and your mum and hope you find some reassurance soon. Jackie

[Lizzieanne]

I thought I had sort of hay fever. I was coughing and out of puff. My daughter was v concerned. Over several weeks it got worse till suddenly i had trouble walking from one room to another and i was a fit 75 year old. Rang 111 beginning lockdown was taken to hospital and kept in. I really feelthis should be checked out. It most probably is just being a bit unfit after treatment and not perhaps being able to be as active with this virus. Can her doctor not listen to her lungs best to be safe. Mine was drained twice and my recurrence diagnosed have had pleurodeses procedure in May. Hope all goes well

[Caleda4]

HiI definitely found it more difficult climbing the stairs,and I also had a slight cough.

I did end up calling the specialist Macmillan nurse, and she arranged for me to be seen quite quickly. They did an x-Ray,which showed it was pleural effusion. My Oncologist arranged for it to be drained before I started chemo.

It was definitely not normal for me to be breathless,as I am generally fit and 75.

I hope that this gets sorted for your mum quickly.

Take care, Caleda

[Di16]

When I had a pleural effusion I got out of breath easily when walking, & when I went into hospital for a minor procedure, had difficulty lying completely flat. But as has already been said, breathlessness is not necessarily caused by pleural effusion, so if you're concerned, get it checked out. Di

[rosebine]

I had a pleural effusion but didnt know it,I had terrible chest pains and thought I was having a heart attack and ended up calling an ambulance ! Wasnt until I saw the oncology consultant with scan results that she told me had fluid in my lungs, it went after chemo.

[N-A-58]

Thank you all for replying. I’ve been out with her today and she doesn’t seem as out of breath or even out of breath.

My mum has put on a lot of weight since the end of chemo. 4st in about a year. There’s no doubt that’s food though.

I’m keeping a very close eye on her. I will let you all know the outcome.

[Eriksendi]

I was breathless all through chemo and for about 6 months afterwards. I had chest X-rays etc and didn’t have a pleural effusion. My haemoglobin was low so my doctor thought that was the problem. This came up on its own in time and the breathlessness has gone. I would definitely get it checked though as others have recommended.

[Lyndy]

The cough... tickly but dry. Yes to shortness of breath but also tightness in the chest and sometimes pain. Ask the GP to get an urgent chest x ray ... it will show up and if PE is present she needs to go in and get drained PDQ. Good luck! XX

[N-A-58]

Hi All. I wanted to update you all. My mum had a chest X-ray and all looked ok. Still breathless at times but thinks it might be the extra weight she is now carrying.

It’s her 3 month appointment next Thursday and I’m completely on edge.

Thank you for replying and giving me your advise.