pleurisy

I was diagnosed with this a few months ago and was given medication which I took for 2 weeks and it seemed to go away.  After that time I was also diagnosed as hypothyroid.  I am still experiencing the discomfort in the chest like there is fluid with trouble breathing.  I have been through every test and it is normal.  Is anyone else experiencing this often and what helps it?

[National Jewish]

It sounds like you got better, but continued to have discomfort in the chest like there is fluid with trouble breathing.  Your doctor needs to know that this discomfort is continuing rather than going away.  It is possible for this discomfort to just be lingering.  It is also possible that something else is causing your discomfort to continue.  To know what is going on more testing will need to be done, starting with a chest x-ray.

Pleurisy is inflammation or irritation of the pleura, the sac that holds the lungs.  This can cause discomfort in the chest, which is felt more with deep breathing and coughing.  This can be caused by anything that reaches the covering of the lungs that should not be there, such as bacteria or viruses.

Antibiotics will help a bacterial infection, but will not help a viral infection.  Over time your body's natural defenses will clear a viral infection.  During this time it is important to treat the discomfort so that you are able to breath as normal as possible so that other problems do not start.  Two things that may help with your discomfort are
1) an anti-inflammatory pill, like ibuprofen and
2) heat, especially moist heat, like a bath or shower.