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Pleurisy was the ERs guess


Kamoto

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Noticed a sharp rib pain last Thursday on right side.  As I’ve had a left rib tumor, I knew I had a symptom of something.  Called oncologist and setup a CT scan for Monday.  I couldn’t get past Saturday morning.  I woke up at 2 am, barely able to move.  I had trouble breathing and the pain was radiating to my back.  Somehow got downstairs to the phone and called 911.  ER did the CT scan, but the radiologist is a contract guy from India at that time of the day.  He found nothing on the CT.  Discharged as having Pleurisy.  I’m 2 years five months on Tagrisso for the primary right lung tumor w Mets to brain, spine and left rib.  Haven’t had an issue till now, but it’s hard to sleep w this pain.  I’ll talk to Oncology on Monday and get their advice.  Anyone have a similar tale?

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Kamoto,

Sorry to hear about this development and I do hope it is something other than a recurrence. The negative CT is a positive sign.

I have lots of sharp pain events but they are mostly located in the vicinity of surgical areas. Nevertheless, they are disquieting. 

Stay the course and stay warm this winter.

Tom

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Kamoto,

So sorry to hear about this situation with you.  Like Tom I still have pains and slight burning/numbness from my surgery.  But Pleurisy is a symptom...more specifically a swelling of the lung tissue separating your lung tissue from the chest wall and not a diagnosis. 

I'm not sure you should just accept the confirmation of the pain without understanding the reason for it.  While I agree with Tom that a negative scan eliminates some of the more dangerous reasons for it you still need to know what is causing it. 

I would put pressure on your doctor (yes, even using their weekend number and whichever doctor is on call).  It could be caused by pleural effusion, Atelectasis, or empyema...all involving a fluid buildup of some type between the tissues and chest wall.

I'm no doctor, but I would hope you can hear more than just "yes, your pain is caused by pleurisy".  If not any of the worst things we fear (recurrence, and thank God it doesn't seem to be) then it would be good to have someone look for the cause so you can get relief.

Please update us on this.  

Lou

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I too hope it is "just" pleurisy.  to that end I used to have that frequently when younger - they never actually treated it.  Just took time to get better.  It is as you described and quite painful.  Haven't had that in a few decades, thankfully.  I also agree on the importance of follow-up for further evaluation given your history. 

Hopefully you've heard back from your onc after you contacted them Monday?  Do you have a pulm as well?  I'd encourage you to contact your pulm too....  Please let us know when you get more info.... 

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Morphine and dilaudid knocked it down.  About Monday, I stopped feeling the bad pain, and by Tuesday, it was gone.  But yeah, nothing in the CT scans showed any issues.  They did note a kidney stone but on the left side.  Also said something about an ascending colon stricture.  Both on the left.   Will do a brain MRI in a few weeks, but hopefully it was an infection hitch has cleared up.   The dead tumor mass is still shrinking and is almost below a CM

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Glad you're feeling better.  No stomach pain? Ascending colon is on the right not left side of your stomach. Last tine I had a stricture of my ascending colon I was in the hospital a few days with Diverticulitis. Maybe they are related. 741832-571.jpg

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Let's hear it for the shrinking dead tumor. Sorry you went through such a scary thing. Pain is terrifying. So glad it disappeared. Good luck on the brain scan!

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