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!!!!

[UGAmike]

I've had pleurisy 5 times now in the last 10 years.  Each time has been slightly different, but it's always gone away eventually (usually takes about 4-6 months).  I know how miserable it is, and how hopeless it can make you feel.  I've had multiple x-rays, ct scans, and EKG's.  They never find anything!  I've had multiple doctors say they are stumped.  Usually when I have pleurisy, it's the life debilitating kind where every breath is like being stabbed in the chest with a huge knife, and the only thing that ever helped was 800mg ibuprofen every 4 hours.  After 3 hours, the pain would start creeping back.  This is clearly a bad situation, as NSAID's are hard on your stomach and I imagine your liver after prolonged use as well.  At this point, I’ve become accustomed to dealing with it pretty quickly.  When you think about it, the pain you are feeling is caused by your lungs rubbing against your ribs.  You should do everything possible to keep the swelling down (advil/aleve) while also doing everything you can to eliminate the rubbing.  Minimize activities that increase your breathing rate, avoid allergens that can cause sneezing/coughing (or take allergy meds) and take plenty of warm showers and use warm compresses on your chest (massages will probably help too).  
This last bout has been the best and worst I’ve ever had.  It doesn’t hurt nearly as much as usual, but it’s lasted now almost 7 months.  Needless to say, stay positive, take care of yourself, and make sure you are treating any underlying causes.  Not everyone has pleurisy for the same reason, and if your doctors can’t find a cause, don’t be alarmed.  I’ve never taken antibiotics for it, and there’s no point as I’ve never been sick when I have it.  Once the underlying causes are treated (if you have one), it’s time to let your body heal. It’s easier said than done in this situation.

[HeartyHarri]

In 2012-2014 I had recurrent pleurisy and empyema about 6 months after having to have open heart surgery (for a mitral valve repair).  Then the pleurisy kept coming back - so painful - worse than childbirth!  I had about 6 bouts over that 2 year period and each episode was gradually not quite so bad as the one before.
It is exactly as described above.  But now, I am happy to say that I have not had pleurisy for 8 months (touch wood).
I hope that you are feeling better too as I notice it has been a while since your last post - hope you are OK.  But for others reading this....
To treat the initial the infection (and I also had pneumonia) which just wouldn't go away, I had to go to hospital for about 2 weeks, have my lungs drained because of the empyema and I had to go on IV antibiotics which I then had to continue for a further 2-3 weeks at home (a nurse would visit my home to do this).  Eventually the infection went away.  For the whole time I was on quite strong anti inflammatory drugs and also on tramadol for the pain (it was the only thing that even touched the pain).
Since then in further episodes of pleurisy I've been OK with amoxilin from the doc for the infection and then ibuprofen for the inflammation and tramadol for the pain for the first few days.  Sometimes in hospital but more often out of hospital.
Between bouts and only when there is not much pain or no pain, I have been doing breathing exercises similar to those decribed here by Hava - they have definitely been helpful but don't do these when you actually have it, wait until you are recovering and it will strengthen your lungs against future bouts.  But they are really good and do really help.
Since being much better (no more pain) over the last 8 months, I have made sure to take up regular cardio vascular exercise to keep my lungs fit.  So far so good.  I go for a gentle jog for 30 minutes 3 or 4 times a week - boring but necessary to keep me fit.  Listening to podcasts whilst running helps me though it!
You will get through this - try to stay positive.

[paminpain1]

And other pleurisy sufferers, I totally emphasise, it is horrible iv never felt pain like it. The drs put mine down to scarlet fever, so have not even xrayd chest. I just want to knw if 1's you get it does it always return :'c I thought I was having a heart attack other day I'd gone up 1 flight stairs come back and my heart started palpitating and got this almost like a suffocation feeling in chest very tight but because I couldn't breath my whole body started tingling and my hands legs n lips started spasm my hands curled so tight iv bruised my own fingers (hyperventalated ) ended up in hospital was told it was refered pain caused by pleurisy ( arm weakness shoulder pain palpitations n tightened chest) now after been on antibiotics 4 nearly week the broken crushing rib hugging pain gone but I have a horrible burning pain all across back under shoulder blades now had it in rite lung does this mean its spread or is it refered pain again. Hope some1 finds a propa cure x

[paminpain1]

And other pleurisy sufferers, I totally emphasise, it is horrible iv never felt pain like it. The drs put mine down to scarlet fever, so have not even xrayd chest. I just want to knw if 1's you get it does it always return :'c I thought I was having a heart attack other day I'd gone up 1 flight stairs come back and my heart started palpitating and got this almost like a suffocation feeling in chest very tight but because I couldn't breath my whole body started tingling and my hands legs n lips started spasm my hands curled so tight iv bruised my own fingers (hyperventalated ) ended up in hospital was told it was refered pain caused by pleurisy ( arm weakness shoulder pain palpitations n tightened chest) now after been on antibiotics 4 nearly week the broken crushing rib hugging pain gone but I have a horrible burning pain all across back under shoulder blades now had it in rite lung does this mean its spread or is it refered pain again. Hope some1 finds a propa cure x

[EarthyThings]

You are CORRECT...how could anyone who has experienced pleurisy think that breathing exercises could help?!?!?!

[mistymoral]

I'm sorry no one ever responded to you.
How did it turn out for you? Are you better?