Pleurisy

Question: Can Pleurisy go away by just taking 3 aspirin a day for a couple of days? Im a 20yr old female in wisconsin, usa, i was told this by a nurse not a doctor have i been misinformed? will this really cure the Pleurisy?

Answer: No. Pleurisy is an inflammation of the membrane that covers the lining of the lungs and lines the chest cavity. It reduces friction between the chest cavity and lungs. Inflammation causes breathing to become painful and sometimes difficult. It usually occurs as a result of a respiratory tract infection like pneumonia, viral infections and TB. Some gastrointestional problems can cause pleurisy also. You need antibiotics to clear the infection and anti-inflammatories for inflammation. Pain pills will help the pain. Cortisone drugs are very effective for inflammation and pain. This will not go away with only aspirin you need the other meds I mentioned. You had better go see a Dr. because if you get this infection around the membrane that surrounds your heart (i had it there once) you will have more problems than you bargained for. See a Dr. ASAP.

Question: What type of steroid is often used to treat pleurisy? A few years ago I was diagnosed with pleurisy and given a steroid to help cure it. I had to be weened off the steroid and it made me REALLY moody. I'm haing a brain fart and can't remember the name of the steroid that was used to help, and it's driving me crazy. Anyone know the drug I'm talking about?

Answer: prednisone, methylprednisone, cortisone, depends how long you took the med for moodiness, usually occurs with longer treatment course.

Question: I was diagnosed with pleurisy 10 days ago, still no better. How long does it take to clear up? On levaquin and pain meds. My chest feels like someone is stabbing me and the pain is now in my shoulder. Is this normal? I have ANOTHER appt. with my nurse prac. this afternoon. The levaquin is just making me feel worse, I think and the pain medicine is barely touching the pain. Does anyone know how long pleurisy usually lasts?

Answer: Sounds like you may have something else or a really bad case. It should be a lot better or gone by now with the meds. Good luck.

Question: i want to know can you die from pleurisy? My mom was only 47 and died recently.She had Ishcemic heart disesae,but she also had pleurisy.There was no atopsy proformed,so my family is questioning the cause of death. she was treated,but died 3 weeks after she was released from the hospital.I dont understand how the ischemia did it cause her heart was fine when she left the hospital. I read all her reports from her hospital visit and everything was normal.She was also bi-polar and manic depression.so she was taking alot of medication,do you thing that could have killed her? The cause of death was ischemic heart disesae,BUT there was no autopsy so how did they know that fro sure?

Answer: I am sorry for your loss. 47 yo is very young, therefore you musy be young and the loss of a parent so young is even harder on the survivors. When a person has a heart attack the heart muscle is lacking the oxygen it needs because of blockage in the cornary (heart) ateries that feed the heart muscle. If it is a long time before the mucscle gets oxygen that term is ischemia. Often times the muscle dies from this lack of oxygen, and scar tissue replaces the healthy muscle tissue. Scar tissue doesn't work as well as the muscle so it makes the heart work inefficiently. Often times the heart cannot keep up with the amount of blood flowing in and out of it from the lungs and the blood backs up and causes an problem thats call congestive heart failure. Your mom was regulated in the hospital with meds, probably diet and close observation. The fact that she also had pluerisy which is an infection or irritation in the slippery membrane that surrounds the outside of the lungs allowing them the move freely in your chest cavity was probably not a cause of death as you found out later. Persons with severe ischemia occassionally do ok if they are closely monitoring their meds, diet, (sodium intake can cause an excessive build up of fluids in the body, making the damaged heart have to work harder). Since no autopsy was performed, the physicains knew what he hearts base line abilities were when she went home, and by knowing how severely her damage was they are able to presume that her heart disease was probably the cause of her death. Her primary MD is usually the one to sign the death certificate, so if you want to know where they got the info to determine her exact cause of death, put a call into them and ask. I hope that you can find closure on this. As long as it plagues you, you will have a hard time going through the grief process. Contact Hospice if you are having a difficult time accepting her death. They are experts at helping people cope with their losses. God Bless you and your family during this difficult time.

Question: Can pleurisy in one lung, spread to the other? I have pleurisy in my right lung, wasn't given antibiotics, but seems to be resolving, but my left lung is starting to bother me. Could it be possible that the pleurisy is starting in the other lung?

Answer: As pleurisy is a viral infection,you probably can have it spead to the other lung.Hope ur better soon hun.I thought I had this at the weekend,it turned out to be severe pneumonia!

Question: Have you ever heard of someone getting pleurisy when pregnant? I just called the NHS helpline as Im 29 weeks and have a severe pain when I cough in my left ribs...they want to send a doctor out or at least make me see one frst thing in the morning...I said I would see one in the morning as I just want to go to bed now...have you ever heard of pleurisy in a a pregnant woman.

Answer: Pleurisy can happen at any time. It is an inflammation in the lining in your ribs. Which is why you have pain when you take a deep breath or cough. The doctor will probably put you on an antibiotic. You will be fine and so will the baby. Good Luck and God Bless

Question: Is there any relationship between pleurisy and meningitis? Got checked out by the doctor. Looks as though I just had pleurisy after all. The headache was a result of the high blood pressure caused by the infection. I was feeling rather awful though. Thanks for your answers.

