Less than a week after being told by my consultant that my lung had fully re-inflated, my lung went down again a couple of weeks back. I knew deep down that I'd done it almost straight away but left it a day before taking myself to A&E in the naive hope that it might be something else and miraculously go away.
X-rays revealed it was a larger pneumothorax than the one I'd just got over although it was in a similar area. As a result, conservative management wasn't an option this time which meant I was admitted to hospital and put on a chest drain again. Due to the site of the pneumothorax I had to have a CT guided drain inserted through the front chest wall. Not a pleasant procedure at all!
It's done the job though and after a week in hospital I finally got out last Thursday and have been recuperating at home over the past few days ahead of a return to work before the end of the week.
The latest episode has knocked my confidence a little as I didn't do anything at all that might increase the likelihood of getting the pneumothorax yet the lung didn't even stay up a week. Going forwards I know that I've got to slowly get back in to exercise again - and I will - but I'm understandably a bit worried about it all happening again.
Longer term if it does go again then I'll have a difficult decision to make as I can't keep getting a pneumothorax that requires a chest drain and time off work. It opens me up to the risk of infection and at some point my luck will run out and the lung won't fully re-inflate. There are surgical interventions that I can consider however they have implications in the longer term as they will make transplant - if I get there - far more complicated.
All hypotheticals at the stage but frustrating and unsettling nonetheless which has got me thinking about lots of things regarding my health, lifestyle and wider happiness. Sadly I can't do much to avoid another pneumothorax however I can do more to reduce my lung disease progression including moving out of London and cutting out as much stress in my life as possible.
If anyone else has had experience of multiple pneumothraxes I'd be interested to know how they've dealt with them and when they've considered surgical intervention.
Written by
dodgylungrunner
British Lung Foundation
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I just want to wish you well and hoping for better days ahead. You’ve been through a lot just lately and I’m sure there will be replies from people who have experienced pneumothorax.
Thanks as always sassy59 . It's been a topsy turvy couple of months but I'm on the mend again and hopefully I'll get a good run of things again in the upcoming months. Hope you're well?
Anyway seriously, l was in my second home, about beginning of February, the guy next to me was in the hospital for the second time in about a year, with the same problem as you, he was told by his doctors if he has another lung collapse, he could die! So, he had to consider an operation!
So, take it seriously mate! Ok? GOOD LUCK! We are here for you, buddy.
Gosh that sounds really serious! Collapsed lungs can be very serious - especially if they're full collapse as they can put so much pressure on the heart. Fortunately, mine have only been small so far but I know I need to take this seriously and I am. Sadly bar not go scuba diving or take part in contact sports there isn't much I can do to prevent further pneumothoraxes from occurring. Hope you're well and thank you for your support.
I’m sorry to know you’ve been going through so much lately. It can be hard to accept limitations imposed on us by our body. I haven’t experienced pneumothorax so don’t have any advice to offer which I’m really sorry about because you seem like a great person and you’ve given me good advice in the past which helped me in a difficult time. There will be people along with lots of help and advice to offer 👍 I hope things can improve for you and best of luck getting back into exercise.
Thanks as ever for all your support HungryHufflepuff . I've got everything crossed that this is me done for lung drama for a while at least but it's certainly put things in perspective a bit. Going to be a slow road back to full recovery and getting confidence back but I'll get there as I know how important is for both my physical and mental well being.
Hi,no they seem to have stopped now although I have a lot of scarring and some emphysema, I know it really knocks your confidence but try not to let it get to you too much, I have just come back from India.
helo, 2 and a half years ago my right lung collapsed 5 times in a month, I had a third of lung removed, and its still playing me up, but all in all im ok im now 70 so don't work, just potter lol my left lung has a couple of blebs but you have age on your side, good luck my friend
Glad to hear that you're doing ok Brian in spite of your right lung misbehaving itself so much. Sounds like you're really been in the wars! Did they offer you the option of stapling/gluing the lung to prevent further collapses? Wishing you all the best going forwards. Thank you so much for taking the time to leave a message!
helo dodgy, I had a bullectmy and a pluectmy (not sure of spelling) it was stapled to chest wall, at the time I had so many questions and lots of fears, most of my help has come from this site and I phoned british lung foundation spoke to a nurse who put me right on many things, keep going forward small steps and get your confidence back, for the first year I was down the docs a lot, because I kept getting chest infections. but im now sorted, have you got empherseyma and have you any blebs on lungs,?
my wife and I live out in the sticks in Suffolk 7 miles from sea, and I must admit some of farmers spraying and tree pollen it can be bit of a problem, but its very qiute and people are friendly so no stress
Take care of yourself and don't overdo things. If you seriously think of moving out of London, don't choose to come to Eastbourne - we have high levels of pollution! Lots of people assume that as it's by the sea it must be good, but it's not! Good luck, whatever decisions you make. xx Moy
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