Rib pain and Pleurisy

[kimshaver10]

Two weeks ago I went to my Dr b/c I had a upper respiratory infection.  He put me on a z-pack antibiotic.  So this past week I went back because I am still coughing A LOT and I still feel like I have an infection.  He listened to my lungs, gave me a breathing treatment and sent me for a chest x-ray.  That was on Monday, since then (today being Friday) my coughing has increased and I am having bad pain in my ribs/lungs.  At first it felt like I had been hit by a baseball bat, and today it is sharp stabbing pains when I breath, move or cough. Since this has been going on since tues and today is friday I left a message for my dr.  When he called he let me know that the x-ray that was taken on monday was clear and told me just to use an otc cough aid for my cough.  That is what I have been using for over a week now and it isn't helping but he told me that there was nothing else he could prescribe for a cough?  I guess my question is, since my pain didn't start until tues/wed and really got worse thurs/fri and my chest x-ray was monday, should he have ordered another to make sure things haven't gotten worse?  I have had pleurisy in the past several times and this is exactly what it feels like.  I explained that to him and he dismissed it like he had never heard of it!  My old Dr used to give my either tussinex or tussi caps to help with the pain and inflammation due to coughing but this dr acted like there was nothing that could be done, so I guess I suffer?!  I am just worried since the pain is so much worse that my infection or whatever has gotten worse too!  Please help me if you can!

Thanks,
Kim

[kimshaver10]

Thanks so much for your comments.  So far I am not doing anybetter and I know how long this pain can last for!  I think I am starting to cough less but the damage has been done and unfortunitly I am a very slow healer :(  I am going on vacation on wed and I really wanted this to be so much better so if I am not in a couple of days may need to go to the er!  Thanks again!

[mellie4]

The z-pac is great but remember it's a five day prescription that keeps working for ten days, which means it takes a while to get at the infection.  Personally, for me, the z-pac never works for any lung infection, bronchitis or pneumonia; and I always end up on Augmentin.  If you're still in pain tomorrow, maybe you should go to the ER.  In the past, if the z-pac didn't work the first time, my doctor always prescribed a different antibiotic.

Hope it kicks in for you soon.

[kimshaver10]

Thank you so much for your resoponse!  I went to an accute care clinic last night, the dr put me on another round of the z-pac and then also gave me a pill called benzonatate to help with the coughing.  So far it has done nothing to help!  He said if I wasn't better in a couple of days that I should come back in to be seen again.  Hopefully this will help but so far, I am still in a lot of pain!  I am thinking I should have gone to the er to make sure they did do another x-ray!

[mellie4]

Sorry to hear your doctor is being so dismissive of you.  Tussionex works great; I've had it for bronchitis and pneumonia in the past.

I'm thinking maybe your doctor should have seen you again and at the very least listened to your lungs again.  I've never had pleurisy but my mom used to get it and I know the pain from it can be severe.

Since you probably can't be seen by your doctor until Monday, is there an Urgent Care you could be seen at?  Or you could go to the ER; I'm sure they'll at least try a different antibiotic and give you something for the cough.