Pleurisy symptoms and conditions

Wow, I'm so glad I found this site!
I was diagnosed with pleurisy 2 and a half weeks ago following a virus, a few weeks before, so naturally, as my asthma nurse has always told me, I've doubled up my Advair (or Seretide as it's called here in the UK!) for that entire time.
Previously I was taking one puff once a day in an evening which I never had any problems or side effects with, it just controlled my asthma really well. Now I'm taking 2 puffs twice a day (morning and night) and for a few days now I've been having terrible joint pains in my hands, feet, elbows and knees. Have been searching the internet for what it could be and think I might have found the answer! Hopefully if I decrease my meds back down the pain will improve!
Like a lot of people on here, though, I was NEVER told about any potential side effects to Seretide, just that it was a wonder drug.

I've received a few Kenalog shots over the past few years for pleurisy. I just got another shot today. For me it's a miracle drug. It relieves the pain within a few hours.

The only side effect I have ever had is a huge dent in my butt cheek where I got the shot. Having a dent in my butt is a small price to pay for relieving the excruciating pain of pleurisy.

I had a chronic sinus infection and my doctor put me on Levaguin and 80 mg of prednisone. I am 62 and I take only synthroid as a prescribe. drug. I told my doctor I was a borderline diabetic. She told me the side effect were bone weakening in the hip and pelvis and stomach upset. At first I had a lot of energy and sleep a lot less. I just thought I was getting better. I tapered down to 1 1/2 . After taking them for 11 days I was not able to function. My body was under extreme distress, I have very excellent blood pressure and I am in very good health. I have been off the drug for 4 days. I am still experiencing sweating, hypertension, extreme muscle spasms. I am unable to wear my contacts, I am short tempered and I am normally the opposite. I have horrible headaches and I very seldom ever get headaches. I told my doc and she said it would go away in time.
My body is fatigued I am have trouble focusing,sleeplessness. I don't know where to turn at this point. Sometimes I feel like I should go to er because of the hyperventilating and rapid heart beat. I am afraid to exercise. I am eating a lot of high protein foods, I am not gaining weight, I have lost 7 lbs in two weeks. PLEASE EVALUATE THE RISKS OF THIS DRUG IT HAS BEEN A NIGHTMARE FOR ME. DOCTORS DON'T ALWAYS TELL YOU THE WHOLE TRUTH AND THEY NEED TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THIS.

Wow. I found this site after looking up causes for lack of sex drive. I've been on Yasmin for 6 years, but never thought for a minute it had anything to do with the problems I've been having. Loss of sex drive, vaginal dryness, hair loss, mood swings (partners always gets the brunt of those), repeated bouts of chest pains (diagnosed with pleurisy recently, don't know if there is a link).

I had got to the point that I thought this is just the way I am, it never occurred to me that something else could be causing this. I can't even remember what it's like to be normal.

I already have 2 kids and don't want any more at the moment so I don't know what the solution is. Well, I haven't wanted sex for the last few years so i suppose the bloody thing has done its job in that way!

I'm just shocked, this has been a real wake up call. I'm stopping taking the evil little things as of now.

started Levaquin 2 weeks ago for pneumonia & pleurisy (had been prescribed 5 day kpack but that didn't work). after a couple of days started the insomnia, joint pain in left elbow, knee & hip. then started having problems walking, dizzy, nausea, headache, called my docs and they had me come in. they sent me to emergency room to make sure I wasn't having stroke! no stroke, but stopped Levaquin (it was helping my pneumonia) and switched to another antibiotic. my side effects were not going away, though, and the night before last I took a vicodin. DO NOT TAKE VICODIN! woke up crying in the morning and could not lift my arms cause of the pain. my husband had to hold a glass so I could drink water to take pain meds. couldn't even type! I did go to acupuncture, and last night I took Advil pm (2) and today slept till 2pm! I feel MUCH better, though side effects still not gone. I am mid 40's, fairly healthy, (had breast cancer last year, though, w/mastectomy & chemo, and had radiation for hodgekins in my early 30's) so my immune system is a bit weaker than most, but I get around and am VERY active, so this threw me for a loop. any advice anyone? gmf

