Pleurisy???

Hi Grace. I had my first experience of this when i was about 46. I have never experienced pain like it. Has doctor given you some pain relief/anti-inflammatory medication?

Oh where do I start! My pain (and it is awful!) was in the lower half of my right rib cage. Pleurisy was diagnosed and I was given amoxicillin. I had a bad reaction to it (another LONG story) and was given another AB. It cleared up. However, for the next twenty odd years, until my periods stopped for good, I was still getting a similar, but not as intense pain, on a regular basis at the start of my period. Of course I was told it had NOTHING to do with the endometriosis that I had!

As for shoulder pain, I have had trouble with my right shoulder for over four years and have been waiting to see a specialist for nearly three! The periods stopped, the pain in the shoulder started, mmmm? I did injure the shoulder some years ago and put it down to hormone changes.

All I can say is, if you are not happy go back to your GP and make a nuisance of yourself until he refers you. My sister (different postcode) started with the same problem in March this year and is having an op in September!

Ramble over, best wishes.

The first time i got it i tried too quickly to get back to normal activities and it took a few weeks. The next time i got it, about a year later, i made sure i rested, took anti-inflammatory drugs and drank loads of fluids. Also very gradually increased activity levels and pain was much reduced within about 5 days. I feel for you if this is your first episode. The pain is crazy and frightening. So take it as easy as you can and take the ibuprofen. Hoping you feel better soon.

Really hoping you feel better soon.

If the pain persists after taking an otc pain med go to emergency room to get better treatment for it. When the pain is intense it could mean you're retaining fluid in the lungs which will need to be treated with antibiotics or drained.

I had the same thing but also had a burning sensation in the middle of my chest. First the Dr said acid reflux or gerd. Put me on anti acids didn't help. They sent me to a cardiologist to make sure it wasn't my heart. Everything was normal there. Then I went and had an endoscopy done by a gastroenterologist and he said everything looked normal . I was having very high anxiety and panic attacks during all this. Everyone kept saying I needed to reduce my stress. My regular Dr tried me on Zoloft but I had a very awful reaction to it and it made my symptoms worse so I got off it. One Dr said I had pleurisy. It wasnt calming down so i went back to Dr but my regular Dr was out so saw a lady Dr. Bunch of tests later she examined by ribs and said I actually had costochondritis. She gave me lexapro for the anxiety and anti inflammtories for my ribs. I was leery about lexapro after Zoloft but it has been great so far. My chest , shoulders barely bother me now. Before though yes. Chest pain mostly on left side , shoulder, upper back hurt a lot. Also made me feel like I couldn't breathe since my chest/rib cage would get tight.

You need to take medication and not worry about it.

Try anti anxiety meds, that's what helped me the most. I take lexapro 5 mg and i do have xanax as well but i hardly take the xanax. Dr gave me 20 pills 7 months ago and I have 15 left. Once my anxiety was under control, the pain got much better. Other symptoms easier to deal with too. I hope everything turns out well for you!