Hi Sean, I hope you are well? And I hope your health has been keeping well since. One of my friend is currently suffering from a collapsed lung (she lives in Vancouver, Canada), she got admitted into hospital 7 days ago, and is currently receiving oxygen supplementation as the surgery costs is approx. 11,000 CAD. Im from the UK and myself and some other friends are currently doing a fundraiser to arrange for the money for the surgery. In your video you advised that on the health care system in Canada this surgery you get free? Is this because of the level of health care insurance you have? If you can please kindly share more information on this please. Thank you
I can not express to you how impressed I am that people like you do these kind of videos for no other reason but to help and inform others. You qualify for hero status, and I am genuinely grateful to you. Best wishes always.
That is an most amazing comment to receive. Thank you Zelve. When I had my collapsed lung, I thought that maybe I could at least help other people who were going through the same thing. Best wishes to you too. I hope that you are well. 😊
I'm sorry to hear that Rezaleen. Thank you for sharing your experience. Did you see my one year later video? I didn't feel it anymore at that point, and not it is about 2 years later and I also still do not feel it, though sometimes I feel muscle pain in my chest which I wonder about, but it seems to be connected to heartburn, so I don't think it is related.
Im glad to see this video because my elder son was suffering like his illness Her right lungs collaps He under observation for lung to Expand Her lungs to 90% as of now his lungs is 50 or 60 % i pray to god before tuesday hopefully his lung reached in 90% 🙏🙏🙏
Hi there. I am sorry that you are having to go through this. I remember very well what it was like. Try to look on the bright side as much as possible. If you want to check out my other video in which I share my experience one year later, it is much more optimistic. You'll get through. You got this! Feel free to visit my website and send me an email if you're bored or want more information. All the best. Get well soon. -Sean 🙂
Thank you very much for sharing this video. My brother in law was diagnosed with this from broken ribs. The condition was not described to us as a collapsed lung, which is critically serious!!
Thank you very much Sean for this video. my son experienced a collapsed lung three days ago. Your explanation of what you experienced has really helped me understand what my son is going through at this point in time and what to expect he is also very blessed to have a wonderful fiancé, who is taking time off work to be with him. There’s no way you can do this on your own due to the amount of pain you experience with a collapsed lung. Thank you so much for taking the time in making this video. We also live in Canada, which I am very thankful for our healthcare.
Hi Cindy. Thank you for sharing your experience and kind words. I'm glad to hear that the video helped you understand what your son is going through. It's heartening to know that he has such wonderful support from his fiancé, and I hope he has a smooth recovery. Funny enough, I also had my fiancé to help me through my experience. I agree that it is a lot for a person to go through on their own. I'm sending positive thoughts your way from Victoria!
As a German paramedic I thank you very much for sharing this experience. It is so different to be taught it at school and to hear it so well prepared from a Patient. The next time I have to transport someone with pneumothorax will be lucky, I've learned from you❤
Wow. That really means a lot. I very much hope that it will help. If you have any colleagues who you think may also benefit from seeing the video please consider sharing it. :-)
I’m at the hospital right now watching your video and have the same thing that you went through and this is my first time for me so I’ll be getting the surgery to prevent it from happening again. I got here to the hospital yesterday morning .
Hi Jeremy. I hope that this message finds you well. I just posted a one-year review video on my collapsed lung. Here is the link if you'd like to see it. 📺 ruclips.net/video/O2teOkGmz9U/видео.html
You are most welcome Arrety. I'm sorry to hear that you had your first, but I'm glad that my video helped. Stay strong and keep positive. It has been almost two years since I had my episodes and I'm doing great. 😊 Check out my One Year Later video if you want some more encouragement: ruclips.net/video/O2teOkGmz9U/видео.html
I had a spontaneous pneumothorax when I was 19. I literally woke up with it. No trauma, not a smoker. They told me when I was leaving the hospital that I had a 50% chance of having it happen again 🙄 It’s been 20 years, nothing since then.
Oh wow Tess. That is a very interesting experience. Thank you for sharing. I'm so glad to hear that it didn't happen again. That is a success story. My understanding is that the older a person is, the less likely it is to happen. If you're 39 years old now, ideally it means that it won't reoccur. 👍
Hi Tess. I hope that this message finds you well. I just posted a one-year review video on my collapsed lung. Here is the link if you'd like to see it. 📺 ruclips.net/video/O2teOkGmz9U/видео.html
Thank you for sharing! For me I am struggling with a collapsed left lung since 2020. I took different medicine which were not succesfull. By continuous check ups the doctor found a bronchial tumor of 3cm in the left main bronch. Still looking for a doctor to assist me .
Sorry to hear that you had the same problem but glad to hear that your tube is out. Be sure to check out my One Year Later video as well if you haven't. It may help give you an idea of some future issues as well: ruclips.net/video/O2teOkGmz9U/видео.html. 👍
Quite a few years ago I had a collapsed lung and had a chest tube inserted without any medications, except for a local injection which only numbs the skin. It was terrible pain. Unfortunately, as soon as they took the tube out and let me go home. It collapsed again. I had to go back to the hospital to remove a section of the lung and I have a 7 inch incision around my shoulder blade on the back I wasn’t lucky enough to just have a couple little incisions, as this was done quite a few years ago. They did roughen up the chest wall as you mentioned so that the Longwood stick to it and not collapse .Luckily, I have not had any more problems. Listening to you talk I could relate to just about everything. I hope you’re doing well.
Thank you for sharing, I am so happy to see you got good care. I have been having the same problem for 4yrs and no one will fix it. The pain is excruciating but I get by
Hi there. You are most welcome. It's true that the pain is excruciating. I'm sorry to hear that you've been suffering it for so long. Why won't anyone fix it?
Your a true warrior bro. When they put the big post surgery tube in me they gave me self administered fentanyl from an IV I can’t imagine having to deal with the huge tube without strong pain killers.
Thank Raak. Wow. Fentanyl is a serious pain-killer. Yeah. That tube hurt. I was very glad to have it out. When was your surgery? Did you see my one year later video? ruclips.net/video/O2teOkGmz9U/видео.html
Hi Wanda. I hope that this message finds you well. I just posted a one-year review video on my collapsed lung. Here is the link if you'd like to see it. 📺 ruclips.net/video/O2teOkGmz9U/видео.html
I do have a few questions. Do you have any idea roughly how much was the cost of the operation? Unfortunately I am not in Canada and our healthcare system is not really amazing so i have no choice but to pay for a part of it. 😭
I wish you luck Borjie. I admitted myself into the hospital too (twice - the first time and the second time). Make sure to watch my year-after video. It may help you to know what to expect. 😊
I'm afraid I do not know what it costs. I am grateful to be living in Canada where we have a universal healthcare system. I looked a bit on Google but could not find a consistent answer. I suppose it depends on the country and factors relating to the patient. 🙁
Thank you so much for this video. I had my first pneumothorax in October. I had visited some high altitude places in the Himalayas at the end of September and early October, and took a flight back home to Bangalore on October 9, 2023. Nine days later, I was in the hospital because I was feeling slightly out of breath and could hear my breath crackling. I had no pain in my chest at all, but I did feel tightness and I was constantly burping. I mean constantly! I met one doctor, who told me it was probably gastritis but that did not explain why I couldn't walk up one flight of stairs without panting and having to sit and cool down before walking again. So I went to the hospital and they immediately X-rayed me, said I had pneumothorax, and inserted a "pigtail" catheter into my lung. It hurt like a mother. I had it in me for 6 days. The pain was unbearable for two days, after which they discharged me with a fentanyl patch and a lot of drugs, which did not have much of an effect. The "pigtail" was removed after 6 days and I quickly recovered. The CT scan showed no blebs. I took regular X-rays every two-three weeks and everything looked fine. I was longing to travel and my doctor gave me the go-ahead on December 22, 2023. I was actually supposed to take a flight tonight, my first flight after the pneumothorax, but suddenly, last night, January 3, 2024, I again heard crackling sounds while breathing and began constantly burping again, with mild chest discomfort (but again, no pain)! I decided I would do another X-Ray and go to the doctor again even though I had just met him 12 days ago and he said I was completely fine. And, surprise surprise! Another pneumothorax. :( My doctor told me that since it is mild and I am not out of breath like I was last time, I do not need hospitalization but should constantly monitor my O2 levels. I have to go back on Jan 10 and do another X-ray and probably a CT scan before they decide what to do. I'm really not looking forward to surgery and I am so scared! :(
@@TheThe-sn1wc No, I had pleurodesis surgery, during which they found endometrial tissue all over my lungs. So it was caused by my endometriosis and not by high altitude. I believe that a relapse of pneumothorax for any reason requires pleurodesis or the lung will keep collapsing.
Update - Thanks to Az's comment below, I just re-watched the video and thought about the experience a bit more. It has now been about 4 months since it happened. About one month after I was discharged from the hospital, I had a phone call with the surgeon who did the procedure. He asked me some questions about how I was recovering (I told him that I was feeling mostly fine at that point) and he cleared me to go back to normal and return to the gym, though he suggested that I ease into it - which I did. Over the past months I have gradually increased activity levels and how much I'm lifting at the gym. I feel like I lost step a bit but that I'm totally recovered. I do still have scars from the incision sites. I have been putting vitamin E oil on them, but I don't think that they will be going away. Oh well it is what it is. For anyone who is dealing with something like this, I wish you all the best and a speedy recovery.
Weman with the condition lam can be prone to lung collaps and pleurodesis surgery there more info on it on the lam foundation the weman who have lam are ushuly tsc condition or smokers me I have tsc type 2 and got diagnosed with lam in 2017
@@otakuparadise3585. I had not heard of Lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM) or Tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) before. I just read about those conditions on Wikipedia. Thank you for bringing them to my attention. Given your diagnosis, does that mean that you had pleurodesis surgery?
@@SeanDillman yes tech I'm recovering from my secant one where they make the walls sticky in the inside so they can attach or something like that I git my left dine in March and right just a couple days ago they wanted to do the left before it also collaps and they didn't wanna do the surgery with the talc powder due to it can make it where you can't get a lung transplant
@@otakuparadise3585. Wow Otaku. I only had it happen to one of my lungs (my right lung).I'm really sorry to hear that you had it happen in both lungs. It sounds like you are in good hands though and that your medical practitioners know what they're doing and are taking care of you.
This is one of the most psychologically debilitating things I've ever experiened in my life... the waiting and waiting and waiting to get surgery, then the worries and all of this... oh my GOODNESS! 😪
Wow. That's amazing that you spent 21 days with a chest tube in. That must not have been fun. The maximum I did was a couple days, not a couple of weeks. You're a trooper. How are you feeling now? Did anyone suggest that you put a salve, ointment, or balm on your stiches to help them heal?
Hi A Squad. I hope that this message finds you well. I just posted a one-year review video on my collapsed lung. Here is the link if you'd like to see it. 📺 ruclips.net/video/O2teOkGmz9U/видео.html
Sorry you experienced this as well.. My lungs collapsed plenty of times.. Had Pleurodesis lung surgery done in 2006.. Now I have reoccurring blebs on the same lung i had surgery on had a couple small collapses but they healed themselves.. I’m scared I hope it doesn’t get worse!!
Hi Stevo. Wow. I’m sorry to hear that. It sounds like you’ve been through a lot. I hope that it doesn’t get worse too. Have you seen a doctor about this recently?
Greetings Sean; I am glad to hear that you are recovering and feeling much better than before. Personally I had my spontaneous pneumothorax last April and recovered after that but sometimes I feel pain in my left lung for no reason and when I am on the plane I feel pain also. I am afraid and worried I may get the 2nd pneumothorax again and any unexpected time. I still feel pain in the area like 10 min but it goes away after that. Do you suggest to go to hospital to check why I feel that pain in my left lung or give it time ? Thank you for the info and stay safe.
Hi Simo. If I understand right, you had your spontaneous pneumothorax a year ago in April 2023? Is your left lung the one in which you had your pneumothorax? Over the past year, even after I had my second pneumothorax, I have occasionally felt pain in my chest, which is scary. After my first, I was definitely worried about it happening again, and then it did. In your case, you may want to go to the hospital to check it out. If the doctors do a chest x-ray, it should be pretty clear to them if you have a collapsed lung or not. If it turns out that they don't see a problem, it will give you peace of mind and you will know that you aren't currently suffering another collapsed lung, which is worth a lot. Does that make sense? Did you also see my One Year Later video? You may also find it to be helpful. ruclips.net/video/O2teOkGmz9U/видео.html
@@SeanDillman Yes I had my spontaneous pneumothorax last year in April 2022 in my left lung and I still feel pain occasionally also. is there any time frame that I should not be worried may I get it? how can we repair our lung to stay healthy?
hi i suffered from spontaneous pneumothorax 2 weeks ago i just got my tube removed 3 days after getting confined then it came back the day after so they had to reinsert it now im still in the hospital just got the tube removed yesterday still waiting for my X ray results hopefully i can still come back to cycling after this
Hi Izumi. I'm sorry to hear that. It can definitely be a frustrating experience. I hope that you will be able to get back to cycling too. 🚲 Check out my One Year Later video in which I talk about recovery time and lasting effects. You may find it to be helpful: ruclips.net/video/O2teOkGmz9U/видео.html 📺👍
hi thanks man there is actually one thing im curious about everytime you yawn do you feel a bit of pain when ur lungs expand? do you also feel a burning sensation?(or its probably just my TB) and weird question how do you bath with these many bondages doctors said i must not wet the wound at all cost
You bet @@izumifuru_osu7751. It has been a while since my surgery so no, I don't feel any pain when I yawn. I did after the surgery though, yes. Did you check out my One Year Later video? I basically talk about how every little thing hurt after the surgery until I was healed up. I also talk about my wound and how I did not go in the bath. I just washed in the sink and was very careful to not get the wound wet. 👍
The tube isn't inserted into the lung its between your lung and your chest wall, the trapped air is removed via the tube and hopefully once the air is removed your lung should inflat and stay up, not always the case tho.
Thanks for the like, hope you are doing well, I just had an appointment with a thoracic surgeon so had an idea where it was going 😬 So In a few month I'm having surgery like you had, this will be my second time after having my first surgery In 2010.
I dont know why nobody else has this, but I have a 5.7 cm pulmonary bulla (bigger version of blebs) and I'm really scared to go through a collapse because I'm at very increased risk of a collapse. I've been anxious and paranoid for a while I'm losing my mind, and I haven't even had a pnemo yet. But they say it's going to happen. I'm going to see a lung surgeon to see if I qualify for that same surgery to get it removed or something :(( it's huge man, it doesn't affect me that much yet, but I'm so scared.
@@SeanDillman it was one of those random X-rays that discovered it. We then got some CT scan. They actually say it's not that big, compared to giant bullaes etc... So maybe I will have to wait until something happens, which is a bit stressful :D it was the same size 3 -4 years ago, so it's not growing, and I survived for a few years, I think maybe I will wait until I get to 40 years old, I'm 33 now. Maybe i can just live my life without getting a pneumo, or maybe I will eventually get it. I actually don't know it yet, I will ask the doc. I wish the answers were there. This is stressful man....
