Hi,
i hope someone out there has some advice for me. I had a respiratory inection back in october. A few weeks later, I developed "textbook" signs of pleurisy, although I didn't know it at the time (a stabbing pain in the side, back pain, difficulty breathing, pain while sneezing, shortness of breath,etc.). I went to my doctor and had heart tests done (they were fine), received antibiotics and steroids, etc., but the symptoms never went away. In dec., my mom died of a pulmonary embolism. I did not follow up with my care, due to the all the family problems/grief. In the last month, my symptoms and pain have become unbearable. I went back to the doctors, had chest x-rays, saw a pulmonogist, etc. , was diagnosed with pleurisy and am taking anti-inflammatories.

However, everything i've been reading talks about underlying disorders with pleurisy. Due to my mom's un-known condition, I don't know if I should be asking for more tests, tests for arthritiis, lupus, or what. I'm also concerned about the length of the pleurisy (6 months) and if the anti-inflammatories mask the symptoms or actually cure it?

I hope someone out there can help! Sorry for the long post-