Pleurisy and coughing up blood

[jem_bob]

Hi all,
For the past couple of weeks I have been coughing up mucus in the mornings that is often streaked with blood. It gets clearer throughout the day, however lately it has been a rusty/green colour too (indicating an infection). Last week I suffered from conjunctivits and terrible migraines and the feeling of being drunk (dizzy and everything was in slow motion). The most recent development was on Sunday morning when I woke up with an awful pain at the back of my ribs on the right. I decided to go to the doctor yesterday, who has diagnosed me with pleurisy and sent me for a chest x-ray this morning. I'll have to wait for over a week before the results come back, so she has put me on antibiotics in the mean time. My issue is that this week, other than the pain caused by pleurisy and a lot of mucus build up (nasty!) I feel fine. I don't feel like I have a chest infection at all (I've had many before, so now how I usually feel). If my doctor diagnosed me with pleurisy, why would I need a chest x-ray? Stupidly I have had a snout around the internet for other causes of pleurisy and coughing up blood, and have now managed to convince myself I've got lung cancer! Can someone please give me a bit of advice (past experiences, medical advice?) to put my mind at ease until my next appointment?
Thanks!

[jake-the-peg]

I had pleurasy once - very painful very unpleasant much as you describe

But it went after a while and some antibiotics.

I'd imagine they just want to play safe and make sure the diagnosis is correct

[hailthechimp]

Do you smoke?

[jem_bob]

No, I've never smoked and no one in my family does. I'm never around smokers either, so I've ruled that one out.

[hailthechimp]

Just take the medication and try and put all the negative feelings you've got aside as worrying wont help you one way or another!

[sqad617]

Bottom line:

Commonest things occur commonest.....commonest cause of coughing up blood is Bronchitis which you had.......end of story.

However, a chest X-Ray would be indicated for:

1) Show complete resolution of your chest infection
2) To demonstrate the outside chance of an underlying disorder.

I am not a fan of on-line medicine.