Hi @@__J____ff. Please excuse the delay in my response. Work has been crazy. That would sounds very stressful. If it helps, when I had mine, they told me that the likelihood of it happening again decreased with age, so maybe the older you get, the less likely it will be to happen? I can appreciate that you are in a different situation with the bullae. I hope that you will indeed live your life without getting a pneumothorax. I'm sending you my best wishes.
recently went through this and the pain was unimaginable, during my first pigtail catheter when my lung first collapsed, my right pectoral felt inflated and like it actually wanted to explode, my back felt an extreme dull and aching pain and near the center of my chest felt like hot knives or nails were trying to come out of my chest and i like to believe i have a high pain tolerance ive broken and fractured multiple bones with minimal pain and never go to the hospital for anything so i knew this was serious i thought i was having a heart attack at 22 years old😂😳
The pain can be quite extreme can't it? What you describe is kind of what it felt like for me, though I never thought of it that way before. I also thought that I was having a heart attack. I had no idea what else it could be. I had never even heard of a spontaneous pneumothorax before it happened. How are you feeling now?
@@SeanDillmanthe wound in my lung wasn’t healing so i had to get surgery twice one to basically glue my lung to my chest wall so it wouldn’t collapse again and another to remove the ruptured bleb and staple it shut, obviously sore a bit after the surgery but other than that i feel almost perfect like it never happened at all
Interesting that there was so little pain for you, for me personally the pain was imobilising 10/10 i could not move, could barely breathe and just wanted to get knocked out for the entirity of the situation
Hello, we are in Massachusetts, USA, my teen son had it 3 wks ago, chest tube was put in, for couple days, all was good, suction was turned off, then another good xray, then tube was removed, and back home, few days after it happened again. At the ER tube was inserted again, and day after surgery as you described, then few days at the hospital all xrays and cat scan good, suction was turned off, then tube removed, xray good, we went home, and AGAIN 3 days after it happened again, this time the absolutely most painful, so freshly after surgery, he was rushed to the hospital, again chest tube, and we are still here, few days after 3rd time lung collapsed. Xrays, cat scans, all seems good , yesterday suction was turned off,, today tube will be sealed possibly, and then eventually removed. So very similar to your experience, but for my son, it happened again after surgery,
You are most welcome Linda. If you're interested, I recently posted a welcome video about my channel. Here is the link if you're interested: ruclips.net/video/ZMTXs_QGlMc/видео.html Thanks Linda. 🙂
@@SeanDillman No, I crashed on mountain bike yesterday and was trying to figure out if my rib pain/breathing trouble was bad enough to get checked out for this condition.
@@my_name_taken. Sorry to hear about the bike crash. As I understand it, it is possible to cause a pneumothorax through trauma - this is known as Traumatic Pneumothorax, as opposed to Spontaneous Pneumothorax like I suffered. I expect that once a lung is collapsed, the feeling is the same, though possible worse with Traumatic Pneumothorax because it was caused by some sort of trauma. How are you doing now? I know it was only yesterday but is the pain subsiding at all? Do you feel it on your front as well as your back?
@@SeanDillman Thanks for asking. The pain is a little better today. My oxygen saturation and blood pressure are fine and it’s easier to take a full breath today, so I think I’m good this time. :)
@@my_name_taken You are most welcome. I'm glad to hear that the pain has lessened a bit. I'm not a doctor but if your oxygen saturation and blood pressure are fine, I think you are right. A family member of mine recently had pneumonia so they bought a little finger oximeter (amzn.to/3SQjvtR). I used it a few times too just to test myself and my typical oxygen saturation level (SpO2) was 98%. I think that if a person had a collapsed lung, they definitely would not have a normal oxygen saturation level. In your case, it sounds like you are good. I'm really glad to hear it. 🙂
You are most welcome Lin Nas. 😊 Did you also see my One Year Later video? You may also find it to be helpful. ruclips.net/video/O2teOkGmz9U/видео.html 📺
Looking for some feedback from anyone who has had this procedure. My son had the VATS surgery on Friday 3.17. During the surgery they removed plebs from the right and left side, but only did the inner cavity irritation on his right side because the left was healing on it's own. His left tube was removed on Monday 3.20 and the right tube was removed on Thursday 3.23. He as was also discharged from the hospital on 3.23 and has been recovering at home since. Recovery seems to be going ok overall - we were basically just instructed that as long as he is not feeling lightheaded or having shortness of breath, any pain that he feels is a normal part of the healing process. But he has been saying that he feels 'movement' on the left side. I can feel it too when I put my hand on his chest, but it's hard to tell where it is coming from. Sometimes it feels like gurgling, sometimes it feels like a spasm, etc. I was wondering if anyone else experienced similar symptoms during the recovery period.
Hi Jeff. I'm sorry to hear about your son. How old is he approximately if I may ask? What you described of your son's experience is very similar to mine. I wouldn't say that I ever felt 'movement' but I definitely felt discomfort. I imagine that as part of the healing process, a lot goes in inside the body. Did you also see my one year later video? You may find it to be helpful: ruclips.net/video/O2teOkGmz9U/видео.html
@@SeanDillman thank you very much for the reply. My son will be 18 next month. He has a very tall and slender build which seems to be common for people who experience this. I will admit that we are both a little neurotic which is not helping matters - it is hard to keep an objective perspective and not over-analyze everything. We called the hospital on the first night that he felt odd, and they basically said the same thing - that as long as he is not short of breath then we are ok. Before being discharged one of the nurses also mentioned that it can sometimes feel like rice crispies, which does *kind of* describe what I am feeling when it gurgles, etc. It's just hard right now bc I feel like we are all experiencing some PTSD - hence reaching out to get input from others who have been through this too. I have not watched your other video but will check it out now, thank you.
@@jeffs4810 You are most welcome. I have a friend who had a spontaneous pneumothorax at age 18. It's true what you say. Apparently it is common for tall slender males to experience this. I'm a bit neurotic myself. I still find it very difficult to believe that it is truly 'random' and that there was no way to prevent it and there is nothing I did to cause it. That's fair about feeling a bit of PTSD. It is a scary thing to know that it can just happen all on its own and it is quite serious. We need our lungs to live and breath. I hope that this video and my newest video are helpful to you. It may be tough now but I hope that your son will make a full recovery and not have to worry about it in the future. I wish you both all the best. 😊👍
Look up the Marfan Foundation. This can be a symptom of a genetic connective tissue disease - so is being tall and thin. Unfortunately most local, standard medicine doctors know very little about Marfans, Loeys-Dietz or Ehlers-Dahnlos; add to that the extreme variability of symptoms from mild to severe, starting a birth or much later. So they will say "no known cause". You may be at risk for arterial dissections or hollow organ rupture. Best wishes to you.
Thank you so much. Best wishes to you as well. I had never heard of the Marfan Foundation (marfan.org/) though I looked it up recently. I see they have an information sheet about the lungs (marfan.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Lungs_in_Marfan_Syndrome.pdf) which discusses spontaneous pneumothorax. Thank you for bringing this to my attention. I very much appreciate it. 😊
Hi Luis. I'm really sorry to hear that. If you're already in hospital care, you're in the best place you can be. It's okay to be scared. I was scared too. It's a tough thing to have happen but you're probably even tougher than you think and you'll be okay. Keep in touch with me on here if you need support. You're not alone. You'll make it through this.
Hi Luis. I hope that this message finds you well. I just posted a one-year review video on my collapsed lung. Here is the link if you'd like to see it. 📺 ruclips.net/video/O2teOkGmz9U/видео.html
I'm sorry to hear that Dan. It is definitely not a fun experience. Be sure to check out my one year after video if you haven't already. It may give you more of an idea of what your girlfriend can expect. 💗
My brothers has 4 collapsed lungs before they Decided to go e him surgery. His was the same as yours. His hospital stay after the surgery was awful. He had two tubes sticking out of him and no matter how high he was he was always in pain.
Thank you for sharing that Hannah. That is really tough that your brother had to have 4 collapsed lungs before they did the surgery. Did this happen recently?
@@saurabhvighne1470 How have you been after the surgery? I'm not a doctor so I don't think I would really be willing to say if you can or cannot go. I don't know anything about your situation and I have no medical training or expertise. I can however say that about 3 months after I had my surgery, I felt basically back to normal and I started to go back to the gym, taking it easy and working back up to my previous level gradually.
@@saurabhvighne1470 I hope that this message finds you well. I just posted a one-year review video on my collapsed lung. Here is the link if you'd like to see it. 📺 ruclips.net/video/O2teOkGmz9U/видео.html
Please try D3 with K2. I prefer Eric Berg's product; easy to find online; it includes some cofactors needed for D. I was told my alveoli were collapsing and doctors didn't know why. I felt better when I used inhalers. . But since using D3K2 (started in late 2018) I have not needed inhalers. Feb 2022 when I was hospitalized for dehydration due to covid, the xray and scan showed lungs were "good" and all organs fine. Roger Seheult's videos were helpful too. I like his videos about D and also light.
I started with 2 of Berg's capsules; now use daily and that's 10,000 units D3 in 1 capsule. I noticed quite a difference in 2 weeks. I'm 71 years old; soon 72. I was quite overweight when this problem was addressed.
@@calliegal235 Thank you for all of that. I'm glad to hear that the x-ray showed that your lungs were good and your organs were fine. I'm glad that you are having success with the D3 with K2. Thank you for recommending Roger Seheult. I was not aware of him and I'm looking at his channel now. On the subject of wellness and light, did you see my review of the Verilux Happy Light? ruclips.net/video/5xhAaCB9QFg/видео.html
@@calliegal235 I hope that this message finds you well. I just posted a one-year review video on my collapsed lung. Here is the link if you'd like to see it. 📺 ruclips.net/video/O2teOkGmz9U/видео.html
Hi, did you also have pneumothorax? I am at the hospital now and have no money for surgery, I want to know if you had pneumothorax and this vit.d3 and k2 helped yoj
Hello all I’ve had this happen to me twice in about a month first time I waited 4 days before going to the ER. Felt like I couldn’t breathe and could barely talk while I was walking. They placed a chest tube and about 3-4 days it was out and I was able to go home. 3 days later I get Covid and about a week after Covid I had my 2nd collapsed lung. This one they said was significantly smaller than the first so they tired oxygen for about 8 hours to see what that would do but unfortunately I had to put another chest tube in. 4 more days in the hospital and I was out again (2 days with the tube) I been out the hospital now for around 48 hours but I’m currently not in any major pain just paranoid and anxious that this could happen again. I did vape before the first one, I was a cigarette smoker prior to that and smoked marijuana. Like a dummy I smoked marijuana maybe like 1 day before my 2nd collapse and about 7-8 days after my first. Probably not the smartest thing to do and probably contributed to my 2nd recurrence but I’m definitely done with the smoking after that. It’s a horrible and painful experience doing a chest tube. I wish everyone the best! Your not alone going through this! Hope yours is better then mine lol.
Hi NvMe Squirrel. Thank you for sharing about your experience. I’m sorry to hear that you got COVID in the middle of dealing with it. That would make a bad experience even worse. They also tried oxygen on me for about one hour to get the lung to re-inflate but when the older, more experienced doctor finally saw me, he told me that in all of his years (which I took to be decades) he said that giving a patient oxygen almost never re-inflates a lung and a chest tube is almost always what needs to be done. I was definitely paranoid and anxious that it would happen again too, given that they told me that if it happens once, it increases the likelihood that it will happen again. They also told me that vaping and smoking increases the chances of it happening. Maybe on the bright side, having this experience may make you quit and save you some money and enhance your health? I agree completely with you saying “It’s a horrible and painful experience doing a chest tube”. I has been more than 6 months now for me since I had my surgery and I’m feeling great. I hope that for people who are going through this, part of the takeaway is that it sucks while it’s happening but you can get through it. How are you feeling now? You’ve been out of the hospital for only a few days now.
Hi NvMe Squirrel. I hope that this message finds you well. I just posted a one-year review video on my collapsed lung. Here is the link if you'd like to see it. 📺 ruclips.net/video/O2teOkGmz9U/видео.html
Just dealt with this finally back at school but my lung collapsed spent 13 days in the hospital cause complications and at just 17 it sucks needed 2 chest tubes and stuff but I’m better now
I’ve been through 2 major surgeries due to spontaneous pneumothorax’s. If anyone is going through it please feel free to reach out. Both of my lungs have collapsed.
Hi Sean thank you so much for this video! I just had my tube removed from my left lung 3 days ago. I’m just 24 and It’s gotten me extremely worried. I am a smoker and used my bong everyday before being diagnosed. I can’t find much about the cause and if my smoking had something to do with it. Would you happen to know more about that?
We were out for my daughter’s birthday when I noticed my 20 something year old son breathing hard clutching his chest. I took to the er (of course during height of covid and right before Christmas) he’s not a smoker or a vaper. Long story a tiny bit shorter they sealed it up but since then he’s been basically bed ridden in constant pain and no doctor will help for some reason. Hell one accused him of being a drug seeker even though he has never done drugs and didn’t have any opiates. They throw all sorts of drugs at him then after the 3rd doctor someone had the bright idea to ablate the nerves which sort of helped for about 6 months. He went in for the next round of ablation which hasn’t worked even a tiny bit, hell I’d say it got worse. Now these damn geniuses want to shove wires up his ass (yes it’s the spine not his ass) to MAYBE help with the pain. You think they’d let him know anything? Maybe do something to help with the pain but nope. And here we are sitting here waiting watching my son wither away. Worst part is he’s a single father with sole custody of my grandchild, the mother is a pile of crap. It’s beyond infuriating and I just don’t know what to do anymore.
I had a fully collapsed right lung in 2002 in 2004 my left lung slightly collapsed,a few weeks later my right collapsed again so had surgery (opened up under shoulder blade) whilst recovering my left collapsed slightly again (luckily the left never needed intervention) fast forward 19 years to last Sept and both slightly collapsed again. Told 5% of my right lung had come unstuck from the surgery 😔 both went back up on their own but I've now got a pretty constant bubbling sensation on my right side. To go back in would likely course more pain/problems. On the letter I've received after my last appointment the other week it mentions bullous on both lungs I now need to ring and get an explanation what this means going forward. Xx
oh man after second pnemuo.. doctors said it would be better doing vats and i did it.i dunno how but they said its okey the pull out the tube (today is teh third day).they taken my parts (i think) to the biopsy.Scared the shit outta me cause im 17.And never had a surgery before that.Any inspiring words to the brother from turkey guys?cuz i need that rn.And Best wishes to the pnemuo guys ❤️ were with ya
and my brother you said that they put oxygen thingy into your throat thats the main reason of hoarse voice .I dont think they did the same thing to me but i have the same voice and im doing the coughin.hope it all pass
@@saykoes8209 Thank you for sharing your experience. Same for me. After my second pneumothorax, the doctors said it was better to do the VATs. They also took out my chest tube after about the third day after. I’m not sure if they did any biopsy on material/parts from me. The doctor drew me a diagram showing my lungs as having little bubbles at the top and showing how he would cut out little pizza-shaped pieces of the lung to get rid of these bubbles. Apparently these bubbles were the cause of the collapsed lung because they were allowing air to escape the lung and go into the cavity outside of the lung. I don’t think that they did any biopsy on the pieces that they cut out of me. Regarding the oxygen, if you were unconscious during the VATS procedure, they may have done it and not mentioned it to you. I remember that the doctor (an anesthesiologist) who told me about the tube and the effect it would cause on my throat, was sort of standing around waiting for the procedure to begin and she mentioned it to me sort of in passing. Maybe they did it to you too but they didn’t mention it? Either way, it goes away quickly and is nothing to worry about in my experience. I definitely have some inspiring words for you, my brother from Turkey. Stay strong. I’m sure that you’ll make a full recovery and now that you’ve had the procedure, you don’t have to worry about it happening again. It has been about six months since it happened to me and I feel great and everything is wonderful now. I have a few little scars but no pain and no other troubles. I’m sure that the same will be true for you soon. Keep feeling positive! Oh and Türkiye is a beautiful country and I’ve met many great people from there, including you. 🕌
Hey @@saykoes8209. It is my pleasure. I'm grateful for you watching my video and subscribing to my channel. You and I both know how it goes having a collapsed lung and I'm glad to know if I can help with information or comfort while you are recovering. Are you still in the hospital?
