Pleurisy and Chest Infection Clarithromycin

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I really hope someone can give me some advice. Before Christmas I came down with a cold which turned into a chest infection. I didnt go to a GP as usually these things clear up. However by Christmas Eve I was starting to feel pretty bad and called the doctor but they were closed so I didn't go. Went on the 27th and was diagonosed with a chest infection and given Amoxicillin. I finished taking these but still felt bad and started to develop a pain under my right breast, almost like a pulled muscle or bruising of the ribs... I asked a doctor and he checked my pulse to rule out a pulmonary embolism???? and said you have pulled a muscle from coughing.... With that I left and carried on taking Ibuprofen which helped ease the pain. The Monday I had a strange incident where my heart was beating really fast and irregular and I felt sweaty, dizzy and couldnt stop shaking. I went home from work and thought about going to the doctors. Plus the pain in my right side was getting worse. I went back to the gp who said I was probably suffering with Pleuritic pain from the infection and he described me more antibiotics.. Amoxiclav...

I still felt bad and he asked me to go back the following Friday to check my blood pressure as it was slightly high.

Finished the Amoxiclav and suddenly felt bad again... nothing I have ever expereienced. Chest Pain, really bad cough, weak sweaty, extremely exhausted...no sense of smell, taste etc... so tired.

I went back again to the gp and broke down in tears as now the middle of January and things seem to be getting worse. He took blood and sent me to the hospital for a chest xray and the blood test he states shows an infection but no blood clot on the lung. The chest xray has also returned clear??? I rarely go the the doctors but he almost made me feel like a hyperchondriac...

He prescribed me more antibiotics but this time Clarithromycin 500mg twice per day.

I was hoping these would have kicked in by now but still feeling terrible and am taking these alongdside extra strength Ibuprofen and paracetamol for the pain in my chest.

I am starting to wonder if I will ever get better. I feel so low and down, I havent left the house for days and just want to sleep as I am feeling so exhausted.

Has anyone suffered from anything similar or know how long it takes to get over this... Its been over a month now and I just cant remember what it feels like to feel normal...

Sorry for the long post...

18 likes, 195 replies

195 Replies

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  • Posted

    Hi I am new to this forum. I have had what the doctor described as viral bronchitis so no need for antibiotics. I am now in my 7th week and things are getting better but my chest still feels raw and 'tight'. I would have thought with all the advances in medicine they would have discovered something to give relief. I have had ventolin and simple linctus. The Ventolin did help as it made me cough and get rid of some of the phlegm. I have never experienced anything like this before and it is some comfort to read of other people's experience. I also felt like a hypochondriac for going to the doctor! It is do tiring but now getting through the night without a coughing fit so light at the end of tge tunnel hopefully 😊

    • Posted

      Well you have certainly been patient if it has been going on for 7 weeks.

      I do know that some things cannot be treated wiht anti-biotics so I guess viral bronchitis is one of those - does not help as you have to still suffer while your body fights to get back to normal. I am rarely sick but I was feeling so low and exhausted I felt it right to see the doc. But I will never take Clarythromycin again that's for sure!. It does sound as though you are really beginning to get through it though - and this will help you psychologically as well. Best wishes, Chris.

    • Posted

      Last year my bug went on for three months, I experienced laringytis with it, that went on and on. 
    • Posted

      Thanks Chris. Yes. Tonight really is the first time for ages that I have felt more my old self. I just hope that is it now at least for this winter! 😊
  • Posted

    Hi Giuila,

    That is so kind of you to ask how I am...thankfully all is back to normal - actually it was really only last week that I felt 'back to normal'! I do hope you are also better?

    Best wishes

    Chris

    • Posted

      Hi Chris,

      Yes thanks! Totally over the pleurisy now!! Still remember how awful I felt and at my wits end so found the patient site. Have just returned and found lots of comments and am trying to reply as it's so nice to hear from others who suffered in a similar way.

      I do have a stinking cold at the minute... No sense of smell but under control!! #noneedforadocthistime!!!

      I wish you the best health for 2015!! And pleased you are feeling well again!!

      With Kind Regards

      Giulia

  • Posted

    Hi, 

    I think our sufferings are very similar. I have been suffering for a long time. Are you okay now?

