Can anyone help?

Last April I had a nasty infection that developed into pleurisy. I had to miss quite a few Enbrel injections. I have been left for 5 months with a constant wheeziness, exhaustion, shortness of breath and intermittent chest pain. I have had loads of tests and x-rays, my Rheumy has confirmed my symptoms are inflammation from the pleurisy. He also said that R.A and pleurisy are linked which I wasn't aware of.

Has anyone had pleurisy, is it possible to get over it when you have R.A, and is there anything I can do to help myself?

Many thanks

Rebecca

I had pleurisy about 3 years ago and got over it with antibiotics. I didn't stop the mxt during that time as no-one told me to. I do have a persistent cough now but it isn't really a problem. Apparently I have some emphesema from when I smoked 22 years ago but I didn't have a cough before the pleurisy.

Sheila x

Hi Rebecca

I think mine must have been caught quite early as it only took about 2 weeks and I was back at work. The antibiotics worked very quickly but I can't remember what they were. Sorry to be so vague. I think the reason we gat things like this is (and this is only my opinion) that we have RA because our immune systems work too well and so they turn on us as well as all the bad things they are supposed to attack. The mxt is to lessen our immune system to prevent it attacking us thereby making us more susceptible to illnesses. I am sure there is someone with better medical knowledge than I on here and they will agree or disagree with me but that is what I was told when I was first diagnosed. I hope this, in some part, answers your question.

Sheila x

Thank you Sheila and Jenni that has really clarified what is happening.

Thanks for the advice about the ultrasound Jenni, no I haven't had this done and will see if I can get this sorted.

Rebecca x