@@SeanDillman yes my brother,i'm still in hospital.But I think it's the last day of this.Yes i had a several pain after taking out the tube.Other that im still recovering,still hard to stand up.Thank you for caring.Respect sir ✊(Im sorry if i said something wrong its not my first language)
I'm currently in hospital for the exact type and they are trying to figure out the underlying cause but nothing so far and I have been in hospital for 4 days. Did your doctor's maybe mention what most likely was the cause ? I'm based in South Africa
Few days back I had severe chest pain and left shoulder pain, I really felt that it wouldbe heartattack. Suddenly I was rushed to the hospital after sèeing my xray dr. Told that my left lung got collapsed and that I had pneumonia. I was admitted for 1 wk administered with antibiotics and all then told to do some breathing exercises..now I am scared that whether I would recover from this condition😢
Oh wow. I'm sorry to hear that. Having a collapsed lung is difficult enough. I didn't have it at the same time as having pneumonia. Follow your doctor's advice, take it one step at a time, and don't hesitate to reach out for support. Wishing you strength and a speedy recovery.
Wow Canada got a good ass health care system 🎉 feel better though man , I just got out the hospital with my first pneumothorax myself that chest tube was so pain was in hospital for a week. Had to have 2 surgeries because they had found more blebs hopefully my lung doesn’t ever collapse again.I had a 60 percent collapse. and the pain was bad but somehow i was able to drive and do stuff I thought it was just maybe Covid symptoms because my girlfriend had gotten Covid. But I was going to try and go to work after being stuck in bed for 3 days full of pain being lazy I got dressed for work then turned around and had my girl come with me to the hospital and I drove myself j trying not to think of the pain
Hi Jonathen. Yes indeed. I feel very fortunate to be a Canadian and have access to a free healthcare system (free in the sense that we don’t pay every time we use it and instead pay for it with our tax dollars). It sounds like you have had quite the experience my friend. Stay strong. I also hope that your lung will never collapse again. It was the same for me at the start. It was painful but I could still do things and I thought that maybe it was a pulled muscle or a heart issue or something. Good for you for driving yourself to the hospital. That was the right thing to do. I drove myself the first time it happened too. The second time it happened, because I knew what it was, I asked my friend to drive me. It’s good to have people in your life who will help out. Heal up soon. Keep in touch and let me know how you’re feeling. All the best from your Canadian friend. 🍁🙂
@@stevo6891 Hi Stevo. I’m sorry to hear that you had a reoccurring issue on the same lung. For me, I only had the first collapse in October 2021, and then I had a chest tube and that fixed it up for a while, and then I had a second collapse in early 2022, at which time I had the VATS pleurodesis surgery. How are you keeping?
@@SeanDillman Well I had small collapses on my right lung where they did surgery.. I hope the blebs doesn’t get worse.. I get scared that it might totally collapse again.. They sure hurt like hell and painful.. I’m glad you are doing better we get this brother!!
My brother is recovering from it, its been 3 months now and he dont go out much he mostly stay at home does he need to move a lot more to recover faster? And can you run like normal people do even after the surgery happend like you wont have any kind of disability from it right? Im very happy your doing well and feeling healthier thank you for this video it helped me out wish you well! Edit: just to add up he sometimes he complain about how he sometimes feel like his lung is moving after sleeping on the effected lung side, have you felt something similar to that?thanks again for reading!
Hi Tyegra . I'm sorry to hear about your brother. Did it happen to him once or twice? Did he have a surgery? For me, 3 months after having a collapsed lung, I felt basically back to normal. I'm not sure if moving more would help him recover faster but physical fitness likely helps (I'm no doctor though of course and can only speak to my own experience). I run at the gym every day and have been doing so since the start of April (after the doctor cleared me to resume a gym routine). I don't anticipate having any kind of disability from it though I was told that I can never scuba dive because of the pressure that it would exert on the lung. I suppose that going into outer space may also be out (though I didn't plan on doing that - or scuba diving). You are most welcome for the video. I am glad that it helped you out. That was my hope when I made it, that my story would help people and there would be a forum where people could talk about this stuff. Regarding the lung moving, I don't remember ever feeling a sensation like that. For me, the sensation was always tightness in the chest - what I imagine a heart attack feels like, and shortness of breath. I primarily sleep on my back so perhaps I wouldn't notice something like what he is experiencing. I'm not sure about that one. Maybe someone else will comment on this specific issue. Keep in touch and let me know how he is doing. =)
@@nepubg7700. How are you feeling now? Please excuse the delay in my response. I didn't see your comment because it was under someone else's thread and I didn't receive a notification (my fiancé actually found it and brought it to my attention).
Hello guys, i had a spontaneous pneumo on 06.09. while i was on running. I was in hospital for a two weeks. When i yust came they put me tube in chest, and i walk with for a 6/7 days then the doctors decide for a surgery. Then they did a vats, i stay in hospital for antoher week. Now this is my third week at home and i go for a easy walk last few days, 45-60min. I saw few comments below, first couple days i couldnt sleep on side, i felt that my lung is shaking inside lol, now is better. Second thing, they also send on analsysis a part of lung, and as i understood the doctor they remove small part of lung. They sent it on analys, how is explained to me, they want eliminate some potential genetic disorder in population younger than 30. Only one thing what i didnt like is that i had 9 x-rays in 12/13 days. I got small breathing machine with balls from a very fisrt day, and i need to practice every day that my lungs extend properly, and i practice every day abdominal breathing. I'm not a doctor but from my opinion this things are good to get back a "streachy" lungs. I hope so that al of you have or had a good way trought this, stay strong and healty guys. Sorry for my bad english guys.
Hi Peter. I'm sorry to hear that you also suffered a spontaneous pneumothorax. Thank you for sharing your experience. You have found the right people to talk with about it. I hear you about it being a pain to have so many x-rays in such a short period of time. Depending on how they are done, and if a person has a chest tube in, just having an x-ray taken can be a painful experience, because they want you to stand a certain way and expand your lungs and then hold your breath while they take the picture. As far as I could tell however, the x-ray is the best tool the medical practitioners have to see what’s happening with the lung inside of the body. When I did my first x-ray, they immediately knew it was a pneumothorax because it is so easy to see in the x-ray image. That is interesting that they sent a piece of your lung away to be tested to rule out a potential genetic disorder in population younger than 30. I am older than 30 so perhaps they did not see any need to do that for me. Other people who have posted on this video have also mentioned their doctors sending away a piece of their lung for testing. Do you know if they will tell you the result? Other people have also mentioned breathing machines and exercises. Personally, I never did any testing and felt that my lung capacity returned to normal after a few weeks of going for short walks and letting it heal. However, maybe doing some exercises would have been a good thing for me. So how are you feeling now? Are you running again?
@@SeanDillman First i want to thank you for your encouragement, and for a such big reply. First thing what i saw in my hospital that everbody was taken on x-ray every second day. I see on my self the consequences of big number of rtg scans (x-ray), my hair is falling out and dental gums are recede for a few milimeters. For this blood test (alfa 1 antitripsin), i can say that reference interval is, from 0.9 to 2.0, and mine was 1.43, soo it's good. Out of borders means that you have some potential disorder, it can vary. You can find more on internet about this blood test. For now i just walk and do breathing exercises, and that i can recommend to everbody, yust to try with abdominal breathing (dead bug exercise), you have plenty of variations and progressions. I also saw in hospital that some guys blow in a glow instead of taking air trought spirometer, and sometimes doctor tell to patient to stop with exercises. Like i say for now i just walk and breathe, i feel no pain. I have a meet with doctor this wednesday, at end of this week this will be mine 4. at home. I will ask him can start train, i thougt that i can start with light training on bike, indoor. And maybe some core excercises. I feel sometimes small unpleasant feelings on operation spot, and back pain because i ussualy lying down to much last weeks 😅. I'm glad that i can help to someone with my experience, and i will give more informations when times come. Stay strong and healty guys. 💪🤞♥️
@@petardragojevic3960 You are most welcome. Health is the most important thing. When I suffered my collapsed lung, I wanted to be able to help other people going through it, as much as I could, so that is why I made my video. I don’t know much about the lasting effects of x-rays. I’m sorry to hear about your hair and gums. Ideally you will see some improvement there. I think that I only ever took a single blood test, which was when I first went to the hospital and they were trying to determine what was wrong with me. Other than that, I don’t remember giving any blood for testing. It is interesting to know how doctors do things differently in different places. My doctors handled it one way. Yours handled it differently.
I have done the dead bug exercise before in the gym and it is a good one, assuming that a person has healed to the point where they can do it. I saw people in the hospital, in my ward (the thoracic ward), using spirometers but for whatever reason they didn’t recommend that I use one. I am glad that you can walk and breathe feeling no pain. That’s important. It sounds like you can probably start training again soon, as long as you listen to your body and don’t overdo it. I also felt unpleasant feelings on my operation spot after the surgery. The sites were soft/tender for weeks and if I applied too much pressure, it hurt. Your experience definitely helps. It is good to have more information from real people who are going through this so that if it happens to someone, they can read what it was like for others and feel better. There can be less fear of the unknown. Keep us posted when the time comes and you have a new update. Stay healthy. 💪🙂
@@SeanDillman Hi again, yesterday i had a meet. So everything is good for now, and doctor said that i can start train, light aerobic traning and some core excercises. Also i ask him about dietary supplements, things like collagen, msm and something similar to. He said that i can take it. I buy from Nutrend, flexit gold. So from monday i will start with easy indoor ride. 💪
@@petardragojevic3960 I hope that this message finds you well. I just posted a one-year review video on my collapsed lung. Here is the link if you'd like to see it. 📺 ruclips.net/video/O2teOkGmz9U/видео.html
So, I just had a spontaneous pneumothorax about 1 week ago. What is your status now. I'm not tall and skinny but I have COPD, 80 years old. I had no pain, not even with the tube in my chest, My problem was 'bloating' my face got so bloated I could not open my eyes, finally bloating started to 're-sorb'. My voice sounded like 'donald duck' during bloating. Gonna take about a month. So how are you doing now?.
Hi Bill. Wow. I'm sorry to hear that. You have been through quite an ordeal. I hope that you recover from it soon. As for me, I'm doing pretty well thanks. I recently made a one year later video to give an update. Here is the RUclips link: ruclips.net/video/O2teOkGmz9U/видео.html. If you want, post a comment on that video to and keep me posted about your recovery process.
I HAVE PAIN WHEN I MOVE WHEN I BREATHE IN IN MY LEFT INNER SHOULDER PAIN TOWARDS CENTER OF BACK LEFT SIDE IDK IF THAT HAS ANYTHING TO DO WITH COLLAPSED LUNG BUT I WANT TO KNOW WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS ANY PAIN IN YOUR BACK
Hi there. Are you still having this issue? I'm not a medical professional, but chest or back pain can sometimes be associated with a collapsed lung. However, it's crucial to seek medical attention immediately if you're experiencing symptoms like these. I hope you find the answers and support you need soon. Take care! In my experience, what you are experiencing is exactly the kind of pain I felt before I went to the hospital and was diagnosed with a collapsed lung.
Hi Kenneth. No pain anymore for me thankfully. Sometimes I get some mild chest pain but nothing major. Did you also see my one year later video? I provide what I hope is a helpful update there which discusses healing, longterm effects and other related subjects. I hope you are back to 100% soon: ruclips.net/video/O2teOkGmz9U/видео.html
av had 6 in 8 months, like breathing through a straw, had zephyr valves fitted, procedure is endoscope tube through the throat into the lung and block off the damaged aveoli air sacs 4 yrs ago, the chest tube goes in the chest cavity not in the lung, chest drain off tube is not painfull but pulling the tape off is, i have 2 large bulla and i cant be under anaesthetic it could kill me, am on oxygen, moral of the story is if you weld plastic as your job wear a mask
Wow Trevor. I am really sorry to hear that. Thank you for sharing all of that. There are many welders in my family, who worked mostly on pipe and other metalwork. Did you have this problem recently or was it from years ago? I wasn’t sure from your explanation.
@@SeanDillman it started about 15 years ago and a thought am getting breathless quite easy, it got worse until the 1st collapse started, from then on it was hell on earth, now a sit at home and only go out with a chaperone in fear it happens again and carry a small bottle of oxygen,
Hi @@kopynd1. Thanks for getting back to me. That is certainly a tale of woe. I'm sorry to hear that. It's not fun to be in pain and to be afraid of it happening again. I have been there. What part of the world do you live in? Have you had a VATS procedure done on you?
@@kopynd1 I hope that this message finds you well. I just posted a one-year review video on my collapsed lung. Here is the link if you'd like to see it. 📺 ruclips.net/video/O2teOkGmz9U/видео.html
I am here because I am scared that I might have a collapsed lung. I was rocking my baby to sleep and all of a sudden I got this crazy sharp pain in my back on my right side. It doesn't hurt in the front though, only the back so is it possible it's not a pneumothorax? Don't know whether i should go to hospital or not. Breathing hurts so bad.
Hello @SeanDillman, My sister had the Pleurodesis 2 weeks back. Slight pain is always there and sometimes she feels uneasy during breathing, is it something which happens due to inflammation? OR it is something to get checked? She's able to take small walks, but sometimes feel out of breath after little longer walks. What do you advise? Reaching out to the surgeons in UK is little difficult, doctor said to have follow up after 6 weeks, but we wanted to be sure if everything is progressing normally.
Hi Pranay. Thanks for reaching out. I’m sorry to hear that your sister had to go through this but ideally the surgery will have her back to 100% soon. I couldn’t say exactly why she may feel uneasy during breathing (I’m not a doctor and I couldn’t say anything about inflammation) and I couldn’t say if she should get checked (because I’m not a doctor and I know almost nothing about her specific situation); that being said, I can say that 2 weeks after having my procedure, I was still not bad to normal and I was still not able to take very long walks. I slowly worked up to taking longer and longer walks, but two weeks after the surgery, I was not completely back to normal (not back to a pre-collapsed lung state). From what you are saying, it seems to match my experience, which was that it took many weeks to get back to normal (not just a few) and that by the time I had my follow-up with my doctor (also about 6 weeks after the procedure) I was still taking things easy but by that time, I felt ready to resume going to the gym and working out (taking it slowly to start and being careful not to overdo it). Is that helpful? Sorry if I've mentioned too many times that I’m not a doctor (I’m sure that I mentioned that in my video). I just feel that I need to be careful and responsible. I can’t really advise anything for anyone. I can just share my experience and let people know what it was like for me. I wish your sister all the best. =)
Hi Pranay. I hope that this message finds you well. I just posted a one-year review video on my collapsed lung. Here is the link if you'd like to see it. 📺 ruclips.net/video/O2teOkGmz9U/видео.html
Hii , I'm Shailendra from India. I have got second pneumothorax within 16 days of recovery from first one . They put chest tube on 27th September . Chest Tube is still there since 5 days . We had CT scan, it shows small bubble on top of left lung , that might be possible reason for second pneumothorax . Dr told to keep tube for 2 more days in hope that it will go away . After which they will chemically glue lung permanently (pluro desis). Then I will not require VAts or surgery .they discharged me on very next day along with chest tube , I can walk with tube at my house although that's painful . I go to hospital daily for check-up . Your video is very helpful . Thanks for sharing your experience . Can you please tell me about breathing exercise during chest tube , sleeping position etc.