  • Posted

    This is so insane.... Everything you have described is what I have been suffering from for the past two years. Doc. Can't figure it out. It hurts so bad. Sometimes I literally cough up scabs. My head always hurts from coughing and trying to clear my lungs to breathe. My right side has Sharp pains. I'm always so fatigued and dizzy. My normal heart rate is 120 which I've been told is really high. I literally lost my voice for 6 months straight last year. I got better by using my proair inhaler..... This year now back again. I haven't had my voice for 3weeks now. coughing up bloody looking scabs. Dizzy and very very shaky. I'm done with this pain someone please help!!! I am a 29 year old female with 9 children. Can't take much more
  • Posted

    Hi I'm feeling the exact same thing right now, I'm 15 and not happy. I recently started to pick up abit but every time I went to sleep I get worse, start coughing agin, I started shaking and picked up my phone to see why I was shaking. Being young and naive i started to worry and started thinking the worse... But I think I'm ok... I just want to get better sad
  • Posted

    Hi Everyone,

      Seems we all have quite a bit in common.  I too have suffered chest infection, headache, fever/chills, sore throat and incessant coughing, gurgling/rattling in my chest.  It turns out that I had pneumonia.  I figured taking the antiboitics was enough to look after the infection and I could jump back into things.  I was wrong...I was really tired and short of breath a lot.  My doctor said it can take up to 6 weeks to recover from pnemonia or a chest infection.  This is a reminder to all of you...if you've had one, take things slowly...sleep tonnes and don't run around like crazy cat!!  He told me if I rushed my recovery it would come back.  I know it's not fun and it's hard to stay in bed when you know you have lots to do but you will be down and out a lot longer if you don't look after yourselves for a short time.  Hoope this help everyone!!    

    • Posted

      Hi so sorry you have the pneumonia chills coughing fever. I hope the Doctor can help more if you need to see him/her. I hope you feel better soon. I have a chest infection and pneumonia and have been on the antibiotics and I just feel my chest has only improved slightly so cannot wait to tell her tomorrow as I should like to go on my holiday and don't want to go with a slightly better chest!!!! Want a better one where it is a bit better to breath!!!!!

      Hope you feel better soon yes plenty of rest!

  • Posted

    Curious to know if you found out what it was. Everything you described I'm suffering with now. Doctors keep guessing but no real answers yet. Really frustrated!!!
    • Posted

      Hi Jackie1920, my personal opinion about doctors is... well, Im not going to say but I would strongly advise some serious internet investigations of your own, I find the internet far more helpfull at finding everything I need to know about whatevers wrong with myself, be it physical, mental, neurological and everything inbetween, not to mention the feel good factor of knowing more than the doctor even more so when they realise that themselves!

      All the best to you Jackie.x

  • Posted

    hello, does anyone use this site anymore, all the posts are over a year old....

    I read your post and I really feel for you as I had a bad bit of pleuricy last year which was, Im not sure if I sould say to you, the precursor of the serious illness I now have.

    I think my own situation is more complex/ serious as it involves chemical poisoning from an ex employer.

    as im posting this reply, one plus years on, from your own post I can only hope that your own ailments have been resolved and you are feeling much better.

    • Posted

      I still check in from time to time. I'm much better now. Have recently seen a respiratory doc to as I lost my Father to IPF last year.

      What is your condition? I hope it's not serious??

      My X-ray and spirometry test came back clear but do suffer from

      Severe chest infections. I think because of the pleurisy it has weakened my system??

    • Posted

      So sorry about your dad, must'ave be hard for you.

      I got Pleuricy from chemical Pnumenitis from using chemicals and sprays at my last job, it was an oil company, they didnt supply appropriate breathing masks, not respirators, just dust masks. the Pleuricy turned into an autoimmune dissorder because of the chemicals, I ended up with a facial palsy, I'm now left with a very annoying eye twitch and partial facial paralysis, and Menieres disease which could be with me for years which comes and goes sometimes for months on end, I'm on pills for the Tinnitus, anti depressants and have a psyciatrist cause I tried to kill myself.

      Dont worry, it gets better, I have an appointment with a neurologist at the end of the month wher hopefully he will tell me that it is entirely likely that my ex work is to blame,as my doctor did, and I can start procedings for some compensation from them for them destroying my life!

      Ive never felt this ill before in my life so its all new to me, its like being inside someone else whos really ill, but ive had it for allmost a year now all in all and am allmost getting to grips with it but the thing about menieres disease is it comes on when you dont expect it to, I cant drive anymore or even ride a bike, get tired real easy and am dizzy and off ballance most of the time and have the most annoying moderately loud,'SSSSHH',noise in my left ear all the time, I actually have a little laugh to myself about the whole thing sometimes, I've tried crying but it doesnt help, at least laughing makes me feel a bit better!!

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