Continued pleuritic pain. Need Advice pls! - Cancer: Lung Message Board

miche02 · 11-29-2004, 07:50 PM

Hi all,

I am 33 yrs old and in July, I started having pain in my back area and noticed it seemed to hurt when I breathed. I went to the dr and he diagnosed me as having pleurisy. Gave me mobid (anti-inflamm). Did no good. Continued going back , had chest x-ray done, normal.
Then went back in Sept, still having pain, seemed to get worse. Gave me indocin and recommended me to specialist. Well that dr. had me stay on indocin. He also had a CT done in Sept which was normal. Well, I stopped taking that medicine about 1 mth ago, I believe it makes me feel just as bad as the pain I already have. Since the time all this has begun, I have gained 20 lbs. I have any appt with my specialist this week so I hope for some type of pathforward on the situation.
I have more pain when I lay down and I can feel the pain with every deep breath I take. I feel like there is pressure on my chest when I lay down. Some days are worse than others. The pain is on the right side of my back, half way down and on bad days, my chest hurts as well. Any information any of you have with this or any suggestions what type of tests I could have done to find out exactly what is going on. Do I have cancer?
I know I am rambling on, but I am at my whits end. I can not understand how this just occurs all of a sudden and I can't understand even what is causing it. It is so frustrating. Thank you to all who have taken the time to read my thread and thank you for any answers or experiences you can share. Take care! Miche***

Ruth6:11 · 11-30-2004, 06:29 AM

You may want to also look through the board here called:
Lung & Respiratory Disorders
There are several threads there on pleurisy!

shadowrose40 · 11-30-2004, 07:36 AM

HI

As strange as it might sound- since your x-ray and CT were normal, I'm wondering if your pain isn't lung related at all.

Let me explain... When I was younger, I had horrible pain in my back, under my right shoulder. It was so bad, I'd literally sit and rock back and forth sometimes.

My doctor thought pleursy, bronchitis...on and one. One night it got so bad, I went to the ER. I was there less than an hour before the doctor put it all together and diagnosed me with gall bladder problems.

He was right. Mine was in such bad shape that it didn't even show up when they tried to do an ultrasound because it was totally blocked off by stones.

That pain can radiate- and no nausea, etc.. is required for it to be gall bladder related.

Another possibility is a problem within the thorasic spine itself. A thorasic MRI (of the spine and discs) should be done to see if there is a problem with one of them.

Another possibility is some problem within the shoulder itsellf. Again, a MRI should find it if that is the problem.

I've had pleursy numerous times, starting since I was about 18. It's possible that there is something else amiss.

Also, just to be on the safe side- have a Pulmonary Function Test, to see if there is something with your breathing.

Dump the indocin, it can cause a lot of stomach problems. Good luck- let us know how you fare.

But please, ask them to do an ultrasound and check your gall bladder. Have they also done lab work to see if there is something going on there?