Hi Shailendra. I’m sorry to hear that. Your story is very similar to mine except your second pneumothorax happened only 16 days after your first one, whereas my second one happened months after my first. It sounds like the bubbles in your top left lung were likely the reason for the second pneumothorax, in consideration of what the doctor told me when I had my second pneumothorax. It sounds like you are basically getting the same procedure that I had except perhaps that they may not be cutting out the part of the lung with the bubbles. Perhaps the gluing (the pleurodesis) is sufficient in your case. Perhaps the bubbles in your lung are very small or not a problem. When I had my first chest tube in, I just laid in bed all the time. I didn’t do any breathing exercises and the only sleeping position that worked for me was to sleep on my left side - my chest tube was in my right side. When I had my second and third chest tubes in, I was in the hospital. With these, I didn’t do any breathing exercises and I slept on my back. The mechanical hospital bed was helpful and had buttons to help me get up and raise my legs and change my position. I basically only got out of bed to go to the bathroom. Sometimes I used the portable urinal bottle so that I didn’t have to suffer the pain of getting up and going to the bathroom. I’m glad to know that you found my video to be helpful. That is what it’s all about. You are most welcome for me sharing my experience. Please let me know if there is anything else that you would like to know and if there is any way I can help. It may not feel great right now, but you will get past this and will hopefully be back to normal very soon. 🙂
Hi @@Shailendr.S.Ch.1919. You are most welcome. That is good that you stopped. I think that while you are recovering, just breathing normally is good enough. During my recovery process, to get my breathing and level of health back up, I went for long walks. Eventually I felt good enough to go to the gym and do weightlifting. Now I'm back to normal. 👍
@@MrKalpanarahul no , they did chemical pleurodesis before removing chest tube . It's was painfull but atleast saved me from surgery . One more thing , chest tube lasted fore 17 days .
I'm in UK and was told i have a partically collapsed that was 5 weeks ago and then tokd have sarcoidosis on both ..i am waiting to see a respiratory team ...and i am geussing frim there the decision will be made what to do .. there is a waiting list on the nhs so i am worried as i am struggling to breath daily doing the simplest thing ..i was told by the doc i may have to have the camera down to see what's going on ..i doubt i will have anyone here dsijy to help me if i have to have surgery i can't think what else they can do if like you i have a partically collasped lung. .how long was you in hopsital for ..sorry if you did say i am just very worried at as whats to come and not knwoing if i will have full support afterwards .
Hi there. I'm really sorry to hear that. I hope that the respiratory team will be available soon to take a look and see what is happening. I know what it's like to struggle to breath. Keep the faith my friend. I was in the hospital for about one week. I was supposed to have surgery within the first few days, but I kept getting bumped by people who needed surgery more than I did, which is fair enough and I was content to wait. I am very grateful for the healthcare system we have in Canada. I hope that the UK system is similar. I hear you about being worried. Try to take it easy as much as possible and try to look on the bright side as much as possible. At least you are already in the system and are getting it taken care of.
@@SeanDillman Thankyou for replying so quickly ..I have a routine phone call with my doctor Friday and then a discussion when I do receive my appointment for the respiratory team..this lack of energy and wanting to sleep all the time and no appetite now ..but pray wit will be sorted soon .thankyou .
Sorry to bombard you ...just feel I need to get this of my chest. .feeling let down as I recvd my letter with a list of diagnosis from my CT scan from 4 weeks ago ..but reads more than I was originally told but also the letter starts you was sent for a referral for a CT scan due to suspected lung cancer. And this was never mentioned to me at all 4 weeks ago ..so this was a shock to read the first line in a letter today ..I have called my gp surgery to ask for a call back sooner because 4 weeks ago the results were sarcoidosis now I have an enlarged lymph node and this is the same scan results from 4 weeks ago ..so all a shock and frightening ..but still no appointment, I will receive that in due course..sorry just need to off load as only my sister knows and not wanting to let on to anyone else in the family as yet .
Hi! I had pleurodesis surgery 7 weeks ago (after two lung collapses) and I am still uncomfortable and it still feels like my lung is inflamed. Is that normal? Also! I still cannot lay flat in a bed to get some sleep. I tried a couple weeks ago and after I got up I was having sharp pains and trouble breathing. Is it normal that I will have to keep sleeping in a recliner chair for a while? Thanks!
Hi there. I'm sorry to hear that you had two lung collapses. I'm not sure if it is normal for a lung to feel inflamed but I definitely had pain for many weeks while recovering and I definitely had sharp pains and trouble sleeping. A recliner chair would definitely have been helpful. Please take a look at my One Year Later video. I give a lot of information about my recovery process: ruclips.net/video/O2teOkGmz9U/видео.html.
I May need this surgery too. I had a chest tube in for 9 days and my lung is still 20% collapsed. They discharged me and referred me to the pulmonologist (who mentioned during my hospital stay about pleurodesis & lung decortication. I’m only 22, not a smoker, skinny, active, and 5 foot 3. They don’t know why it happened but it seems to be chronic & that I’ve had it awhile.
Hi there. Yes indeed. I believe that it was indeed a VATS bullectomy but it was a plural effusion, which seems to be different from a pleurectomy (though I'm not a doctor). My email address is sdillman[at]telus[dot]net.
Thank you Eric. I appreciate it. I'm coming up to one year since it happened soon and I'm planning to do a 'year after' video to talk about how everything has been since the procedure. I love being a part of the RUclips community. Ideally my new video will help people. 🙂
@@SeanDillman that's awesome, can't wait to see the video...in short, how are you doing since the operation... I'm wondering because i am currently also recovering from surgery i had 5 weeks ago and it was also a second occurrence so it was basically almost identical to what had happened to you, only my second time was while i was still recovering from the first one...Also I have a follow up doctor appointment tomorrow so i will let you know :)
@@ericgagic7609 Oh wow. It sounds like we did indeed have similar experiences. In short, I’m doing very well. I have some scars from the surgery sites but for me they are no big deal. They aren’t interfering with my career as a topless model or anything. In the first two months I used vitamin e-oil (like this one amzn.to/3TtRdFu) to reduce the appearance of scarring and make them heal faster. I applied a small amount to each cut every morning when I woke up and every evening before I went to bed. I basically used the oil for a month or so until the bottle was empty. I'm not sure if it helped or not, but I hope that it did and at very least, it made me feel like I was taking action, and doing something to help with the healing process. As far as pain management goes, you know as well as I do that having a collapsed lung hurts. After my surgery, I basically stayed home for a week or two and barely went outside. Although my lungs felt fine and I didn't experience any of the sensations that I experienced when I suffered my collapsed lung, I did have a few weeks of pain related to the surgery itself. Basically, everything on my right side felt tender and sensitive around the cuts, and many kinds of movement hurt including getting in and out of bed, coughing, sneezing, and any other big or fast movements. I only started to go out in public once I was suffering less pain. I suspect that you know about this for yourself and that you are past this stage or almost past this stage. When it comes to recovery time, it took me about two or three months to feel fully back to normal. Little-by-little, I also went for walks outside to get myself moving again. The first few days I went for only 5-minute walks, but I slowly worked up to 10 minutes, and then 20, and then a half hour, and so on. Within about 2 weeks, I still had some pain around my cuts, but I felt like I could walk as much as I wanted. About 5 weeks after my surgery, I had a follow up telephone call with the doctor who performed the procedure, just like you will be having, though it sounds like perhaps you may actually be seeing your doctor in person? My doctor asked me how everything was going since the surgery, and we chatted for about 10 minutes. I told him that I was feeling good and ready to get back to normal, and he gave me clearance to start going back to the gym though he warned me to take it easy and go slowly. A few weeks later I started going back to the gym and I slowly worked myself back up to my usual routine of running and weightlifting. As far as lasting effects go, I don't really have any. I have my scars and I don’t think that they’ll reduce much in appearance, but I don't really notice them and there isn't any sensation on or around them. The doctor did tell me that I should now never scuba dive or go into outer space, but I didn't really plan to do those things anyway. Since the procedure, I’ve taken many long flights including round trips from North America to Europe. When I was in Europe, I spent entire days walking, touring, and sightseeing, and I never had any issues. And aside from feeling like I didn't have enough leg room on the plane, there were no problems with flying. If you’d like to see something more positive that’s happened in my life since suffering a collapsed lung, check out my latest RUclips Short. Here is the link: ruclips.net/user/shortsEfH6XOXMIlo. I hope that all goes well with your follow-up appointment with your doctor tomorrow. Yes indeed. Please let me know how it goes. I’d love to know if your doctor tells you anything different from what my doctor told me.
@@SeanDillman Wow thank you for all the advice and I'm glad you're doing great. Also awesome short, congrats🎉. I just finished my appointment and yes it was not a phone call appointment i went there and they also took another x-ray as i was supposed to. They said it is all fine now, that the lung needs to fully stretch a bit more but that it's all good and i have another appointment in a month which they said also might be my last check-up. Wish you all the best and hope you will continue to feel great and not have to think about it... Many greetings from Croatia
@@ericgagic7609 You are most welcome, and thanks for the congrats. That's great news about your appointment. It's good that you had a final x-ray which confirmed that everything is fine. That's what we want to hear. They also said that to me, that the lungs will need to fully stretch a bit but that I was good to go. Your next call may be like my final check-up, which was pretty short. I wish you all the best too. Did I mention Croatia or are you in Croatia? I was just in Croatia for a month. Učim hrvatski. 🙂
Hey I’m Going to be going through this surgery in a week how long did it take you to heal ? When did you get to return back to work ? I’m planning on booking a whole Month off but wondering if that’s long enough 😅
Hi Cassandra. I spent about 4 or 5 days in the hospital waiting to get the surgery. I was bumped a few times and that extended my stay by a few days. If I hadn’t been bumped, I would have only been there about 3 days. As for healing time, it took me about a week to feel confident to go out in public and take short walks. I think that if you take a month off, that should be enough time to feel able to go back to work. You may need only a few weeks. When I had my first collapsed lung, and I hadn’t yet had a chest tube, I asked a doctor if I would be able to continue to work with a chest tube in. I had no idea, and it was all new to me. He said that I would be able to work. In hindsight, I think that he wasn’t entirely right. In my opinion, having a chest in is very uncomfortable and it would be a bad idea to go out in public with one in. Even if working at home, the pain is distracting. However, that being said, I did set up a little standing desk during my hospital stay, when I had my chest tube in, and I did my taxes and other paperwork. It was nice to have something to distract me and help pass the time. After my surgery and my chest tube was out, I had pain for weeks and sleeping was difficult for the first week or so. Is that helpful?
You are most welcome @@MysteryValut. Please don't hesitate to get in touch again if you have any other questions. I'm happy to help. I wish you all the best with your surgery and a speedy recovery.
@@MysteryValut I hope that this message finds you well. I just posted a one-year review video on my collapsed lung. Here is the link if you'd like to see it. 📺 ruclips.net/video/O2teOkGmz9U/видео.html
Yeah, it can be confusing when it happens. I thought I was having a heart attack. I was surprised but somewhat relieved when the doctors did the x-ray and told me definitively that they knew that it was a collapsed lung.
I'm 15 and already had it happen twice without surgery and it healed on its own in a week or two, think I popped it again while stretching and think I may need the surgery
Hi there. I'm sorry to hear that but it's good that it has been healing by itself. You probably don't want to keep worrying about it forever and have it keep happening. I suppose it will be up your doctor(s) to decide if you should get the surgery, though you may be right that it is on the horizon. It sounds like you are handling it well so kudos to you my friend. 😊👍
i had a surgery on my right chest because of pneumothorax from more than a year, and im wondering if i can do regular training like gym lifting weights is that possible?
Brother , just got my surgery plaurodesis , but my chest is numb and feel like its hold with straps or somthimg like that, how are you doing with the recovery , regarding mobility , thanks
Hi César. I hope that you’ll feel 100% soon. I had my surgery about a year ago. In terms of mobility, I’m completely back to normal. I go to the gym 5 days a week (Monday to Friday) and I’m feeling great. For 2023 I'm cleaning up my diet and working on losing a bit of weight but as far as my lung goes, I don’t even think about it anymore.
@@SeanDillman Hey, thanks for your respose brother , it really help me a lot , its really numb at this time but I needed to express it to a person that went thro the same process. keep up the great work.
You are most welcome @@cesaralejandromotivacion2034. I hear you. I'm glad that I can help. Take a look in the comments at the one from Luis Yan and show him some support. He's in the middle of going through it right now. Stay tuned for my update video and stay strong brother. 💪👍
@@cesaralejandromotivacion2034 I hope that this message finds you well. I just posted a one-year review video on my collapsed lung. Here is the link if you'd like to see it. 📺 ruclips.net/video/O2teOkGmz9U/видео.html
I have a mild one where i can just fell something that feels similar to a second pulse almost like a heartbeat in my lung. I also sometimes get a bit of mild back pain but thats it. I am also a smoker and im tall and skinny. I had the same problem a month ago and it went away on its own. I hope this one goes by its self and never comes back. Do u think if i stop smoking and put on some weight it wont bother me again? because i am going abroad to study in 2 months and i really hope it doesnt get in the way of my studies. So stressed rn honestly dont know what to do its gets me so anxious just thinking about it.
Hi Jack. Thank you for sharing that. When I had mild pain in my back, that is when I knew that it was something new, not just a sore muscle or something like that. I’m glad that it went away on its own for you. I hope that it will never come back as well. I’m not a doctor but I was told by numerous doctors that smoking increases the chances of it happening so if you were to stop smoking, that would likely decrease your risk of it happening. Although my doctors all told me that tall and thin/skinny guys were the ones who it usually happened to, I didn’t get the impression that being tall or thin/skinny actually caused the condition. It was just a description of the types of people who it usually happens to. So I’m not sure if you gaining or losing weight would decrease your risk of it happening. I suppose that having a healthy body weight (whatever that is for your build), would contribute to general wellness and may decrease the risk or at least make it easier to recover from if it does happen. I remember when I was in the hospital thinking that I was glad that I was generally healthy and didn’t have any other kind of health condition that would have made the recovery process more difficult. I really hope that it doesn’t happen for you as well, particularly given that you’ll be studying abroad. Where will you be studying? Worst case scenario, if it happens while you are away, if you are able to access a good hospital, they may be able to get you back in health in about a week or so (that is how long I was sort of out of commission the first time it happened). How old are you? I'm in my late 30s. If you are younger, you may be able to handle it better.
Hi Jack. I hope that this message finds you well. I just posted a one-year review video on my collapsed lung. Here is the link if you'd like to see it. 📺 ruclips.net/video/O2teOkGmz9U/видео.html
Hi NePub G. I'm sorry to hear that. Do you also feel pain in your back? That was something that I found to be notable that happened to me. Also, have you done any tests or been to a doctor? Do you have access to a finger oximeter? Here is a link to a popular one on Amazon: amzn.to/3SQjvtR. I'm not a doctor but as I understand it, a typical oxygen saturation level (SpO2) should be 95% or higher. I think that if a person has a collapsed lung, they will definitely not have a normal oxygen saturation level. Please let me know. As I said, I'm not a doctor but I'm happy to support you and make suggestions.
