Recurrent lingering pleurisy. Is there help?

[Nata40]

Last year i contracted pleurisy after sitting (for a short time) in a draft in a wet shirt. Antibiotics didn't help. My Dr. said it's viral and will clear itself. I felt miserable - besides pain there was total exhaustion, low grade fever rising every aftrenoon, profuse sweats (had to change clothes every hour), especially at night. ALL of these symptoms, including hectic fever and sweats lasted ~5 months (between the last week of June to mid November). This is in spite of hot compresses, multivitamin, cod liver oil, vit.C, Echinacea and more. I was fine winter and spring and thought I'd put this nightmare behind. But....At the end of June (~ 3 weeks ago) after being exposed to extermely cold air in a store (in contrast to the heat outside), I came down with pleurisy again, with exactly same symptoms. I've been sick for 3 weeks now with no improvement in spite of treatment - a lot of supplements, hot wraps etc. I dread to think it may take 5 months again. The hectic fever and continuos drenching sweats are unbearable. Two Drs (family and pulmonologist) aren't worried as the Xray is normal. They said I just have to give it more time. I WANT MY LIFE BACK!!! WHAT CAN I DO TO RECOVER SOONER? I CAN'T WASTE ANOTHER 5 MONTHS OF MY LIFE (Also, HAD to quit my job). WILL IT BE REPEATING EVERY YEAR??  Has anybody been in my shoes?? PLEASE HELP!!!!

[lynnkay]

First of this year, I had pleurisy for 2 months. I experienced the fevers, sweating, etc. What I remember the most about my pleurisy was the pain that went with it. It was very painful. My doctor put me on antibiotics but it still took me 2 months to recover. I remember not even being able to touch the area where the pleurisy was. And I was rather swollen in that area as well. I understand what you are going through. I never want pleurisy again. But, for your pleurisy to last so long and then to re-occur. Well, I am not certain about that. So, I cannot advise you on that. I have lung disease called COPD, so I am certain I may have future bouts with the pleurisy. Hopefully, someone else on this forum can help you better and further. This is a great forum for answers. Best of luck to you.

[hava]

You can have your life back much sooner.Start doing this today, twice a day(you have time).You will notice a difference from day 9.Come back to report progress, so someone else can benefit.You will gain your health back and live a normal life.Do not give this up.I will answer any questions/comments.I want you to get better.
You need to help your body to build up your immune system.The breathing exercises - pranayam is a holistic approach creating extra oxygen supply in the body and will slowly help with the health problem.Do the pranayam to see the benefits.Build up your timing slowly and after two weeks at the suggested duration you will start to notice benefits.

Bhastrika - Take a long deep breath into the lungs(chest not tummy) via the nose and then completely breathe out through the nose.Duration upto 5 minutes.

Kapalbhati -(Do it before eating) Push air forcefully out through the nose about once per second. Stomach will itself go in(contract in). The breathing in(through the nose) will happen automatically. Establish a rhythm and do for upto 30 minutes twice a day.(Max 60 min/day) Not for pregnant women. Seriously ill people do it gently.

Anulom Vilom - Close your right nostril with thumb and deep breath-in through left nostril  
then – close left nostril with two fingers and breath-out through right nostril  
then -keeping the left nostril closed  deep breath-in through right nostril
then - close your right nostril with thumb and breath-out through left nostril.
This is one cycle of anulom vilom.
Repeat this cycle for 20 to 30  minutes twice a day(maximum 60 minutes in one day).
You can do this before breakfast/lunch/dinner or before bedtime or in bed.Remember to take deep long breaths into the lungs.You can do this while sitting on floor or chair or lying in bed.


Bhramri Pranayam -Close eyes. Close ears with thumb, index finger on forehead, and rest three fingers on base of nose touching eyes. Breathe in through nose. And now breathe out through nose while humming like a bee.
Duration : 5 to 10 times
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Only by doing you will benefit and will feel good that you can do something to help the body.Copy and print this to master the technique.This is  simplified pranayam for everyone and you do not have to go to classes to learn. This is for life unlike short term classes where you do it in the class then stop when classes are over.

[Nata40]

Lynn, Thank you for the response. You said your pleurisy lasted 2 months. Did your fever continue after you completed the antibiotics? How long did you take them? Did you take just one medication? Did you do anything else? I took Keflex (Cephalexin)  - the only antibiotic I am not allergic to (rather, less allergic than to others). I took it for 2 weeks but the fever still continued after that. Because it didn't help, my Dr. concluded my pleurisy was viral.
I am glad you recovered completely. It's a nasty thing. Yes, there is a lot of pain. But I could live with the pain. The worst part for me is unbelievable exhaustion (though my t isn't very high, it feels like 105F), drenching sweats and extreme sensitivity to the slightest draughts - Even the tiny draft from the computer fan causes more pain, chills and a sick feeling you usually get when the temp. is rising.
Take care.

[Nata40]

Thank you so much for the recommendations.
Extra O2 always helps, I'm all for it. HOWEVER, every breath (i.e. mechanical movement of the chest) causes a lot of pain. Several breaths in a row seem to aggravate my condition. I have PLEURISY (not bronchitis or pneumonia). I don't have any respiratory complaints (no cough, etc) other than sharp burning pain in the lungs (back, sides, front of chest) and, as a result, superficial breathing. Pleura is the outer sac holding the lung. When it is inflamed, every movement is agonizing. Actually, if too much friction occurs, fluid can start building up in the chest - this is how inflamed pleura protects itself from the mechanical damage of friction (the fluid being a lubricant). That would be a serious complication. I don't want it.
These breathing exercises sound really good. I am sure they are of great help in asthma, cronic bronchitis or COPD. But in my case.... It's like asking a person with inflamed knees to do jogging.  I have copied and saved these exercises. I should start doing them when (and if) I recover.
I wonder if for now I try only some of them (alternate nostrils and the "humming") with regular, not deep inhalations - will they help?? I just tried Kapabhati. Couldn't do more than 6-7 intense exhalations. The pain gets unbearable. It seems inflamed pleura needs complete rest to recover.
Thank you again, Stay healthy!

[hava]

You described the PLEURISY and symptoms very well.
Yes - do bhastrika, anulom vilom and bhramri with normal breathing and eyes closed.Once you can do anulom vilom for 15 minutes, then start kapalbhati with 3 strokes and increase very gradually.
Always stop if painful or uncomfortable.
The extra breathing energises the cells to help the body fight.You will notice very gradual benefits.Keep posting your observations as others are benefiting and i am learning more and more about the body functions.
Press the middle of the palm of both