So I have history of pericarditis and pleurisy. Recently had another bad episode of pleurisy. As I’ve mentioned before, since bad episode last year I have slept propped up or in recliner. I felt like the right sided pleurisy was better and was tired of sleeping propped up.
Last night tried sleeping just slightly propped up on two pillows and on my left side. It was a bit uncomfortable but not bad but couldn’t get comfortable enough to sleep. So I try lying on right side. Within a few minutes I had sharp chest pain and couldn’t breathe. Still have pretty bad pain the day after. Before last night the pain was almost gone! Also when you read online I have found that it is supposed to actually help lying on affected side, but for me it was much worse!
Anyone else experience this?
I have pleurisy a lot too, even right now. Whoever said it helps to lay on the affected side was very wrong. When it's so tender and painful, how could the pressure of laying on it help? I bought anew bed in Feb with a soft top and that has helped me a ton during pleurisy. Sorry you have it too. I have wanted a recliner for a long time but I probably couldn't sleep in it anyway.
I used to hsave terrible pleurisy. I found it helped to lie aligned very straight, no leaning to either side, on my back. I don’t remember propping myself up, but I sleep propped up now, so I probably did. I was a side sleeper before that. Also, I learned that I often breathed into one lung or the other. Pleurisy is the worst! Now I get symptoms when I’m really tired or stressed, but nothing like before, and it goes away. I would be so tired that if I took a shower, I’d have to wrap up in towels and go to bed wet and sleep. I hope it goes away soon.
Eagle41 I'm sorry to hear about your pleurisy. I've had it continuously since June 2013 and I know how much it sucks. My level of pain varies day to day and I find that I go through phases where it affects my sleep and others where it doesnt and is just slightly annoying. I think the worse change however is the sharp pain I experience every time I laugh. It can hurt so much that I end up crying in pain instead of laughter. Is anyone's pleuritic pains like this too?
Anyways, I've found that laying on my back straight is the best (I'm a stomach sleeper so this was a big change). It usually hurts a lot at first to the point I can barely breathe but after a few minutes the pain lessens a lot. Good luck!
I understand that severe sharp pain that can shock you and hurt enough to make you cry, even if you rarely EVER cry from other pain. It's intense! My inflammation spreads to the cartilage in my chest and back (costochondritis), and to have both at once is ridiculously painful. I am a 234/7 caregiver, so it's hard. My Dr. said he checked himself into the hospital for a week when he got costochondritis, he thought he was having a heart attack.
b1007 said:
It can hurt so much that I end up crying in pain instead of laughter. Is anyone's pleuritic pains like this too?
Anyways, I've found that laying on my back straight is the best (I'm a stomach sleeper so this was a big change). It usually hurts a lot at first to the point I can barely breathe but after a few minutes the pain lessens a lot. Good luck!
Sheila W. said:
I understand that severe sharp pain that can shock you and hurt enough to make you cry, even if you rarely EVER cry from other pain. It's intense! My inflammation spreads to the cartilage in my chest and back (costochondritis), and to have both at once is ridiculously painful. I am a 234/7 caregiver, so it's hard. My Dr. said he checked himself into the hospital for a week when he got costochondritis, he thought he was having a heart attack.
b1007 said:It can hurt so much that I end up crying in pain instead of laughter. Is anyone's pleuritic pains like this too?
Anyways, I've found that laying on my back straight is the best (I'm a stomach sleeper so this was a big change). It usually hurts a lot at first to the point I can barely breathe but after a few minutes the pain lessens a lot. Good luck!
This is a good discussion! I also got costochrondritis with pleurisy. I was laid up for 6 months and then diagnosed. It hurt to talk on the phone. I get terrible foot pain from lupus in my feet, but it doesn’t touch all that chest pain. Well, you can tell that you’re not alone, and everyone is hoping for your quick recovery,