Hi @@nepubg7700. I'm sorry to hear about the persistent pain. It's not pleasant. Have you been to a doctor yet? When I went, and when they did a chest x-ray, they were able to detect the collapsed lung immediately.
@@SeanDillman yes i had chest xray today there is all normal they said... Diagnosed with musculoskeleton pain And gave some nsaid now i am feeling lil comfortable ❤️
Hi @@nepubg7700. I am glad to hear that you have ruled out a collapsed lung. I don't know much about a diagnosis of musculoskeletal pain, but I can say that having a collapsed lung is quite painful. I am glad that you are feeling more comfortable now. I hope that the doctors will help you determine what to do about your musculoskeletal pain. Thank you for sharing about your experience here. Other people may read it and it may help them too. 🙂
Thanks for commenting Az. It really is a bummer. It's good to be in touch with other people who have went through it. How are you feeling now? Are you getting back to normal?
@@SeanDillman I do feel better, however, I still get chest pains every now and then. I hope it doesn't happen again, I really don't want to do the thoracic surgery! Fingers crossed! And what about yourself?
Good morning @@Thisbook2022. Oh I understand now. When you said that it happened in April, you mean that you had a lung collapse and that you didn’t have to do the VATs procedure. I really hope that it won’t happen again (your lung will not re-collapse) and you won’t have to have surgery. After it happened the first time, I remember that I asked if there was anything that I could do to prevent it from happening again and they told me that there wasn’t. It was not caused because of anything I was doing at the gym or by what I was eating, etc. It just unfortunately seems to be random, which I suppose is why they call it ‘spontaneous pneumothorax’ in our case. With respect to the surgery, if it makes you feel any better, if it does happen again, I was told that the procedure success rate is generally high for everyone. For me, since having the surgery, and after taking a month or so to recover, I have felt great. I haven’t noticed anything going on in my chest. I even unfortunately had COVID last month and aside from it generally being a bummer to have COVID, it was fine. I don’t believe that it affected me any differently because of my lung surgery. I will keep my fingers crossed for you too. Let me know if anything happens and if you learn anything new. Maybe you will have a doctor who will tell you something different. Perhaps there will be a large study someday and the medical community will determine why this happens and ways to prevent it.
@@SeanDillman Thanks a lot for all the info! mine happened 2-3 weeks after recovering from covid. It must've been all the coughing! I also used to vape in the past, which I'm pretty sure played a massive role in my case. I'm glad you're doing well, and that you've recovered from both the PT and C19. I would like to wish you the best with all your future endeavours. I've subscribed to your channel and will be tuned in!
You're most welcome @@Thisbook2022. It's good to have some community around this issue. It isn't as serious as so many other medical conditions but it's still scary and a bit traumatic. You're probably right that the vaping played a role for you. I remember that doctors told me that vaping increases the risk factor. I appreciate that very much. I feel much better. I've been going to the gym 5 days a week, trying to stay healthy so that I may avoid things like this happening in the future and recovering more quickly if they do, though my doctors told me that spontaneous pneumothorax happens even to very fit people. I think that it happened to a player in the NBA in recent years. Thanks so much for subscribing to my channel. I do my best to help as much as I can. I stick to things that I know about: tech, academics, legal information, and apparently somewhat random medical problems. =)
Hi there. I'm feeling much better thanks. I cannot say if it is okay for you, but I definitely resumed air travel within 4 months of my procedure. Please check out my One Year Later video for more information about this: ruclips.net/video/O2teOkGmz9U/видео.html
Hi everyone, I had talc pleurodesis surgery just over two weeks ago. I am.seeking information from those that have had the same procedure in the hope of getting an idea how long I may expect the pain and discomfort in my chest to last? Also, did anyone battle with phlegm issues post surgery? Thanks in advance
Hi Chuck. I had the talc pleurodesis as well. My doctor said that he usually tells patients that it is like using 'glue' but in reality it is a chemical irritant (magnesium silicate I think) that it applied in the pleural space, the area between the chest wall and the lung. My pain following the procedure lasted at least a few weeks. The pain was almost entirely from the throat irritation (because of the breathing tube during the procedure) and then the pain at the surgery four sites (two for tools, one for a chest tube, and one for a camera I believe). The throat pain was the first to go away completely and lasted only a few days. After that, I recall that it was difficult to sleep on my right side (where the surgery sites are), and that getting out of bed was painful. Once I was up, I was able to distract myself with work at my standing desk and I challenged myself to go for short walks every day. When I finally felt good enough to go out for walks, they were very short, like only about 5 minutes, but as time went on, I could walk further and without any pain. At no point did I feel any pain or discomfort in my chest. I actually felt like the procedure worked perfectly and that my chest and lungs felt fine. With respect to phlegm, I didn't ever have any issues with phlegm, not when I had my first collapsed lung, or my second, or during the recovery process. I hope that some other people may be able to respond here and offer some insight from their experiences. When you say "phlegm issues", what do you mean? Are you coughing it up? If so, I would imagine that it would be painful because of the jarring of the body. I remember that while recovering I would sneeze sometimes (as one does) and it was very painful, because of the body spasm (my sneezes are generally big ones). I hope that you have a speedy recovery Chuck.
@@SeanDillman Thanks for your reply Sean and as others have said, thanks for creating a place for us to talk about everything. I found it difficult to have good conversations with the surgeons in hospital as they were always so busy and racing around to see everyone. I had a follow up with my GP yesterday and she said that I've got a bit of atelectasis which can be common after general anaesthetic or chest surgery. This is on my right lung (not the left which han a pneumothorax) and apparently deep breathing will help to treat it and break the phlegm up that is trapped in the lower part of the lung that is collapsed. When I first got out of surgery and had the drain removed almost everything would hurt my chest but the worst things were yawning, hiccups or deep breaths. All of those things now seem to hurt a little less so I'm hoping that trend continues. I've got a sore, sensitive area just to the left of my centre chest bone and I wonder if that is more from the oxygen tube that maybe scratched around that area? I'm feeling stronger with my walking now. I do feel quite tired when I get back from a walk and I feel as though strain on the lungs brings on a bit of pain as I assume the irritation and inflammation/scarring may not be completely settled yet but I see the importance of getting the air in there and stretching the lung out so I will persist with the daily walking. I guess my original question of wondering how long before the chest might feel 'normal' was to appease my anxiety. If I hear that others too months, let's say, before they felt back to normal I feel like I would stress less and just accept that the pain is a natural part of the process. In saying that, I guess everyone heals differently but I just find the mental battle to be as hard, if not harder than the physical recovery. Thanks again for your story and your reply Sean. ❤️
Hi @@chuckburke6601. You are most welcome. This thread is definitely developing into the community that I was hoping for. When I suffered my pneumothorax, I found that there wasn't really a good place to go and talk about this. I agree as well about the hospital experience. The doctors and nurses were always so busy. I felt like every time I saw them, I really could only maybe ask one or two questions, even if I had more than that. I would basically keep my questions written down and prioritize which ones I wanted to ask first in case I only got a little bit of time with the doctor. At the end of it, I feel that I mostly got all my questions answered, which was good. It's good that you saw your GP and they provided an explanation about the phlegm. That makes sense and may be helpful to other people. I hadn’t heard of atelectasis before but I’m looking it up and reading about it now. It’s not something that I experienced but as you say, if deep breathing will help treat it and break up, then that’s good and it sounds like it should resolve itself gradually. Your description of when you first got out of surgery matches my experience exactly. Every little thing hurt. Yawning. Hiccups. Deep breaths. Getting in and out of a vehicle. Getting in and out of bed. Everything hurt but it did eventually get better and better over time, as you seem to be experiencing as well. I think that the trend will indeed continue for you. If I had to guess, I would say that your sore sensitive area is from the oxygen tube. I feel that the oxygen tube hole was the place where I had the most pain and I think that it is because it was the biggest incision, or at least that's what it looks like from my scars. It's good to hear that you are feeling stronger and walking now. I agree that it is probably important to get out and get some air and stretch the lungs and do some walking. I think that it definitely helped me physically and mentally. It’s easy for me to say because I'm on the other side of it, but it sounds like your experience matches mine (except for the phlegm) that you’re on a good track. If I had to say, I’d say that it probably did actually take many months for me to feel completely back to normal. Even now it has been about 10 months and sometimes I’ll push on my incision sites to see if there is any sensation that’s different than on the other side. There doesn’t seem to be any difference anymore but there was even three months or so after the surgery. I hear you about the mental battle, particularly if you consider that for many of us, this happens completely randomly and without any explanation. That was the thing that I found difficult to deal with. It was like having a piano fall from the sky and hit me. There was no rhyme or reason. I like things to make sense so the randomness of it made it difficult to deal with. However, at this point I have certainly come to terms with it. It is what it is. You are most welcome. Thank you for your story Chuck. One of the great things about this RUclips thing is that anyone can come and comment and read other comments, so even this conversation that you and I are having may be read by other people and it may help them, so I hope that you’ll feel good about that. 🙂
@@SeanDillman Hi Sean, Just over a month post surgery now. Had a consultation (super quick) with the surgeon a few days back where he looked at a recent x-ray and said all looked good and reassured me the surgery went to plan. Despite feeling like I couldn't really get to ask all of the questions I wanted to, and he seemed in a rush again, I left feeling relieved. I'm feeling like I'm coping a little better with my stress/anxiety since the consultation. I'm still feeling the odd little aches and pains but I'm not focusing on them like I was. The atelectasis with the right lung seems to have resolved and I haven't had a phlegmy cough now for a couple of weeks. One thing I have noticed is I seem to be getting lots of indigestion now and I wonder if it's a result of the large amount of pain killers and medication I was on (pretty much weaned off it all now). I have started feeling more comfortable to discuss and describe the whole ordeal with friends. For a while I didn't like talking about it but now I feel more at ease to go into detail about it. Exercise is going well. Feel tired and physically take a little longer to recover compared to pre - pneumothorax but I see that as being very normal at this point. Anyway, that's an update from me. I hope you're still going well 👍
@@chuckburke6601 Thank you very much for the update Chuck. That all sounds positive. I had a similar experience when I spoke with the surgeon. I think that most doctors are so busy that they’re run off their feet, so I understand why he would have seemed like he was in a rush, but it’s good that you were able to ask enough questions to leave feeling relieved. I'm also glad to hear that you are doing better with your stress and anxiety since speaking with him. I think that little aches and pains are normal but that they will pass with time and that not focusing on them is probably a good way to go. I’m also really happy to hear that the issue with the phlegmy cough has completely passed. That’s a good thing. You make an interesting point about the possible cause of your indigestion. I can’t recall experiencing anything like that, but I think that it may be a reasonable assumption in your case and that is also something that should pass with time now that you’re taking less medication. I hear you about discussing the ordeal with friends. There are a lot of people that I did not ever discuss it with just because of the stress of it. I had my teeth cleaned this morning by someone who I haven’t seen in a few years. I mean I didn’t see this particular hygienist in a few years, not that I did not have my teeth cleaned in a few years. Haha. Anyway, she asked if there was anything new since she last saw me, and I told her about the collapsed lung and I had to tell her the whole long story that I tell everyone. The conversation just always kind of ends with an anticlimax and nothing more than that. I guess that’s just how it goes but it isn't the most fun thing to talk about is it? That’s good that your exercise is going well. I think that it makes sense that you feel tired and take a little longer to recover. If you’re like me, you probably took many months off any kind of physical activity so it may just be the same kind of atrophy that would come with not going to the gym for a long time. Thanks again for the update. I’m glad to hear how well you’re doing. If you’re interested, take a look at the thread here that was started by Eric Gagic. His experience is similar to ours too. He will be seeing the doctor tomorrow for his post-surgery checkup. I thought that you may be interested because I gave him a fairly in-depth update on how I’ve been doing since my surgery.
I am still recovering from a pneumothorax. It’s been a day since I’ve had the chest tube out & still having pain when breathing in. Did you experience that?
Hi there. I'm sorry to hear that you had a pneumothorax as well. Yes. I did experience that. I had pain with breathing for a week or more after I had my chest tube out. I basically went for walks and then go home when the pain would start. Gradually I worked up to doing longer and longer walks. Even at home I noticed discomfort from time to time. I suppose that it was both from within, the lung, and around the site of where the tube and medical instruments were inserted. I would say that I was only fully pain-free after many weeks. Please let me know if that is helpful and if you have any other questions. I'm wishing you all the best with your recovery. =)
Hi. Mine occurred twice and my doctors decided to do surgery which I had 14 days ago. Been in hospital for 21 days wherein 16-17 days under chest tube. Man, they put my chest tube twice as I got healed on the first time, drain all the trapped air, then my final x-ray before discharge shows collapsed lungs, again. I cried a lot as I know how painful it is. I could say that the second time hits harder and more painful than first one. I was under morphine drips for more than 24 hours. Then comes the surgery through VATS, 2 procedures. One is pleurodisis , and other one is removing part of my lung that aint work , then staple it( I don’t know what it’s called). 24-36 hours after the surgery is painful as well, plus building up of mucus on my lung. Thankfully, through physiotherapy and insensitive spirometer, my lung gradually opened and coughed out the mucus.
What I’m concerning now is my hoarse voice now. A week or so before my Pneumothorax, I experienced having hoarse voice. A little bit paranoid. Please keep on posting your journey. My stitches has been removed today. Pain on the chest is still there, but occasionally. My doctors said all are normal including today’s x-ray.
@@Pizza_Edits2012 oh gosh, I’m wishing you a great recovery. I just hope I won’t have to go through all that, so far I am on day 3 since having the chest tube out. I am still in pain and it hurts when I inhale or even walk to much. I just came from my pcp and she thinks I still have a little air in my lung smh when I left the hospital they said everything looked great so I am confused now 🫤. What caused mine pneumothorax was a lung biopsy, I regret getting that biopsy now.
Hi there. I'm sorry to hear that you have a collapsed lung, but let me welcome you to the club. I'm not a doctor so I can't really answer that. I can say, in my experience, when I had a collapsed lung (on two occasions), the reduced availability of oxygen really made things difficult, and my lung wasn't even fully collapsed. Carrying a small briefcase felt like carrying a load of bricks. I suppose that if you have a collapsed lung right now, and if you're alive, then logically, you can live with one lung; however, I don't know what would it mean to live with only one lung in terms of capability, health, life-span, etc. Here is a link to an article that you may find to be helpful: www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/treatment-tests-and-therapies/pneumonectomy#:~:text=Oxygen%20is%20necessary%20for%20all,the%20other%20lung%20is%20damaged. The article says "Most people can get by with only one lung instead of two, if needed. Usually, one lung can provide enough oxygen and remove enough carbon dioxide, unless the other lung is damaged." I don't know what it means by 'can get by'. To me, 'getting by' is not necessarily the same thing as living a healthy, happy life.