On Advair for about 4 years, at first I was fine with only minor throat irritations. About a year later I started having the Leg cramps / Muscle tightness. I've been to many Doctors who couldn't explain my leg pain. I tried to stop using my Advair many times, but felt so horrible that I had to start using it again. Last week my allergy doctor put my on Prednisone for pleurisy and I decided on my own to GET OFF ADVAIR. I have felt like a new woman this week. My leg pain is almost gone, my eyesight seems to be improving, and my random joint pain is slowing down. I didn't realize until I found this site tonight, that SO MANY people have had the same experiences. Like you others, my DOCTOR assured me there weren't ANY side effects. I'll gladly use my inhaler a couple times a week to manage my asthma. DON'T listen to your DR, there are other ways!!!!! By the way, I'm a 38 year old female. I feel like I'm finally getting my life back.

I got sick. It lasted longer than usual. I was coughing up phlegm and I had sore throats on and off. It would get a little better then get worse. After about a month of this I developed a Pleurisy or a Pleuritis, in which I had a terribly painful cough.
I finally went to the doctor.
First my doctor prescribed an antibiotic which was not Levaquin. It didn't work.

Then she prescribed Levaquin. I had instructions to take 10 pills, once a day. After the first couple of days, I developed a skin rash, all over my torso. I went to several websites including this one to read up about Levaquin and its possible side effects. Most said, to stop taking it.

I tried to stop the rash by taking Benadryl, at night. So I took Tylenol PM. I found that the rash was smaller in the morning. So I stayed on the Levaquin. At the end of the 10 days of Levaquin, my chest still hurt a little when I coughed. About a week after finishing my prescription, the pleurisy pain was gone. I am so glad I stayed on the drug.

I suspect Advair is responsible for my having come down with pneumonia,stabbing chest pains( which the Dr. at the ER suggested was Pleurisy) and severe back pain in my lower back. I haven't been able to sleep in bed for at least 6 weeks and must sleep in a chair with my feet propped up on an ottoman.I have used Advair since July 2007, first 250/50 then 500/50 and now back to 250/50 in order to reduce hoarseness. The pneumonia is gone after 5 days hospitalization; the pleurisy pain has just subsided with pain killers and anti inflammatory meds . But the severe lower back pain is still there; my orthopedic Dr. has recommended physical therapy which I plan to initiate. However, stopping the use of Advair may be exactly what I need to end the back pain. I would like to mention that I did experience Thrush upon using Advair and I found that it completely went away when I started drinking pure Pomegranate juice.It doesn't taste great but it was recommended by friends during the time I had pneumonia, and lo and behold, it seems to have done away with Thrush. The Advair along with Siriva does seem to help my asma but these suspected side effects are very debilitating.

After reading so many of everyone’s stories, I feel I got off easy, but not without some agony. I developed a double whammy of acute bronchitis and pleurisy in my left lung. If you are not familiar with pleurisy, it feels like hit with a baseball bat in your ribs each time you attempt to take a normal breath. I was completely uninformed of the condition and it is now burned in my memory forever. I was prescribed azithromycin and Prednisone for a month. I started with two 20mg (40mgtotal) tabs for 7 days and then tapered off in the following manner. 1 ½ tabs for 7 days, 1 tab for 7days and then ½ a tab for the last 7 days. I have read many of the users who have been on Prednisone for years at a time and my heart goes out to each and every one of you. I experienced a large number of side effects for being on it for such a short period. My wife was ready to attach the ole cinder block to my ankles and drop me in the lake, but she stuck through it. The first side effects began within the first week. My appetite went through the stratosphere, my heart felt like it was going to erupt out of my chest on some nights and finally, my memory just went to (for lack of a better work) shit. After coming home from the grocery store on multiple occasions, I left the house key in the key hole on the outside, only to find it the next morning on my way out the door. My short term memory was just misfiring constantly. There are too many funny stories to tell. For some odd reason, I did not gain near as much weight as I should have given the mass quantity of food I ingested. The total weight gain was only around seven or eight pounds. The most prominent side effect was my mood swings. I am a laid back person my nature, but not for that 30 day period. I had to make a conscious effort to not put myself in a position to disagree with another individual. When it did occur, it was just not a pretty site. A few of the other side effects were lack of sleep and profuse sweating. I would wake up every morning and my pillow was drenched. I live in Austin, Texas, so the AC was pegged and 67 degrees and no one was allowed to touch the thermostat without grave consequences. I broke out the winter pajamas for the kids and my wife wrapped up in multiple layers of clothing, while I was spread eagle under the ceiling fan (Highest setting of course) in my birthday suit, and was still only the in the moderate comfort range. More side effects included swelling of my ankles and hands. I was not on it long enough to get the infamous moon face or the hump on the back of the neck. The side effects after stopping the dosage were no less entertaining. I took my last dose seven days ago. The three main effects have been rashes on my ankles and under my arms, severe energy loss and heartburn. The worst of it all has been my energy level, or the lack of. My energy level crashed so hard I have had to literally peel myself out of bed each morning. If I did not have a two year old daughter and a four year old son, I would probably still be asleep right now. It has been getting a little easier each day. I have started walking each morning now and hopefully this will end soon. I have also been drinking large amounts of water. That has seemed to help me out. The heartburn was easily treatable with some Pepcid AC. I hope my experience offers some solace to those in a similar situation and fair warning to those who are about to embark on this medication.