Answer: Not at first glance, but I guess it all depends upon what sort of bugs you have. Just watch out for symptoms pf meningitis, like high fever, rashes and sensitivity ti light, plus a very sore neck.

Question: How long does pleurisy take to recover from? I was diagnosed last month, but things still don't seem right. Every time i cough, i'm trying my best not to throw up all over the place. I've had 2 lots of anti-biotics.

Answer: I have had both Pleurisy and Pneumonia,and it will take time and lots of it.Lung infections often linger and the coughing will last for a while yet and you will need more medicine for a bit longer.It is not one of those infections you can rush or take a magic pill for.Sorry to be negative,but keep warm,eat when you can and put your best front forward.

Question: How does a person get pleurisy? I have had it for a week now and the doctors didn't tell me how I got it.

Answer: There are actually two types of pleurisy, primary pleurisy involves the pleural tissues themselves and they become inflamed. This arises from a germ or bacteria. Secondary pleurisy is a side-effect of another illness such as pneumonia or TB. But essentially both are caused by germs.

Question: how long does it take to get an appointment for a pleurisy treatment and whats the recovery? ? So my doctor thinks i have a pleurisy but didnt give much detail. after he confirms it, how long does it take to get treatment for it and is it at a hospital? also, whats the recovery conditions like?

Answer: There really isn't much treatment for it depending on what is causing it. Most of the time you can only take pain meds to make it feel better. Youc can learn more about it and the treatment of the different types of pleurisy here. I had it this summer and it lasted for about 3 weeks. It was not fun and there wasn't anything they could do for me besides telling me to take advil.

Question: Pleurisy.? I have been getting pain in the back of my arms, chest and back for about 3 weeks now. I was looking online and it seems like pleurisy. Will pleurisy go away on its own?? How long will it take? Is there anything I can do at home to help the process a long? Could this have been caused my toking too much weed?

Answer: Go visit www.webmd.com...it is a user friendly site for getting medical info. I have had Pleurisy and it generall causes a sharp 'sticking pain' when you inhale or exhale even the slightest bit, usually most noticed at the back area below shoulder curve[midback]...this is geerally the lungs revealing that the inspiration[breathing in] & expiration[out] is lacking because the mucous has thickened between the lungs linings...Pleurisy is NOT easy to be rid of, most may end up hospitalized[I did]. Even after hospitalization it takes some time to heal...One will need appropriate antibiotic therapy, breathing treatments[to re expand lung & rid mucous] and lot's of fluids & rest. Pleurisy usually does not go away without some medical intervention. For now you should try some OTC[over the counter] Mucinex to help get the phlegm moving & assist you in coughing up & out any phlegm~ your local drug store has Mucinex as well as Walgreens sells their generic version. Drink fluids~Not alcohol...stop the smoking for awhile at least...give your lungs a chance to breathe! Hope you are OK...take care~

Question: What are the symptoms of pleurisy and is it series? no darling my name is Patricia but not Leon sorry dear queen of the mites did you have a cough

Answer: Patricia: When I had it years ago, the biggest symptom I had was the pain in inhaling and exhaling. It hurt to breathe so bad that I could only do shallow breathing. It took time and antibiotics, but if finally cleared and thank goodness I never had it again.

Question: How long does it take for pleurisy to kill you? If it was not treated?

Answer: Pleurisy is not a disease within itself, it is a condition. That being said, it depends on the cause of the pleurisy, many things can cause it, the most common being an infection like pneumonia or tb, if untreated those can become serious illnesses and life threatening fairly quick. Both are very easily treated with modern day antibiotics. So in short it depends on the cause, no one can give you a time frame with the information you provided us with.

Question: Bronchitis and pleurisy- can you have them at the same time? I have had both bronchitis and pleurisy, but there was a four year separation between the two. I'm just wondering if it's possible to have them both at the same time. I've heard that you could have both pleurisy and phnemonia at once, but I have yet out about bronchitis and pleurisy. Any answer is greatly appreciated. Thank you for your answers!

Answer: I actually just got out of the Emergency Room last week with a diagnosis of pleurisy and bronchitis, so it's obviously quite possible to have one on top of the other. However, I have to say, my doctor didn't specifically say the two were even related, so perhaps it was a coincidence. Either way it sucks to have either let alone both at once lol.

Question: I have Pleurisy, should I continue to play instument? I have Pleurisy and I'm in high school band,everytime I play it hurts my chest, will continue playing make my pleurisy worse?

Answer: It will make it hurt more.you really need to give your lungs and break and take it easy for a while to allow time to heal.

Question: How long will it take me to recover from bacterial pneumonia with pleurisy? I was first diagnosed by my PCM as having pulled a muscle. The next day I went to the ER cause I was in so much pain and couldn't breathe right (sat.night). I am very uncomfortable and in a lot of pain. The ER Dr. put my on Azithromycin with a pain killer. How long will it take me to recover from this? This is horrible!!! (I am 29 and healthy(besides this!)).

Answer: Very painful, so sorry. Everyone heals on their own time frame. Perhaps some days to weeks as long as the pleural infection and pneumonia respond to the antibiotic.