HI Simon. Thanks for the question. No. Like many people, I gained about 20 or 30 extra pounds during COVID (my girlfriend’s mother is a great cook and she likes to feed me dinner and I have a tendency to overeat). I went into my first collapsed lung with this extra weight, and lower ability to breath and run just because of my lesser cardiovascular fitness level, but the collapsed lung didn’t affect it once I healed from it happening. Again, after the lung collapsed again and I had the VATS procedure to correct it, once I was healed from the surgery, I was back at the gym and having no problems with breathing or running. I am still back at the gym and experience no problems, though I’m still battling to shed the additional weight. Silly me to put it on in the first place. As for singing, I’m not a professional but I love to sing and I haven’t noticed any issues with that. I sing in my car all the time and have no problems. Let me know if you have any other questions Simon. I’m happy to help. 🙂
You are most welcome @@SeemoreDunkan. As I recall, the rasp in my voice went away after about 2 or 3 days. I would say that the tube irritated my throat but did not damage it or my vocal chords. I don't think that it had any lasting affect on my voice, the tone, depth, timbre, etc. I never thought before about how this could affect someone who relies really heavily on their lungs. For a scuba diver, having a collapsed lung would be really bad. Could be career ending I suppose. Do you sing a lot?
Please also see my One Year Later video: ruclips.net/video/O2teOkGmz9U/видео.html 👍
Hi Sean, I hope you are well? And I hope your health has been keeping well since.
One of my friend is currently suffering from a collapsed lung (she lives in Vancouver, Canada), she got admitted into hospital 7 days ago, and is currently receiving oxygen supplementation as the surgery costs is approx. 11,000 CAD. Im from the UK and myself and some other friends are currently doing a fundraiser to arrange for the money for the surgery. In your video you advised that on the health care system in Canada this surgery you get free? Is this because of the level of health care insurance you have? If you can please kindly share more information on this please. Thank you
I can not express to you how impressed I am that people like you do these kind of videos for no other reason but to help and inform others. You qualify for hero status, and I am genuinely grateful to you. Best wishes always.
That is an most amazing comment to receive. Thank you Zelve. When I had my collapsed lung, I thought that maybe I could at least help other people who were going through the same thing. Best wishes to you too. I hope that you are well. 😊
when i was 18, i was diagnosed with pneumothorax and after a year i’m just watching this video and yes i can still feel it
I'm sorry to hear that Rezaleen. Thank you for sharing your experience. Did you see my one year later video? I didn't feel it anymore at that point, and not it is about 2 years later and I also still do not feel it, though sometimes I feel muscle pain in my chest which I wonder about, but it seems to be connected to heartburn, so I don't think it is related.
Im glad to see this video because my elder son was suffering like his illness Her right lungs collaps He under observation for lung to Expand Her lungs to 90% as of now his lungs is 50 or 60 % i pray to god before tuesday hopefully his lung reached in 90% 🙏🙏🙏
I am hospitalized today for this disease. I am a lady. I am watching lying on my hospital bed
Hi there. I am sorry that you are having to go through this. I remember very well what it was like. Try to look on the bright side as much as possible. If you want to check out my other video in which I share my experience one year later, it is much more optimistic. You'll get through. You got this! Feel free to visit my website and send me an email if you're bored or want more information. All the best. Get well soon. -Sean 🙂
Get well soon. I had this on 2021..
Thank you very much for sharing this video. My brother in law was diagnosed with this from broken ribs. The condition was not described to us as a collapsed lung, which is critically serious!!
Thank you very much Sean for this video. my son experienced a collapsed lung three days ago. Your explanation of what you experienced has really helped me understand what my son is going through at this point in time and what to expect he is also very blessed to have a wonderful fiancé, who is taking time off work to be with him. There’s no way you can do this on your own due to the amount of pain you experience with a collapsed lung. Thank you so much for taking the time in making this video. We also live in Canada, which I am very thankful for our healthcare.
Hi Cindy. Thank you for sharing your experience and kind words. I'm glad to hear that the video helped you understand what your son is going through. It's heartening to know that he has such wonderful support from his fiancé, and I hope he has a smooth recovery. Funny enough, I also had my fiancé to help me through my experience. I agree that it is a lot for a person to go through on their own. I'm sending positive thoughts your way from Victoria!
As a German paramedic I thank you very much for sharing this experience. It is so different to be taught it at school and to hear it so well prepared from a Patient. The next time I have to transport someone with pneumothorax will be lucky, I've learned from you❤
Wow. That really means a lot. I very much hope that it will help. If you have any colleagues who you think may also benefit from seeing the video please consider sharing it. :-)
Hope you heal quickly and safely
Thank you Lin. I am feeling much better now. I hope that you are well too. 😊🩺♥
I’m at the hospital right now watching your video and have the same thing that you went through and this is my first time for me so I’ll be getting the surgery to prevent it from happening again. I got here to the hospital yesterday morning .
Hi there. Sorry for my late reply. Are you still in the hospital? Was your experience similar to mine? How are you feeling?
This video is a blessing. Thank you so much for sharing your experiences.
You are most welcome Jeremy. I’m glad to know that my sharing can help. I hope that you are well. ❤
Hi Jeremy. I hope that this message finds you well. I just posted a one-year review video on my collapsed lung. Here is the link if you'd like to see it. 📺 ruclips.net/video/O2teOkGmz9U/видео.html
Thank you so much for this, had my first pneumothorax few days ago, preparing mentally for the surgery, this really helped
You are most welcome Arrety. I'm sorry to hear that you had your first, but I'm glad that my video helped. Stay strong and keep positive. It has been almost two years since I had my episodes and I'm doing great. 😊 Check out my One Year Later video if you want some more encouragement: ruclips.net/video/O2teOkGmz9U/видео.html
@@SeanDillmanyou are so kind for taking the time to share. I’ve been searching on this as I’m in so much pain now. You helped me so much.
I had a spontaneous pneumothorax when I was 19. I literally woke up with it. No trauma, not a smoker. They told me when I was leaving the hospital that I had a 50% chance of having it happen again 🙄 It’s been 20 years, nothing since then.
Oh wow Tess. That is a very interesting experience. Thank you for sharing. I'm so glad to hear that it didn't happen again. That is a success story. My understanding is that the older a person is, the less likely it is to happen. If you're 39 years old now, ideally it means that it won't reoccur. 👍
Hi Tess. I hope that this message finds you well. I just posted a one-year review video on my collapsed lung. Here is the link if you'd like to see it. 📺 ruclips.net/video/O2teOkGmz9U/видео.html
Thank you for sharing! For me I am struggling with a collapsed left lung since 2020. I took different medicine which were not succesfull. By continuous check ups the doctor found a bronchial tumor of 3cm in the left main bronch. Still looking for a doctor to assist me .
I just had the same problem, had my tube taken out two weeks ago, thank you for sharing❤️
Sorry to hear that you had the same problem but glad to hear that your tube is out. Be sure to check out my One Year Later video as well if you haven't. It may help give you an idea of some future issues as well: ruclips.net/video/O2teOkGmz9U/видео.html. 👍
Thank you for your video, my son had surgery 4 days ago now is home,Feel so bad for him because it’s not fun at all.
Quite a few years ago I had a collapsed lung and had a chest tube inserted without any medications, except for a local injection which only numbs the skin. It was terrible pain. Unfortunately, as soon as they took the tube out and let me go home. It collapsed again. I had to go back to the hospital to remove a section of the lung and I have a 7 inch incision around my shoulder blade on the back I wasn’t lucky enough to just have a couple little incisions, as this was done quite a few years ago. They did roughen up the chest wall as you mentioned so that the Longwood stick to it and not collapse .Luckily, I have not had any more problems. Listening to you talk I could relate to just about everything. I hope you’re doing well.
Thanks for sharing your personal experience.
Thank you for sharing, I am so happy to see you got good care. I have been having the same problem for 4yrs and no one will fix it. The pain is excruciating but I get by
Hi there. You are most welcome. It's true that the pain is excruciating. I'm sorry to hear that you've been suffering it for so long. Why won't anyone fix it?
Your a true warrior bro. When they put the big post surgery tube in me they gave me self administered fentanyl from an IV I can’t imagine having to deal with the huge tube without strong pain killers.
Thank Raak. Wow. Fentanyl is a serious pain-killer. Yeah. That tube hurt. I was very glad to have it out. When was your surgery? Did you see my one year later video? ruclips.net/video/O2teOkGmz9U/видео.html
This video is also helpful for med students 👍
Oh wow. Thanks Wanda. That is great to know. I hadn't considered that. 😊
Hi Wanda. I hope that this message finds you well. I just posted a one-year review video on my collapsed lung. Here is the link if you'd like to see it. 📺 ruclips.net/video/O2teOkGmz9U/видео.html
I have it now and i might have the operation in a few days. Will have myself admitted to the hospital today. Please wish me luck. 🙏🏼
I do have a few questions. Do you have any idea roughly how much was the cost of the operation? Unfortunately I am not in Canada and our healthcare system is not really amazing so i have no choice but to pay for a part of it. 😭
I wish you luck Borjie. I admitted myself into the hospital too (twice - the first time and the second time). Make sure to watch my year-after video. It may help you to know what to expect. 😊
I'm afraid I do not know what it costs. I am grateful to be living in Canada where we have a universal healthcare system. I looked a bit on Google but could not find a consistent answer. I suppose it depends on the country and factors relating to the patient. 🙁
Thank you so much for this video. I had my first pneumothorax in October. I had visited some high altitude places in the Himalayas at the end of September and early October, and took a flight back home to Bangalore on October 9, 2023. Nine days later, I was in the hospital because I was feeling slightly out of breath and could hear my breath crackling. I had no pain in my chest at all, but I did feel tightness and I was constantly burping. I mean constantly! I met one doctor, who told me it was probably gastritis but that did not explain why I couldn't walk up one flight of stairs without panting and having to sit and cool down before walking again. So I went to the hospital and they immediately X-rayed me, said I had pneumothorax, and inserted a "pigtail" catheter into my lung. It hurt like a mother. I had it in me for 6 days. The pain was unbearable for two days, after which they discharged me with a fentanyl patch and a lot of drugs, which did not have much of an effect. The "pigtail" was removed after 6 days and I quickly recovered. The CT scan showed no blebs. I took regular X-rays every two-three weeks and everything looked fine. I was longing to travel and my doctor gave me the go-ahead on December 22, 2023. I was actually supposed to take a flight tonight, my first flight after the pneumothorax, but suddenly, last night, January 3, 2024, I again heard crackling sounds while breathing and began constantly burping again, with mild chest discomfort (but again, no pain)! I decided I would do another X-Ray and go to the doctor again even though I had just met him 12 days ago and he said I was completely fine. And, surprise surprise! Another pneumothorax. :( My doctor told me that since it is mild and I am not out of breath like I was last time, I do not need hospitalization but should constantly monitor my O2 levels. I have to go back on Jan 10 and do another X-ray and probably a CT scan before they decide what to do. I'm really not looking forward to surgery and I am so scared! :(
Did thr second pneumothroax resolve. Itseld?
@@TheThe-sn1wc No, I had pleurodesis surgery, during which they found endometrial tissue all over my lungs. So it was caused by my endometriosis and not by high altitude. I believe that a relapse of pneumothorax for any reason requires pleurodesis or the lung will keep collapsing.
Update - Thanks to Az's comment below, I just re-watched the video and thought about the experience a bit more. It has now been about 4 months since it happened. About one month after I was discharged from the hospital, I had a phone call with the surgeon who did the procedure. He asked me some questions about how I was recovering (I told him that I was feeling mostly fine at that point) and he cleared me to go back to normal and return to the gym, though he suggested that I ease into it - which I did. Over the past months I have gradually increased activity levels and how much I'm lifting at the gym. I feel like I lost step a bit but that I'm totally recovered. I do still have scars from the incision sites. I have been putting vitamin E oil on them, but I don't think that they will be going away. Oh well it is what it is. For anyone who is dealing with something like this, I wish you all the best and a speedy recovery.
Weman with the condition lam can be prone to lung collaps and pleurodesis surgery there more info on it on the lam foundation the weman who have lam are ushuly tsc condition or smokers me I have tsc type 2 and got diagnosed with lam in 2017
@@otakuparadise3585. I had not heard of Lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM) or Tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) before. I just read about those conditions on Wikipedia. Thank you for bringing them to my attention. Given your diagnosis, does that mean that you had pleurodesis surgery?
@@SeanDillman yes tech I'm recovering from my secant one where they make the walls sticky in the inside so they can attach or something like that I git my left dine in March and right just a couple days ago they wanted to do the left before it also collaps and they didn't wanna do the surgery with the talc powder due to it can make it where you can't get a lung transplant
@@SeanDillman also I call the box that connected with a tub to you a vampire box 😆
@@otakuparadise3585. Wow Otaku. I only had it happen to one of my lungs (my right lung).I'm really sorry to hear that you had it happen in both lungs. It sounds like you are in good hands though and that your medical practitioners know what they're doing and are taking care of you.
This is one of the most psychologically debilitating things I've ever experiened in my life... the waiting and waiting and waiting to get surgery, then the worries and all of this... oh my GOODNESS! 😪
I just experience pneumothorax recently, and it took 21 days before the chest tube out, I'm now recovering from it.
Wow. That's amazing that you spent 21 days with a chest tube in. That must not have been fun. The maximum I did was a couple days, not a couple of weeks. You're a trooper. How are you feeling now? Did anyone suggest that you put a salve, ointment, or balm on your stiches to help them heal?
Hi A Squad. I hope that this message finds you well. I just posted a one-year review video on my collapsed lung. Here is the link if you'd like to see it. 📺 ruclips.net/video/O2teOkGmz9U/видео.html
Did you have any post pain
I'm on day 5 of recovery after the pleurodesis surgery. So glad I got it done. Can't wait for the swelling to go away! 😂
Sorry you experienced this as well.. My lungs collapsed plenty of times.. Had Pleurodesis lung surgery done in 2006.. Now I have reoccurring blebs on the same lung i had surgery on had a couple small collapses but they healed themselves.. I’m scared I hope it doesn’t get worse!!
Hi Stevo. Wow. I’m sorry to hear that. It sounds like you’ve been through a lot. I hope that it doesn’t get worse too. Have you seen a doctor about this recently?
@@SeanDillman look up Dann Furia on RUclips.. He made a video called “That High” he is a rapper his lungs collapsed over 20 times had 14 chest tubes..
@@SeanDillman I’m doing good besides the blebs that came back.. It definitely is scary.. We got this brother
@@stevo6891how are you now ?
Greetings Sean; I am glad to hear that you are recovering and feeling much better than before. Personally I had my spontaneous pneumothorax last April and recovered after that but sometimes I feel pain in my left lung for no reason and when I am on the plane I feel pain also. I am afraid and worried I may get the 2nd pneumothorax again and any unexpected time. I still feel pain in the area like 10 min but it goes away after that. Do you suggest to go to hospital to check why I feel that pain in my left lung or give it time ? Thank you for the info and stay safe.
Hi Simo. If I understand right, you had your spontaneous pneumothorax a year ago in April 2023? Is your left lung the one in which you had your pneumothorax?
Over the past year, even after I had my second pneumothorax, I have occasionally felt pain in my chest, which is scary. After my first, I was definitely worried about it happening again, and then it did.
In your case, you may want to go to the hospital to check it out. If the doctors do a chest x-ray, it should be pretty clear to them if you have a collapsed lung or not. If it turns out that they don't see a problem, it will give you peace of mind and you will know that you aren't currently suffering another collapsed lung, which is worth a lot.
Does that make sense? Did you also see my One Year Later video? You may also find it to be helpful. ruclips.net/video/O2teOkGmz9U/видео.html
@@SeanDillman Yes I had my spontaneous pneumothorax last year in April 2022 in my left lung and I still feel pain occasionally also. is there any time frame that I should not be worried may I get it? how can we repair our lung to stay healthy?