i've been on nuva for about 6 months... the first 2 weeks, i felt a little irritable, but nothing serious. within the past month, ive started noticing more serious symptoms. i went to the emergency room because i was having sharp pains when i breathe in. (this actually started months ago but it wasnt really that bad until a couple weeks ago) they did an x-ray and said i had "pleurisy"...ive also been having heart palpitations...both of these have been freaking me out but i never thought they had anything to do with nuva (and neither did the doctors apparently)...ive been flipping out lately...im usually pretty easy going and happy, but lately, i have been having severe mood swings...i get sad, angry, anxious and i cant figure out why...when i snap out of it im like "wow that isnt like me"...it was horrible and i thought i was going crazy. i have been exhausted during the day and i fall asleep soon after work (which i didnt think much of because i work with children all day) and i have had headaches daily...i was eating nonstop, none of my clothes fit me because i have gained weight and i am bloated every day. oh yea, and once i had pain so bad during sex i had to stop and i was in tears...right after, i felt like i had a UTI. the pain lasted 2 days and went away.

i took it out yesterday and i WILL NEVER use it again. i felt so good today. i am happier, not hungry and i have more energy. seriously, im mad that no doctors have mentioned any of these symptoms to me and when i went in for a check up at the gyno they didnt say that my symptoms could be caused by nuva.

About 6 weeks ago my doctor decided to put me on a mile medication for BP and he prescribed a tiny 2.5 mg lisinipril daily dosage for me. About the same time, first or so of November, I caught a cold and had a bad cough with it. The cold symptoms eventually subsided except for the cough. It lessened in severity but is still with me. About 3 weeks ago I developed what I thought was a side ache or possibly a pulled muscle from the coughing but it progressed to be quite painful. I went to see my doctor today and it's apparently pleurisy which is not so serious but is VERY painful. He immediately took me off the lisinipril and prescribed a different BP med for me. He feels that this will solve my problem and the pleurisy will go away. He said that lisinipril can cause the urge to cough and it can be a problem at night while trying to sleep and this has been a problem for me. My husband also caught a cold, has a cough and is taking lisinipril. If he's still coughing in a week or so, the doctor may change his BP medication too.

I have always like Levaquin until last night. I had bronchitis 10 days before my last attack of bronchitis and Pleurisy. Both times my Pulmonary Specialist has given me Levaquin. I accidentially forgot to take the 10th dose. ( skipped a day) and took it yesterday 6-6-03. I became so weak. I had trouble getting my breath, was very weak ==walking a few steps felt as if the oxygen was cut off to my legs and arms. I turned very pale and experienced tingling in my fingers and toes.
My husband took me to a walk=in clinic - they sent us to the ER. The doctor there wanted to give me Anxiety pills. I refused. I explained I was not suffering from stress. I had a normal day. He ran all the test. Results - no clot, no pneumonia. He checked my blood for possible heart attack. All enzymes were normal. Potassium in normal range - but low side of normal. He told me to go home and drink some gatorade. The doctor said - there might be a side effect of Levaquin - "I haven't looked it up" He wrote me up as anxiety and unknown cause." I fully believe what I had last night was an Levaquin reaction. Today 6-7-03 I still feel tingling in my fingers and toes - I am still pale - but I am not as weak.