Pluerisy w/ plueral effusion and hep c

[dlr2007]

Hi all- This subject is a bit off direct topic but anyway... finally found out why my  hubby's in so much pain. He had chest xrays 2 wks ago that were normal, just a bit of fluid in right lung. Repeated yesterday- doc covering for PCP called and said there's moderate amount of liquid in the plueral area(membranes surrounding lungs) and he wants to drawsome out w/ a needle to analyze it. Scared the s*** outta me!! I've done some research on the web and think hubby has pluerisy, which is often caused by viral illness or pneumonia. But plueral effusion can also be related to cirrhosis, which we're not sure he has (hope not!). Anyone have any experience with this condition? Thanks for any advice. -Dee

[hippygem]

Hi foreseegood, long time no see eh!!  Just reading that you were in Berlin, one of the members in the oz forum is in Berlin just now, on tx, maybe you could pop in and say hi to her, she would love that.

I read in a previous thread in regards to Rev, I am hoping that the other forum that he got your email and pic from was not the oz forum, I would hate to think that it was, can you let me know please.

Hope all is well with you.

Linda

[Forseegood]

all I can say is that I had pleurasy and phemonia at the same time, while I was living in Berlin, Germany in the middle of the coldest winter they had in 100 years, lucky me huh? Me being from So California, well, let's just say I didn't adjust too well and I got very, very ill...this was 20 years ago now, and I've had hep for maybe 30 years? Now I am wondering if there is a connection, but of course, I could only make conjecture cause this disease is all over the place, with different people...

I don't remember a whole lot, only that I hated getting up in the morning cause the fluid, I guess, would pool in my lungs and I'd have these hellish coughs in the morning, where it was hard to get my breath...not one of my happier times I'm afraid...the German doctor would come over to check on me, and I can't remember  exactly what he gave me, but maybe there are newer, better protocols now...I was very ill for about a month, darn it, but I gradually got better and better..the doc there said that many people like me who are from much warmer climes can get very ill in really harsh climates like that, until we acclimate, which can take a few years...

I remember him telling me that and thinking to myself, you can acclimate pally, I'm getting out of here! ha ha! I loved Germany but I just couldnt take the weather, I wasn't raised in that type of weather...anyway, I digress...what I would remember is having any kind of needle in my lung drawing fluid, I sure didn't have that done, but maybe youre supposed to...I don't know much about it really, just posted to tell you that I went through it, and here I am, 20 years later, alive and kicking...I just had to really baby myself to rehab, take it really easy with lots of bedrest for a relatively long time...but that was just my own experience...hopefully, there are newer meds or whatever that will help him...be well.

[dlr2007]

Thanks for your replies. Wyntre, looks like you had it right! (Wish hubby's PCP had half the brains). It is a relief to get somewhere with this,esp. as I learn more about it.
  Forseegood and l-horn, it's good to hear that others had pluerisy too and survived- the doc on the phone yesterday made it sound like survival was not an option from his grave tone of voice. Sorry you both had to go thru that, but thank you for sharing. I was afraid it was a heart attack too- the shortness of breath is scary as h***! l-horn, your doc wanted to do a lung biopsy?? Nothin like overreacting huh? That's what freaks me out, when the doctor's jump in with frightening tests and possibilties right away. Obviously you didn't need any more tests. Y'know, it's funny you mention the injury but a few years ago my husband got nailed by a car mirror on that side of the chest and was in major pain for about a month- huge bruise, even went for chest X-rays. I wonder if an injury makes it more vulnerable. I know I got pnuemonia 7 times when I was smoking, and every time it was in the right lung, which always made interesting noises when I breathed. I quit and now it's better. No injuries that I can remember other than inhaling lotsa questionable substances.
  Thanks to all of you- I'll keep ya posted. -Dee

[l-horn]

I've had pleurisy and I do know this, it hurts like hell. I thought I was having a heart attack and went to the ER. My doc wanted to do a lung biopsy but I wasn't into that at the time. My lower left lung was collapsed on X-ray. I know this sounds nutty, and it may be coincidence but I have an old injury ( broken rib ) in that same area AND I now have a knot in the same spot that is a 'neural fibrosis'. When I had my attack of pleurisy I was sleeping on the couch a lot. Once I moved back to the bed, it went away. To this day, if I sleep on a couch or in a sleeping bag ( camping ) for a few days, it comes right back.  So for me, I think it was injury related rather than disease related.

[wyntre9]

You posted a couple of days ago, right.  I think I replied with soemthing about inflamation in the lining of the membrane between the ribs and the lungs, costocondritis.

"doc covering for PCP called and said there's moderate amount of liquid in the plueral area(membranes surrounding lungs) and he wants to drawsome out w/ a needle to analyze it.
"I've done some research on the web and think hubby has pluerisy, which is often caused by viral illness or pneumonia. But plueral effusion can also be related to cirrhosis."

So sorry to hear your so scared, but it sounds like at least progress is being made in narrowing down what's causing your hub's pain (when he coughs, laughs, breathes, right?)

I hope all goes well and you get more input from other posters.

Let us know how he's doing.