Spontaneous Pneumo-Thorax - Lung & Respiratory Disorders / COPD Message Board

jeldrid · 01-17-2001, 07:15 PM

This is a message I posted a few months ago...

Quote:

I've had this twice now in a span of about 10 months (the most recent being about 2 months ago). It was extremely painful both times. Each lung has collapsed once. The x-rays each time showed about 1-1.5 inches of space between the wall of my chest cavity and my lung. Both times it has happened my doctor has allowed it to heal itself gradually..just prescribing tyelenol-3 for the pain. The first time it took about 6 weeks to heal and a mere 3 weeks the 2nd time (slightly less severe collapse...due to my cautious breathing at the point of collapse).

A couple of days ago I felt dangerously close to a 3rd collapse. I was in some pain, and decided to just try and sleep it off. Fortunately it worked and the pain has disappeared, but I am afraid I may not be so lucky the next time.

I was wondering if anyone else has had experiences with pneumo-thorax, and if they might have any insight for me.. Things like how to prevent it, what causes it, how involved is the surgery to correct it...etc..etc.

Just yesterday my left hand lung collapsed again. I don't think it was very severe, but I haven't been to my doctor and had x-rays yet. If anyone has any insight... please enlighten me. Do I need surgery? What does it involve if i do?

Peach · 02-02-2001, 08:32 AM

I just read your post and just wondering how you could not go to the hospital if you think that you lung colapsed again.
Well this is my story i have had my right lung colapsed twice the first time was Aug 4th of 1999 and was on vacation in orlando at disny world woke up in the hotel room and felt fine got up to get ready for the day and all of a sudden it felt like someone grabed my chest and just squeezed i could not breath and had the most pain i have ever felt i really thought that I was going to die went to the hospital to find out that it was a collasped lung spent three days in the hospital with a chest tube in again very painful, the seconed time i had just woke up on a saturday morning feeling fine sat down to drink my coffie and felt the same pain again could not believe it this was on the past December 16, 2000 went to the hospital and had another chest tube in and spent four days in the hospital. Ok now this is what my docs told me, I had two choices i could have meds put into the chest tube that would irretate the lung and it would adhear to my chest wall or i could have surgery to do the same but first i had to have a CT scan this is what i would tell you to have your doc to do this for you to see why this happend to you. In my case i have what is called a Bleb on the top of my right side lung a Bleb is like a blister this is just something that i was born with and i have a 50% chance of this happing to me again, Now my doc wants me to wait till this happens again to do anything about it. I was told that there is nothing that i could do to prevent this from happening again if it is going to happen nothing will stop it from what i was told. If I was you i would talk to your doc so that you can get a CT scan of your lungs to see why this is happening to you. I hope my story was helpful to you let me know what you think

danieldcc · 02-09-2001, 09:05 AM

I am currently recovering from a spontanous lung collapse. As I am young, work a physical job and like to smoke. I am wondering when I can go back to my activities. I just had the chest tube removed for 3 days. I am also scared that it will come back since it comes back to a lot of people. Everytime I get some chest pain I am scared that it is the lung. Any advice on how to begin my recovery besides rest?

danieldcc · 02-09-2001, 09:10 AM

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Peach · 02-09-2001, 11:23 AM

I have had two and all i can tell you is that it does take time for all the pain to go away. The pain that you feel is most likely not your lung it is from the chest tube and it does take some time for it to go away, I have had a real hard time this time with Panic Attacks thinking that every time i feel a pain in my chest it is the lung but with time it is getting better and if this is the first time it has happened to you as my doc has told me you have a 50% chance of this happening to you again and i also smoke and like to smoke just take it easy for awhile and thing should get back to normal. I hope that this helps you but i bet that it does not. I have cut down on my smoking mostly because i am so afraid of this happening again. Well take care and I will check back to see if this helps you or not.