Bibasilar subsegmental atelectasis (lung collapse)

Really feel for you. Have had pleurisy before and your experience sounds much like mine. Mine was diagnosed sooner than yours, but the pain was excruciating. This was a number of years ago and there was little that could be done for it to help take the pain away. I think I was given an inhaler and that really didn't do a whole lot. Anyway, it too a couple of weeks to start clearing up and then the pain subsided rather quickly. If it is pleurisy, or something else, I wish you the best. It was pleurisy that stopped my smoking habit back when. Ha, was trying to smoke with ht horrid lung pain. Relized it was a stupid thing to do. Again, wishing you a good diagnosis and speedy recovery. .

Thank you so much....I will never take for granted being able to breathe normally take a deep breath again in my life.

@helena4000- awww, I can really understand your frustration and relief that someone is finally listening to you. I once broke down too and in tears asked why that certain doctor wouldn't listen to me. But we shouldn't have to get to that point.
I've also had pleurisy and it is very very painful. Keep on those doctors to get answers! Perhaps when you are discharged you can be given an RX for a nebulizer, if you still need one.
Heart problems often cause breathing problems. We are connected inside much more than we realize. Both are pretty much dependent on one another.
Do you have any idea what the next step will be? Are you still in pain?

That sure explains your pain. Too bad it had to come to an ER visit but at least now you are on the right track. Hope you are feeling better.

Well, i was released with an "official" diagnosis of pleurisy. They said they saw pericardial effusion and pleural effusion, so I guess a double whammy for pressure causing breathing problems. They gave me an Albuterol inhaler which does seem to make me feel less "stiff" in my breathing... I felt like my few moments of normalcy since this all started have been right after they gave me breathing treatments. They told me to start a Prednisone pack this morning. And they also gave me some Xanax for associated anxiety. I was told to follow-up with a pulmonologist in two weeks. They also gave me this lung strengthening apparatus that has a ball inside that kind of goes up when you inhale. The respiratory nurse said that they give that apparatus to people after surgeries who have atelectasis specifically for reinflating those collapsed alveoli. That seems to be helpful--when I get the feeling I'm going to have a rapid breathing attack I start using that. Not sure how I'm going to handle that at work though. The chest and back pain is still there, but better when resting.

Right!? If I hadn't gone to the ER I'd be...not sure. Then I got a message yesterday saying that my primary care doctor (the one that threw anxiety, stress, and muscle pain at me for weeks) wants me to make an appointment with him. I'm actually scared to go back to him at this point because I feel like he's putting my life in danger! He completely ignored certain things he should have done when I came to his office and said I can't breathe right and I'm having chest pain. He didn't even listen. I'm not 100% now but I think I feel better than I did when I went to the hospital on Sunday. Thank you for the well wishes!

@helena4000- Well finally a diagnosis, right? You must be so relieved, I am and can take a long deep breath for you! I think that you will need to be very patient with this clearing up as you have a double whammy. It will take a while the inflammation to go down and disappear. It's a very very good idea to get your own pulmonologist because they can test to see if there is any damage after this is finished. Do you have reliable references?

@helena4000- I urge you to seek another PCP. There ins not anyway you will ever be comfortable with this guy. He has broken your trust in him. I'm sure that you know this. Maybe your new pulmonologist can recommend a new PCP unless you already have one in mind. I hope that you will check in more as you feel better to let us know your progress. And also to help others who might get an earlier diagnosis with your help when you share your story and history.
You are a success story! DO you feel like one even if you are not "cured" yet?

Great Advice. Hope you follow it. Am really pulling for you!

Thank you....and thank you so much for your support and input...this pleurisy is the most painful thing I've ever felt. Just awful.