Symptoms of Pleurisy or BOOP?

[AMC5]

33yr old female, non smoker, in shape.  Family history of autoimmune disorders.  Going to Rheumatologist next week.  Have positive ANA, and many symptoms.  However something new is I've been sick for over 4 weeks.  First started out with flu like symptoms-fever, body aches, sore throat, etc.  For a week, then bad cough.  Not a deep cough, started off non-productive, then sometimes would cough stuff up.  Went to dr. they said Bronchitis. Was on antibiotic for a week.  Then a week later, had sore throat, ear aches, fever, again.  Didn't have throat cultured, but told by dr. it was bacterial, and ears were starting to get infection, so on Antibiotics again.  As before I am coughing, non productive, and not that deep of cough.  However my chest is so sore.  Sore to the touch, sore when I breath.  I take short shallow breaths to make it easier.  Was looking up these symptoms and am curious if sounds like either Pleurisy or brochiolitis obliterans with organizing pneumonia (BOOP)? My sister has lupus and has had pleurisy several times.  I am being watched for Lupus and RA.  I've been on antibiotic for 4 days, and these symptoms just started (the chest soreness/tightness).  Thank you for any input......

[bobsgirl788]

A related discussion, does smoking make it worse? was started.

[cocoa.2]

I have been having pain in my chest on the right and in my back. It hurts severly sometimes to breathe and even hurts to move or get out of bed some days. The pain is even there when I dont breathe. I have to take painkillers (lots of them) to get through the day. It hurts to lift my arm to drive. Sometimes I think it is pluerisy, or pnuemonia. I haven't been to the doctor yet. Sometimes when I lay in bed, it hurts so bad I have to lay really still and not breathe too much. I have a dry cough and it is not productive. HELP!

[National Jewish]

Soreness to touch is not characteristic of pleurisy.  It is experienced most commonly from a fractured rib, cartilage separation, intercostal neuritis or torn intercostal ligaments.  Thus, what you describe does not sound like pleurisy.

It is unlikely that all your symptoms are due to an autoimmune disorder.  Your symptoms are certainly possible with viral infections and other pulmonary disorders.

For an illness that has lasted for 4 weeks, you very much need a thorough evaluation.  At the very least this should include, a blood count, a chest x-ray, and cultures of your throat and sputum.  If the rheumatologist determines that this is not an autoimmune disorder, you

[EROS]

This all seems too common with the family history etc. I would suspect you are probably a candidate for Lupus. However the diagnosis of lupus can take a number of years and nearly always presents with a characteristic rash across the bridge of the nose and cheeks.

BOOP is uncommon but the outlook when treated with steroids is good if this indeed is what you are suffering from.

My guess is an auto immune condition as you also suspect, I say this because of the positive ANA, the family history and the pleurisy (in a non smoker).

Keep well.

Eros.

[EROS]

coco, go to yer doc.