How are you now?
hi i suffered from spontaneous pneumothorax 2 weeks ago i just got my tube removed 3 days after getting confined then it came back the day after so they had to reinsert it now im still in the hospital just got the tube removed yesterday still waiting for my X ray results
hopefully i can still come back to cycling after this
Hi Izumi. I'm sorry to hear that. It can definitely be a frustrating experience. I hope that you will be able to get back to cycling too. 🚲 Check out my One Year Later video in which I talk about recovery time and lasting effects. You may find it to be helpful: ruclips.net/video/O2teOkGmz9U/видео.html 📺👍
hi thanks man there is actually one thing im curious about
everytime you yawn do you feel a bit of pain when ur lungs expand? do you also feel a burning sensation?(or its probably just my TB) and weird question how do you bath with these many bondages doctors said i must not wet the wound at all cost
You bet @@izumifuru_osu7751. It has been a while since my surgery so no, I don't feel any pain when I yawn. I did after the surgery though, yes. Did you check out my One Year Later video? I basically talk about how every little thing hurt after the surgery until I was healed up. I also talk about my wound and how I did not go in the bath. I just washed in the sink and was very careful to not get the wound wet. 👍
The tube isn't inserted into the lung its between your lung and your chest wall, the trapped air is removed via the tube and hopefully once the air is removed your lung should inflat and stay up, not always the case tho.
Thanks for the like, hope you are doing well, I just had an appointment with a thoracic surgeon so had an idea where it was going 😬 So In a few month I'm having surgery like you had, this will be my second time after having my first surgery In 2010.
I dont know why nobody else has this, but I have a 5.7 cm pulmonary bulla (bigger version of blebs) and I'm really scared to go through a collapse because I'm at very increased risk of a collapse. I've been anxious and paranoid for a while I'm losing my mind, and I haven't even had a pnemo yet. But they say it's going to happen. I'm going to see a lung surgeon to see if I qualify for that same surgery to get it removed or something :(( it's huge man, it doesn't affect me that much yet, but I'm so scared.
Oh wow. How were the bulla discovered? I hope that you won't have a pneumothorax and they can fix it with surgery so that it won't happen.
@@SeanDillman it was one of those random X-rays that discovered it. We then got some CT scan. They actually say it's not that big, compared to giant bullaes etc... So maybe I will have to wait until something happens, which is a bit stressful :D it was the same size 3 -4 years ago, so it's not growing, and I survived for a few years, I think maybe I will wait until I get to 40 years old, I'm 33 now. Maybe i can just live my life without getting a pneumo, or maybe I will eventually get it. I actually don't know it yet, I will ask the doc. I wish the answers were there. This is stressful man....
Hi @@__J____ff. Please excuse the delay in my response. Work has been crazy. That would sounds very stressful. If it helps, when I had mine, they told me that the likelihood of it happening again decreased with age, so maybe the older you get, the less likely it will be to happen? I can appreciate that you are in a different situation with the bullae. I hope that you will indeed live your life without getting a pneumothorax. I'm sending you my best wishes.
recently went through this and the pain was unimaginable, during my first pigtail catheter when my lung first collapsed, my right pectoral felt inflated and like it actually wanted to explode, my back felt an extreme dull and aching pain and near the center of my chest felt like hot knives or nails were trying to come out of my chest and i like to believe i have a high pain tolerance ive broken and fractured multiple bones with minimal pain and never go to the hospital for anything so i knew this was serious i thought i was having a heart attack at 22 years old😂😳
The pain can be quite extreme can't it? What you describe is kind of what it felt like for me, though I never thought of it that way before. I also thought that I was having a heart attack. I had no idea what else it could be. I had never even heard of a spontaneous pneumothorax before it happened.
How are you feeling now?
@@SeanDillmanthe wound in my lung wasn’t healing so i had to get surgery twice one to basically glue my lung to my chest wall so it wouldn’t collapse again and another to remove the ruptured bleb and staple it shut, obviously sore a bit after the surgery but other than that i feel almost perfect like it never happened at all
Interesting that there was so little pain for you, for me personally the pain was imobilising 10/10 i could not move, could barely breathe and just wanted to get knocked out for the entirity of the situation
Hello, we are in Massachusetts, USA, my teen son had it 3 wks ago, chest tube was put in, for couple days, all was good, suction was turned off, then another good xray, then tube was removed, and back home, few days after it happened again. At the ER tube was inserted again, and day after surgery as you described, then few days at the hospital all xrays and cat scan good, suction was turned off, then tube removed, xray good, we went home, and AGAIN 3 days after it happened again, this time the absolutely most painful, so freshly after surgery, he was rushed to the hospital, again chest tube, and we are still here, few days after 3rd time lung collapsed. Xrays, cat scans, all seems good , yesterday suction was turned off,, today tube will be sealed possibly, and then eventually removed. So very similar to your experience, but for my son, it happened again after surgery,
THANK YOU SO MUCH!
You are most welcome Linda. If you're interested, I recently posted a welcome video about my channel. Here is the link if you're interested: ruclips.net/video/ZMTXs_QGlMc/видео.html Thanks Linda. 🙂
Thanks for this video. It’s helpful to hear about the symptoms from a patient’s perspective.
You are most welcome. Thank you for commenting. Do you work in healthcare?
@@SeanDillman No, I crashed on mountain bike yesterday and was trying to figure out if my rib pain/breathing trouble was bad enough to get checked out for this condition.
@@my_name_taken. Sorry to hear about the bike crash. As I understand it, it is possible to cause a pneumothorax through trauma - this is known as Traumatic Pneumothorax, as opposed to Spontaneous Pneumothorax like I suffered. I expect that once a lung is collapsed, the feeling is the same, though possible worse with Traumatic Pneumothorax because it was caused by some sort of trauma. How are you doing now? I know it was only yesterday but is the pain subsiding at all? Do you feel it on your front as well as your back?
@@SeanDillman Thanks for asking. The pain is a little better today. My oxygen saturation and blood pressure are fine and it’s easier to take a full breath today, so I think I’m good this time. :)
@@my_name_taken You are most welcome. I'm glad to hear that the pain has lessened a bit. I'm not a doctor but if your oxygen saturation and blood pressure are fine, I think you are right. A family member of mine recently had pneumonia so they bought a little finger oximeter (amzn.to/3SQjvtR). I used it a few times too just to test myself and my typical oxygen saturation level (SpO2) was 98%. I think that if a person had a collapsed lung, they definitely would not have a normal oxygen saturation level. In your case, it sounds like you are good. I'm really glad to hear it. 🙂
I have experienced a collapsed lungs i put chest tube for 15 days thank god now i have been discharge 3 day ago
Thank you for sharing.
You are most welcome Lin Nas. 😊 Did you also see my One Year Later video? You may also find it to be helpful. ruclips.net/video/O2teOkGmz9U/видео.html 📺
Looking for some feedback from anyone who has had this procedure. My son had the VATS surgery on Friday 3.17. During the surgery they removed plebs from the right and left side, but only did the inner cavity irritation on his right side because the left was healing on it's own. His left tube was removed on Monday 3.20 and the right tube was removed on Thursday 3.23. He as was also discharged from the hospital on 3.23 and has been recovering at home since.
Recovery seems to be going ok overall - we were basically just instructed that as long as he is not feeling lightheaded or having shortness of breath, any pain that he feels is a normal part of the healing process. But he has been saying that he feels 'movement' on the left side. I can feel it too when I put my hand on his chest, but it's hard to tell where it is coming from. Sometimes it feels like gurgling, sometimes it feels like a spasm, etc. I was wondering if anyone else experienced similar symptoms during the recovery period.
Hi Jeff. I'm sorry to hear about your son. How old is he approximately if I may ask?
What you described of your son's experience is very similar to mine. I wouldn't say that I ever felt 'movement' but I definitely felt discomfort. I imagine that as part of the healing process, a lot goes in inside the body. Did you also see my one year later video? You may find it to be helpful: ruclips.net/video/O2teOkGmz9U/видео.html
@@SeanDillman thank you very much for the reply. My son will be 18 next month. He has a very tall and slender build which seems to be common for people who experience this. I will admit that we are both a little neurotic which is not helping matters - it is hard to keep an objective perspective and not over-analyze everything.
We called the hospital on the first night that he felt odd, and they basically said the same thing - that as long as he is not short of breath then we are ok. Before being discharged one of the nurses also mentioned that it can sometimes feel like rice crispies, which does *kind of* describe what I am feeling when it gurgles, etc.
It's just hard right now bc I feel like we are all experiencing some PTSD - hence reaching out to get input from others who have been through this too.
I have not watched your other video but will check it out now, thank you.
@@jeffs4810 You are most welcome. I have a friend who had a spontaneous pneumothorax at age 18. It's true what you say. Apparently it is common for tall slender males to experience this. I'm a bit neurotic myself. I still find it very difficult to believe that it is truly 'random' and that there was no way to prevent it and there is nothing I did to cause it.
That's fair about feeling a bit of PTSD. It is a scary thing to know that it can just happen all on its own and it is quite serious. We need our lungs to live and breath.
I hope that this video and my newest video are helpful to you. It may be tough now but I hope that your son will make a full recovery and not have to worry about it in the future. I wish you both all the best. 😊👍
Look up the Marfan Foundation. This can be a symptom of a genetic connective tissue disease - so is being tall and thin. Unfortunately most local, standard medicine doctors know very little about Marfans, Loeys-Dietz or Ehlers-Dahnlos; add to that the extreme variability of symptoms from mild to severe, starting a birth or much later. So they will say "no known cause". You may be at risk for arterial dissections or hollow organ rupture. Best wishes to you.
Thank you so much. Best wishes to you as well. I had never heard of the Marfan Foundation (marfan.org/) though I looked it up recently. I see they have an information sheet about the lungs (marfan.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Lungs_in_Marfan_Syndrome.pdf) which discusses spontaneous pneumothorax. Thank you for bringing this to my attention. I very much appreciate it. 😊
I just had my second episode this morning when I woke up. rn being transferred to another hospital for surgery. I'm scared.
Hi Luis. I'm really sorry to hear that. If you're already in hospital care, you're in the best place you can be. It's okay to be scared. I was scared too. It's a tough thing to have happen but you're probably even tougher than you think and you'll be okay. Keep in touch with me on here if you need support. You're not alone. You'll make it through this.
Hi Luis. I hope that this message finds you well. I just posted a one-year review video on my collapsed lung. Here is the link if you'd like to see it. 📺 ruclips.net/video/O2teOkGmz9U/видео.html
I try to understand it of what my girlfriend goes through. Unfortunately we both distanced thousand miles away.
I'm sorry to hear that Dan. It is definitely not a fun experience. Be sure to check out my one year after video if you haven't already. It may give you more of an idea of what your girlfriend can expect. 💗
My brothers has 4 collapsed lungs before they Decided to go e him surgery. His was the same as yours. His hospital stay after the surgery was awful. He had two tubes sticking out of him and no matter how high he was he was always in pain.
Thank you for sharing that Hannah. That is really tough that your brother had to have 4 collapsed lungs before they did the surgery. Did this happen recently?
I had 3 episode before surgery. It's been more than 18 months. Can I do gym now?
@@saurabhvighne1470 How have you been after the surgery? I'm not a doctor so I don't think I would really be willing to say if you can or cannot go. I don't know anything about your situation and I have no medical training or expertise. I can however say that about 3 months after I had my surgery, I felt basically back to normal and I started to go back to the gym, taking it easy and working back up to my previous level gradually.
@@saurabhvighne1470 I hope that this message finds you well. I just posted a one-year review video on my collapsed lung. Here is the link if you'd like to see it. 📺 ruclips.net/video/O2teOkGmz9U/видео.html
Please try D3 with K2. I prefer Eric Berg's product; easy to find online; it includes some cofactors needed for D. I was told my alveoli were collapsing and doctors didn't know why. I felt better when I used inhalers. . But since using D3K2 (started in late 2018) I have not needed inhalers.
Feb 2022 when I was hospitalized for dehydration due to covid, the xray and scan showed lungs were "good" and all organs fine. Roger Seheult's videos were helpful too. I like his videos about D and also light.
I started with 2 of Berg's capsules; now use daily and that's 10,000 units D3 in 1 capsule. I noticed quite a difference in 2 weeks. I'm 71 years old; soon 72. I was quite overweight when this problem was addressed.
@@calliegal235 Thank you for all of that. I'm glad to hear that the x-ray showed that your lungs were good and your organs were fine. I'm glad that you are having success with the D3 with K2. Thank you for recommending Roger Seheult. I was not aware of him and I'm looking at his channel now. On the subject of wellness and light, did you see my review of the Verilux Happy Light? ruclips.net/video/5xhAaCB9QFg/видео.html
Oh and let me with you an early happy birthday@@calliegal235.🎂Will you be having a little party?
@@calliegal235 I hope that this message finds you well. I just posted a one-year review video on my collapsed lung. Here is the link if you'd like to see it. 📺 ruclips.net/video/O2teOkGmz9U/видео.html
Hi, did you also have pneumothorax? I am at the hospital now and have no money for surgery, I want to know if you had pneumothorax and this vit.d3 and k2 helped yoj
Hello all I’ve had this happen to me twice in about a month first time I waited 4 days before going to the ER. Felt like I couldn’t breathe and could barely talk while I was walking. They placed a chest tube and about 3-4 days it was out and I was able to go home. 3 days later I get Covid and about a week after Covid I had my 2nd collapsed lung. This one they said was significantly smaller than the first so they tired oxygen for about 8 hours to see what that would do but unfortunately I had to put another chest tube in. 4 more days in the hospital and I was out again (2 days with the tube) I been out the hospital now for around 48 hours but I’m currently not in any major pain just paranoid and anxious that this could happen again. I did vape before the first one, I was a cigarette smoker prior to that and smoked marijuana. Like a dummy I smoked marijuana maybe like 1 day before my 2nd collapse and about 7-8 days after my first. Probably not the smartest thing to do and probably contributed to my 2nd recurrence but I’m definitely done with the smoking after that. It’s a horrible and painful experience doing a chest tube. I wish everyone the best! Your not alone going through this! Hope yours is better then mine lol.
Hi NvMe Squirrel. Thank you for sharing about your experience. I’m sorry to hear that you got COVID in the middle of dealing with it. That would make a bad experience even worse. They also tried oxygen on me for about one hour to get the lung to re-inflate but when the older, more experienced doctor finally saw me, he told me that in all of his years (which I took to be decades) he said that giving a patient oxygen almost never re-inflates a lung and a chest tube is almost always what needs to be done. I was definitely paranoid and anxious that it would happen again too, given that they told me that if it happens once, it increases the likelihood that it will happen again. They also told me that vaping and smoking increases the chances of it happening. Maybe on the bright side, having this experience may make you quit and save you some money and enhance your health? I agree completely with you saying “It’s a horrible and painful experience doing a chest tube”. I has been more than 6 months now for me since I had my surgery and I’m feeling great. I hope that for people who are going through this, part of the takeaway is that it sucks while it’s happening but you can get through it.
How are you feeling now? You’ve been out of the hospital for only a few days now.
Hi NvMe Squirrel. I hope that this message finds you well. I just posted a one-year review video on my collapsed lung. Here is the link if you'd like to see it. 📺 ruclips.net/video/O2teOkGmz9U/видео.html
A collapsed lung hurts like hell. Plus the chest tube or tubes.
