Here is what happened to me yesterday.
Yesterday I went to work and I was fine, but then I got those sharp pains again. I was in the drive thru when they started they got so bad I busted into to tears, they took me off the drive thru and I called a cab to go to the Texas Med Clinic cause I don't have insurance. I got there at 5:30pm and didn't get out of there til 9pm. They ran several tests on me a mononucleosis test which came back negative, an oxygen test which he said was on the low side, and platelets test to test my white blood cells. He wanted to take a lung x-ray cause he was concerned but I told him that I couldn't afford that. But all in all he diagnosed me with Pleuritis. This is what it is:
Pleurisy
What Is Pleurisy?
Pleurisy is a term used to describe the chest pain associated with inflammation of the pleura. The pleura consists of two thin layers of tissue. One layer lines the inside chest wall and the other covers the lungs. The tiny space between the two layers is called the pleural cavity. This cavity normally contains a small amount of lubricating fluid that allows the two layers to slide over each other when a person breathes.
See an illustration of the pleura.
When the pleura becomes inflamed (pleuritis), the layers rub together, resulting in the pain of pleurisy. Fluid may build up in the pleural cavity (pleural effusion) and may increase the severity of the pain. The pain of pleurisy usually starts suddenly and often is described as a stabbing pain.
The pain may be continuous, but it usually gets worse when the person inhales. The person may avoid breathing deeply to prevent the pain.
The pain may be only on one side of the chest. It may radiate to a shoulder or the abdomen.
The pain is usually worse with coughing, sneezing, or sudden moves.
What Causes Pleurisy?
Pleurisy can develop because of inflammation, infection, injury, or a tumor in the pleura. It can also occur if one of these conditions develops in the lungs and then spreads to the pleura.
Most cases of pleurisy do not have an obvious cause and are believed to be viral. They may or may not be accompanied by typical viral symptoms, like fever, headache, and muscle aches. Pleurisy caused by a virus usually lasts a few days to 1 or 2 weeks. Very rarely, some viral infections of the pleura can be contagious.
Rarely, pleurisy can be caused by other conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, sickle cell crisis, blockage in a blood vessel in the lungs (pulmonary embolism), or heart failure.
How Is Pleurisy Diagnosed and Treated?
Before pleurisy can be diagnosed, other conditions that cause chest pain often need to be considered. The health professional may look for signs of chest muscle strain, a rib fracture, pulmonary embolism, or inflammation around the heart (pericarditis). A chest X-ray may be done to check for pneumonia, tuberculosis, or fluid in the pleura (pleural effusion). A chest X-ray cannot detect inflammation of the pleura.
Most cases of pleurisy can be treated with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and pain medication. In severe cases, prescription cough or pain medications may be needed. The pain may be relieved by lying on the painful side or pressing a pillow against it.
When there is an underlying cause, other treatment measures are directed toward the specific cause of the pleurisy. If bacterial infection is present, an antibiotic may be needed. If pleural effusion is present, a procedure called thoracentesis may be done to remove and examine the fluid.
I took my antibiotics and pain killers last night. And then took more pain killers at 2am cause the pain was coming back. I feel extremely out of it. Like kinda loopy, I don't know if that makes sense at all.
Pleurisy
What Is Pleurisy?
Pleurisy is a term used to describe the chest pain associated with inflammation of the pleura. The pleura consists of two thin layers of tissue. One layer lines the inside chest wall and the other covers the lungs. The tiny space between the two layers is called the pleural cavity. This cavity normally contains a small amount of lubricating fluid that allows the two layers to slide over each other when a person breathes.
See an illustration of the pleura.
When the pleura becomes inflamed (pleuritis), the layers rub together, resulting in the pain of pleurisy. Fluid may build up in the pleural cavity (pleural effusion) and may increase the severity of the pain. The pain of pleurisy usually starts suddenly and often is described as a stabbing pain.
The pain may be continuous, but it usually gets worse when the person inhales. The person may avoid breathing deeply to prevent the pain.
The pain may be only on one side of the chest. It may radiate to a shoulder or the abdomen.
The pain is usually worse with coughing, sneezing, or sudden moves.
What Causes Pleurisy?
Pleurisy can develop because of inflammation, infection, injury, or a tumor in the pleura. It can also occur if one of these conditions develops in the lungs and then spreads to the pleura.
Most cases of pleurisy do not have an obvious cause and are believed to be viral. They may or may not be accompanied by typical viral symptoms, like fever, headache, and muscle aches. Pleurisy caused by a virus usually lasts a few days to 1 or 2 weeks. Very rarely, some viral infections of the pleura can be contagious.
Rarely, pleurisy can be caused by other conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, sickle cell crisis, blockage in a blood vessel in the lungs (pulmonary embolism), or heart failure.
How Is Pleurisy Diagnosed and Treated?
Before pleurisy can be diagnosed, other conditions that cause chest pain often need to be considered. The health professional may look for signs of chest muscle strain, a rib fracture, pulmonary embolism, or inflammation around the heart (pericarditis). A chest X-ray may be done to check for pneumonia, tuberculosis, or fluid in the pleura (pleural effusion). A chest X-ray cannot detect inflammation of the pleura.
Most cases of pleurisy can be treated with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and pain medication. In severe cases, prescription cough or pain medications may be needed. The pain may be relieved by lying on the painful side or pressing a pillow against it.
When there is an underlying cause, other treatment measures are directed toward the specific cause of the pleurisy. If bacterial infection is present, an antibiotic may be needed. If pleural effusion is present, a procedure called thoracentesis may be done to remove and examine the fluid.
I took my antibiotics and pain killers last night. And then took more pain killers at 2am cause the pain was coming back. I feel extremely out of it. Like kinda loopy, I don't know if that makes sense at all.