Recurrent lingering pleurisy. Is there help?

[Nata40]

Last year i contracted pleurisy after sitting (for a short time) in a draft in a wet shirt. Antibiotics didn't help. My Dr. said it's viral and will clear itself. I felt miserable - besides pain there was total exhaustion, low grade fever rising every aftrenoon, profuse sweats (had to change clothes every hour), especially at night. ALL of these symptoms, including hectic fever and sweats lasted ~5 months (between the last week of June to mid November). This is in spite of hot compresses, multivitamin, cod liver oil, vit.C, Echinacea and more. I was fine winter and spring and thought I'd put this nightmare behind. But....At the end of June (~ 3 weeks ago) after being exposed to extermely cold air in a store (in contrast to the heat outside), I came down with pleurisy again, with exactly same symptoms. I've been sick for 3 weeks now with no improvement in spite of treatment - a lot of supplements, hot wraps etc. I dread to think it may take 5 months again. The hectic fever and continuos drenching sweats are unbearable. Two Drs (family and pulmonologist) aren't worried as the Xray is normal. They said I just have to give it more time. I WANT MY LIFE BACK!!! WHAT CAN I DO TO RECOVER SOONER? I CAN'T WASTE ANOTHER 5 MONTHS OF MY LIFE (Also, HAD to quit my job). WILL IT BE REPEATING EVERY YEAR??  Has anybody been in my shoes?? PLEASE HELP!!!!

[Nata40]

I can't believe you were on antibiotics for 2 months. It's off limits for me. I am allergic to everything. Summer is the worst for me. In winter you can dress warmly, etc. In summer you suffocate without air conditioning, yet you can't have it. This is what caused my pleurisy. This morning, after sleeping with a slightly open window, my temperature shot up again and the inflammation and pain are worse than ever (this is after 2 days without fever when I thought I was recovering). You become extremely sensitive to the slightest draft (both in- and outdoors). It can start you feeling cold, more stitching pain etc, tempreature rises, you sweat and catch more cold. So you have to dress warmer. But if you do -- you start sweating and catch a cold as a result. I have to wash and change my clothes every hour or more often. This low grade fever (99.4)makes me feel like I have 107F - totl exhaustion, can't lift my head from the pillow. It's difficult to do every day things - constant laundry, cooking. My husband brings groceries. Last year it lasted 4.5 months!! With this sudden turn for the worse (after 2 days without temp.) I feel frustrated. Couldn't help crying. Are there any Drs. out there who could help???
Take care and beware of air conditioners and fans.

[lynnkay]

I was just on antibiotics for 5 days, during the 2 months I had pleurisy. They were suppose to be a very strong antibiotic. I might as well have taken sugar pills. The antibiotic did not work. After this regiment of the 5 day antibiotic, the pleurisy lasted several months more. I probably had pleurisy about 2-3 weeks before I went to the doctor. So, roughly I had it for approximately 3 months. Have you possibly attempted to see a pulmonary doctor? I never had pleurisy in my life before this past winter. Summer time for me is very hard. Due to the heat and humidity. I have lung disease. And when it is hot and humid breathing becomes difficult. I have to stay inside with AC during these hot humid spells. Today, we had air quality advisory in our area. So, that means people with lung disease need to remain indoors with AC as much as possible. Still the AC does not totally solve the problem. Winter time is hard on me as well. That is when I get sick the most. With lung disease the immune system is compromised. Even a cold can turn into something dangerous. I had pneumonia, chronic bronchitis and pleurisy all at the same time. I have to be very careful and try not to come in contact with anyone that has a cold or virus. And that cannot always be avoided. My pleurisy was brought on by my lung disease. But you really need to find a pulmonary doctor. You should not have to suffer like you are. But, I certainly do agree with you. Pleurisy can make a person very sick. I ran the fevers and had the sweats. But, what I remember most about pleurisy was the pain. Of course, with this lung disease I cough frequently. That maybe why it was so painful to me. It was so painful I had to slowly get out of bed or up out of a chair. Usually I had to hold my hand over the effected area, while attempting to do these things. It hurt that badly. Like you, I remember being very frustrated as well. I kept thinking when is this going to go away. Then when I finally did start getting better, the effected area where the pleurisy had been, just felt hard like to me. Is hard to describe. Like a tightness. My pleurisy was located below my right breast. Doctor said it was a common area to have pleurisy usually. But, if you would like to talk further, I am here for you. It is scary sometimes to be ill. So, I do understand. I dread winter coming. Means my time to be sick a lot. I just pray no more pleurisy. It was rough. You take care and just rest up.

[hava]

You can also start doing bhastrika,anulom vilom and bhramri.This will start to heal your lungs gradually and help you cope with allergies.Try to do it in fresh air(not AC, as there is less oxygen in AC environment), or keep the AC very low.The pranayam(breathing) will help you in many ways.So note down any benefits you observe over the weeks.You will experience better sleep and more energetic mind in the first few week.

[Linda111]

My daughter-in-law, a doctor, told me to use anti-inflamitories such as Advil or Aleve.  She said that pleurisy is an inflamation of the lining of the lung and that anti-inflamitories relieve that inflamation.  Good luck.

[Nata40]

Good for you that your pleurisy was local, only in a small spot. Mine is all over - both lungs, in front, sides, back. In any hottest environment my lungs feel cold. Last summer and fall I saw a pulmonologist with the same condition (which lasted 4.5 months). I am not going to any Dr.s office any more. First, I catch more cold there because there is nowhere to hide from air conditioning. So I always got more sick after seeing a Dr. I Second, it's useless. He was not impressed. He lost interest as soon as he saw normal CT scan (which is typical for pleurisy). Pleurisy is not even considered a serious disease. Yes, he told me to take pain killers. BUT IT'S NOT ABOUT PAIN. It's about extreme weakness, hectic fever and continuous drenching sweats. I have to change clothes every helf hour or so. The fever is not all that high, but it feels like 107. Also, he told me to give it more time. But 4.5 months taken out of your life?!!!!....

[Nata40]

We must be reading the same books. I actually have a  book "Breathe Disease out of Your body" - chinese breathing exercises.
Your method is obviously Indian. I heard the word "bhastrika" for the first time in mid-80s. But I've never done any exercises on a regular basis. I used to be in pretty good health. *Guess not any more). I usually do alternate nostil breathing to calm down before sleep. (Not every night, but when I am too wired). Helps greatly.
As far as the lung/kidney/adrenal spot on the palm, I have 2 books on reflexology which I open almost every day. I've been working on my palm accupressure points every day for many months (long before I fell ill).
Take care