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I am a 29 year old mother of a 2 year old. I became very...

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Guest
Guest

I am a 29 year old mother of a 2 year old.

I became very unwell this time last year (May 05)and was diagnosed with pneumonia and pleurisy, this took aprox 2 months to diagnose and I was being treated as if it was a chest infection. I have never been so ill and at one point thought i was on my way out! I was given about 5 courses of different antibiotics.

I recovered end of July and thought that was the end of it.

In September i noticed the symptoms reoccuring and after a lot of visits to the doctor and further chest xrays i was told the pneumonia had either re-occured or never gone away and i had pleurisy. I was given more antibiotics and refered to a consultant in late december as i was still ill.

He perscribed anti inflamitories and made another appointment for a months time, i didnt find that they did anything but in Jan 06 i was told the pneumonia had gone although i was scarred on my left lung and would possibly experience a 'plural rub' occasionally which shouldnt be too painfull and the best way to get better was to exercise.

By the time i was discharged in Jan i was feeling much better and i did start to exercise, just walking but quite a distance at times and i felt good again.

However i got tonsilitus in april, the tonsilitus went after a course of antibiotics but i then started with pain and wheezing and 'creaking' on my right side, this was very strange as all my previous problems were on my left side.

Last week i went back to my gp as the pain has been really bad and creaking, she diagnosed pleurisy and put me on 2 wk course of antibiotics and sent me for an xray.

I got my results today and they are clear so at least no Pneumonia, still pleurisy though, they have advised me i should take ibuprofen for pain and i have now asked to be refered to see a consultant again but using my private healthcare.

This has gone on for 1 year and i have found it very difficult to adjust going from being a fit healthy person to someone who is constantly feeling unwell and in pain.

I dont understand why this has happened and what i can do to help it!

Also after reading comments on here it seems quite a few mothers seem to have this either when pregnant or with young children....my baby was born by c section and i just wonder if there is a connection?... who knows!

Really glad i found this site though.

[i:aad2d17358]This message was automatically imported from the original Patient Experience[/i:aad2d17358]

0 likes, 6 replies

6 Replies

  • Guest
    Guest

    Posted

    Your post is old but I was wondering the same thing about the c-section. I just posted to another young mother's post because I was wondering if there might be a connection. I had a c-section 18 months ago. I didn't develop the pleurisy until about 3 months ago. I had a great pregnancy but I have had more cold's and just a general \"not feeling so good\" since I had the c-section. Another possible factor could be that we as new mothers are under a lot more stress. Especially if you are trying to juggle family life and work.
  • Guest
    Guest

    Posted

    [quote:8be467fe9a=\"Otheryoungmother\"]Your post is old but I was wondering the same thing about the c-section. I just posted to another young mother's post because I was wondering if there might be a connection. I had a c-section 18 months ago. I didn't develop the pleurisy until about 3 months ago. I had a great pregnancy but I have had more cold's and just a general \"not feeling so good\" since I had the c-section. Another possible factor could be that we as new mothers are under a lot more stress. Especially if you are trying to juggle family life and work.[/quote:8be467fe9a]

    I am interested in your theory about c-sections, I had a section 21 years ago and was sent home after 5 days the next morning i was rushed back into hospital after my stitches burst due a severe coughing fit and chest pains diagnosed as pleurisy, i mhave since had 4 attacks over the years and i believe anathetic has some thing to do with this, it is common knowledge that anasthetic can make breathing laboured so maybe there is a connection.

  • Guest
    Guest

    Posted

    I'm in floods of tears here! Sorry, it's just this has all struck such a cord with me. I have not had a diagnosis yet. I have recently had excruitiating pain in ribs(?) under left breast following 2 weeks of severe coughing. Had chest x-ray as doctor suspected rib fracture due to severity of pain. This came back clear. Was treated for chest infection and had two courses of antibiotics. Felt better for a while (although not back to normal) but in the last few days the cough is back and have nasty cold. Starting to get the rib pain again but nothing like as bad a before. Worried it will get worse. How do the doctors diagnose pleurisy? My second son is 6 months old and was born by C Section. Shocked to read such similar experiences.
  • Guest
    Guest

    Posted

    I have had a similar experience. I have just been diagnosed with pleurisy after five weeks of a bad cough. Clear chest x-ray but very bad pain under right breast. Am on second course of antibiotics but nothing seems to work. I have three year old twins who were born by c-section.
  • Guest
    Guest

    Posted

    My son is 4 weeks old today, he was born by c-section, and this week I have had the terrible experience shared by everyone here of pleurisy. I am on antibiotics, this is the first time I have been out of bed for 3 days so have just googled to see what I could find. So I am another who would support the link between c-section and pleurisy.
  • Guest
    Guest

    Posted

    My Father had Pluracy and the only thing that got rid of it was to have the water drained off in hospital. This took a few minutes and his pain had gone in 24 hours. He had had the pain and the same repeat antibiotics for months, as with you. I hope this helps.
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