For sure. Chest tubes are no fun. Fingers crossed that there will be a procedure in the future that doesn't require people to have to have them. 🤞
Great video
Just dealt with this finally back at school but my lung collapsed spent 13 days in the hospital cause complications and at just 17 it sucks needed 2 chest tubes and stuff but I’m better now
Hi Aaron. I'm really sorry to hear that. How are you doing now? I hope that you're getting back to 100%. 💪
@@SeanDillman we great now back playing basketball and stuff doing what I love
I’ve been through 2 major surgeries due to spontaneous pneumothorax’s. If anyone is going through it please feel free to reach out. Both of my lungs have collapsed.
Hi Sean thank you so much for this video! I just had my tube removed from my left lung 3 days ago. I’m just 24 and It’s gotten me extremely worried. I am a smoker and used my bong everyday before being diagnosed. I can’t find much about the cause and if my smoking had something to do with it. Would you happen to know more about that?
We were out for my daughter’s birthday when I noticed my 20 something year old son breathing hard clutching his chest. I took to the er (of course during height of covid and right before Christmas) he’s not a smoker or a vaper. Long story a tiny bit shorter they sealed it up but since then he’s been basically bed ridden in constant pain and no doctor will help for some reason. Hell one accused him of being a drug seeker even though he has never done drugs and didn’t have any opiates. They throw all sorts of drugs at him then after the 3rd doctor someone had the bright idea to ablate the nerves which sort of helped for about 6 months. He went in for the next round of ablation which hasn’t worked even a tiny bit, hell I’d say it got worse. Now these damn geniuses want to shove wires up his ass (yes it’s the spine not his ass) to MAYBE help with the pain. You think they’d let him know anything? Maybe do something to help with the pain but nope. And here we are sitting here waiting watching my son wither away. Worst part is he’s a single father with sole custody of my grandchild, the mother is a pile of crap. It’s beyond infuriating and I just don’t know what to do anymore.
I had a fully collapsed right lung in 2002 in 2004 my left lung slightly collapsed,a few weeks later my right collapsed again so had surgery (opened up under shoulder blade) whilst recovering my left collapsed slightly again (luckily the left never needed intervention) fast forward 19 years to last Sept and both slightly collapsed again. Told 5% of my right lung had come unstuck from the surgery 😔 both went back up on their own but I've now got a pretty constant bubbling sensation on my right side. To go back in would likely course more pain/problems. On the letter I've received after my last appointment the other week it mentions bullous on both lungs I now need to ring and get an explanation what this means going forward. Xx
oh man after second pnemuo.. doctors said it would be better doing vats and i did it.i dunno how but they said its okey the pull out the tube (today is teh third day).they taken my parts (i think) to the biopsy.Scared the shit outta me cause im 17.And never had a surgery before that.Any inspiring words to the brother from turkey guys?cuz i need that rn.And Best wishes to the pnemuo guys ❤️ were with ya
and my brother you said that they put oxygen thingy into your throat thats the main reason of hoarse voice .I dont think they did the same thing to me but i have the same voice and im doing the coughin.hope it all pass
@@saykoes8209 Thank you for sharing your experience. Same for me. After my second pneumothorax, the doctors said it was better to do the VATs. They also took out my chest tube after about the third day after. I’m not sure if they did any biopsy on material/parts from me. The doctor drew me a diagram showing my lungs as having little bubbles at the top and showing how he would cut out little pizza-shaped pieces of the lung to get rid of these bubbles. Apparently these bubbles were the cause of the collapsed lung because they were allowing air to escape the lung and go into the cavity outside of the lung. I don’t think that they did any biopsy on the pieces that they cut out of me. Regarding the oxygen, if you were unconscious during the VATS procedure, they may have done it and not mentioned it to you. I remember that the doctor (an anesthesiologist) who told me about the tube and the effect it would cause on my throat, was sort of standing around waiting for the procedure to begin and she mentioned it to me sort of in passing. Maybe they did it to you too but they didn’t mention it? Either way, it goes away quickly and is nothing to worry about in my experience.
I definitely have some inspiring words for you, my brother from Turkey. Stay strong. I’m sure that you’ll make a full recovery and now that you’ve had the procedure, you don’t have to worry about it happening again. It has been about six months since it happened to me and I feel great and everything is wonderful now. I have a few little scars but no pain and no other troubles. I’m sure that the same will be true for you soon. Keep feeling positive!
Oh and Türkiye is a beautiful country and I’ve met many great people from there, including you. 🕌
@@SeanDillman thank you so much for everything and yes man im very grateful for chatting with you.best whishes to you🤞
Hey @@saykoes8209. It is my pleasure. I'm grateful for you watching my video and subscribing to my channel. You and I both know how it goes having a collapsed lung and I'm glad to know if I can help with information or comfort while you are recovering. Are you still in the hospital?
@@SeanDillman yes my brother,i'm still in hospital.But I think it's the last day of this.Yes i had a several pain after taking out the tube.Other that im still recovering,still hard to stand up.Thank you for caring.Respect sir ✊(Im sorry if i said something wrong its not my first language)
I'm currently in hospital for the exact type and they are trying to figure out the underlying cause but nothing so far and I have been in hospital for 4 days.
Did your doctor's maybe mention what most likely was the cause ?
I'm based in South Africa
Few days back I had severe chest pain and left shoulder pain, I really felt that it wouldbe heartattack. Suddenly I was rushed to the hospital after sèeing my xray dr. Told that my left lung got collapsed and that I had pneumonia. I was admitted for 1 wk administered with antibiotics and all then told to do some breathing exercises..now I am scared that whether I would recover from this condition😢
Oh wow. I'm sorry to hear that. Having a collapsed lung is difficult enough. I didn't have it at the same time as having pneumonia. Follow your doctor's advice, take it one step at a time, and don't hesitate to reach out for support. Wishing you strength and a speedy recovery.
Wow Canada got a good ass health care system 🎉 feel better though man , I just got out the hospital with my first pneumothorax myself that chest tube was so pain was in hospital for a week. Had to have 2 surgeries because they had found more blebs hopefully my lung doesn’t ever collapse again.I had a 60 percent collapse. and the pain was bad but somehow i was able to drive and do stuff I thought it was just maybe Covid symptoms because my girlfriend had gotten Covid. But I was going to try and go to work after being stuck in bed for 3 days full of pain being lazy I got dressed for work then turned around and had my girl come with me to the hospital and I drove myself j trying not to think of the pain
Hi Jonathen. Yes indeed. I feel very fortunate to be a Canadian and have access to a free healthcare system (free in the sense that we don’t pay every time we use it and instead pay for it with our tax dollars). It sounds like you have had quite the experience my friend. Stay strong. I also hope that your lung will never collapse again. It was the same for me at the start. It was painful but I could still do things and I thought that maybe it was a pulled muscle or a heart issue or something. Good for you for driving yourself to the hospital. That was the right thing to do. I drove myself the first time it happened too. The second time it happened, because I knew what it was, I asked my friend to drive me. It’s good to have people in your life who will help out.
Heal up soon. Keep in touch and let me know how you’re feeling. All the best from your Canadian friend. 🍁🙂
Did you have 2 surgeries on the same lung? Because I got reoccurring blebs again on the same lung..
@@stevo6891 Hi Stevo. I’m sorry to hear that you had a reoccurring issue on the same lung. For me, I only had the first collapse in October 2021, and then I had a chest tube and that fixed it up for a while, and then I had a second collapse in early 2022, at which time I had the VATS pleurodesis surgery. How are you keeping?
@@SeanDillman Well I had small collapses on my right lung where they did surgery.. I hope the blebs doesn’t get worse.. I get scared that it might totally collapse again.. They sure hurt like hell and painful.. I’m glad you are doing better we get this brother!!
Hi @@stevo6891. No kidding. Definitely painful. 100%. We got this. Have a great weekend brother. 🙂
My brother is recovering from it, its been 3 months now and he dont go out much he mostly stay at home does he need to move a lot more to recover faster? And can you run like normal people do even after the surgery happend like you wont have any kind of disability from it right? Im very happy your doing well and feeling healthier thank you for this video it helped me out wish you well!
Edit: just to add up he sometimes he complain about how he sometimes feel like his lung is moving after sleeping on the effected lung side, have you felt something similar to that?thanks again for reading!
Hi Tyegra
. I'm sorry to hear about your brother. Did it happen to him once or twice? Did he have a surgery? For me, 3 months after having a collapsed lung, I felt basically back to normal. I'm not sure if moving more would help him recover faster but physical fitness likely helps (I'm no doctor though of course and can only speak to my own experience). I run at the gym every day and have been doing so since the start of April (after the doctor cleared me to resume a gym routine). I don't anticipate having any kind of disability from it though I was told that I can never scuba dive because of the pressure that it would exert on the lung. I suppose that going into outer space may also be out (though I didn't plan on doing that - or scuba diving). You are most welcome for the video. I am glad that it helped you out. That was my hope when I made it, that my story would help people and there would be a forum where people could talk about this stuff.
Regarding the lung moving, I don't remember ever feeling a sensation like that. For me, the sensation was always tightness in the chest - what I imagine a heart attack feels like, and shortness of breath. I primarily sleep on my back so perhaps I wouldn't notice something like what he is experiencing. I'm not sure about that one. Maybe someone else will comment on this specific issue.
Keep in touch and let me know how he is doing. =)
My chest is pain from 1week can it be penumothorax please reply 😭😭😭
@@nepubg7700. How are you feeling now? Please excuse the delay in my response. I didn't see your comment because it was under someone else's thread and I didn't receive a notification (my fiancé actually found it and brought it to my attention).
@@SeanDillman its fine now
It was just musculoskeletal pain 😊
Hi @@nepubg7700. I'm glad that you are fine now. Hopefully you aren't suffering musculoskeletal pain regularly.
Hello guys, i had a spontaneous pneumo on 06.09. while i was on running. I was in hospital for a two weeks. When i yust came they put me tube in chest, and i walk with for a 6/7 days then the doctors decide for a surgery. Then they did a vats, i stay in hospital for antoher week. Now this is my third week at home and i go for a easy walk last few days, 45-60min. I saw few comments below, first couple days i couldnt sleep on side, i felt that my lung is shaking inside lol, now is better. Second thing, they also send on analsysis a part of lung, and as i understood the doctor they remove small part of lung. They sent it on analys, how is explained to me, they want eliminate some potential genetic disorder in population younger than 30. Only one thing what i didnt like is that i had 9 x-rays in 12/13 days.
I got small breathing machine with balls from a very fisrt day, and i need to practice every day that my lungs extend properly, and i practice every day abdominal breathing. I'm not a doctor but from my opinion this things are good to get back a "streachy" lungs. I hope so that al of you have or had a good way trought this, stay strong and healty guys.
Sorry for my bad english guys.
Hi Peter. I'm sorry to hear that you also suffered a spontaneous pneumothorax. Thank you for sharing your experience. You have found the right people to talk with about it. I hear you about it being a pain to have so many x-rays in such a short period of time. Depending on how they are done, and if a person has a chest tube in, just having an x-ray taken can be a painful experience, because they want you to stand a certain way and expand your lungs and then hold your breath while they take the picture. As far as I could tell however, the x-ray is the best tool the medical practitioners have to see what’s happening with the lung inside of the body. When I did my first x-ray, they immediately knew it was a pneumothorax because it is so easy to see in the x-ray image.
That is interesting that they sent a piece of your lung away to be tested to rule out a potential genetic disorder in population younger than 30. I am older than 30 so perhaps they did not see any need to do that for me. Other people who have posted on this video have also mentioned their doctors sending away a piece of their lung for testing. Do you know if they will tell you the result?
Other people have also mentioned breathing machines and exercises. Personally, I never did any testing and felt that my lung capacity returned to normal after a few weeks of going for short walks and letting it heal. However, maybe doing some exercises would have been a good thing for me. So how are you feeling now? Are you running again?
@@SeanDillman First i want to thank you for your encouragement, and for a such big reply. First thing what i saw in my hospital that everbody was taken on x-ray every second day. I see on my self the consequences of big number of rtg scans (x-ray), my hair is falling out and dental gums are recede for a few milimeters.
For this blood test (alfa 1 antitripsin), i can say that reference interval is, from 0.9 to 2.0, and mine was 1.43, soo it's good. Out of borders means that you have some potential disorder, it can vary. You can find more on internet about this blood test.
For now i just walk and do breathing exercises, and that i can recommend to everbody, yust to try with abdominal breathing (dead bug exercise), you have plenty of variations and progressions.
I also saw in hospital that some guys blow in a glow instead of taking air trought spirometer, and sometimes doctor tell to patient to stop with exercises.
Like i say for now i just walk and breathe, i feel no pain. I have a meet with doctor this wednesday, at end of this week this will be mine 4. at home. I will ask him can start train, i thougt that i can start with light training on bike, indoor. And maybe some core excercises.
I feel sometimes small unpleasant feelings on operation spot, and back pain because i ussualy lying down to much last weeks 😅.
I'm glad that i can help to someone with my experience, and i will give more informations when times come. Stay strong and healty guys. 💪🤞♥️
@@petardragojevic3960 You are most welcome. Health is the most important thing. When I suffered my collapsed lung, I wanted to be able to help other people going through it, as much as I could, so that is why I made my video.
I don’t know much about the lasting effects of x-rays. I’m sorry to hear about your hair and gums. Ideally you will see some improvement there. I think that I only ever took a single blood test, which was when I first went to the hospital and they were trying to determine what was wrong with me. Other than that, I don’t remember giving any blood for testing. It is interesting to know how doctors do things differently in different places. My doctors handled it one way. Yours handled it differently.
I have done the dead bug exercise before in the gym and it is a good one, assuming that a person has healed to the point where they can do it. I saw people in the hospital, in my ward (the thoracic ward), using spirometers but for whatever reason they didn’t recommend that I use one.
I am glad that you can walk and breathe feeling no pain. That’s important. It sounds like you can probably start training again soon, as long as you listen to your body and don’t overdo it. I also felt unpleasant feelings on my operation spot after the surgery. The sites were soft/tender for weeks and if I applied too much pressure, it hurt.
Your experience definitely helps. It is good to have more information from real people who are going through this so that if it happens to someone, they can read what it was like for others and feel better. There can be less fear of the unknown. Keep us posted when the time comes and you have a new update. Stay healthy. 💪🙂
@@SeanDillman Hi again, yesterday i had a meet. So everything is good for now, and doctor said that i can start train, light aerobic traning and some core excercises. Also i ask him about dietary supplements, things like collagen, msm and something similar to. He said that i can take it. I buy from Nutrend, flexit gold. So from monday i will start with easy indoor ride. 💪
@@petardragojevic3960 I hope that this message finds you well. I just posted a one-year review video on my collapsed lung. Here is the link if you'd like to see it. 📺 ruclips.net/video/O2teOkGmz9U/видео.html
So, I just had a spontaneous pneumothorax about 1 week ago. What is your status now. I'm not tall and skinny but I have COPD, 80 years old. I had no pain, not even with the tube in my chest, My problem was 'bloating' my face got so bloated I could not open my eyes, finally bloating started to 're-sorb'. My voice sounded like 'donald duck' during bloating. Gonna take about a month. So how are you doing now?.
Hi Bill. Wow. I'm sorry to hear that. You have been through quite an ordeal. I hope that you recover from it soon. As for me, I'm doing pretty well thanks. I recently made a one year later video to give an update. Here is the RUclips link: ruclips.net/video/O2teOkGmz9U/видео.html. If you want, post a comment on that video to and keep me posted about your recovery process.
I HAVE PAIN WHEN I MOVE WHEN I BREATHE IN IN MY LEFT INNER SHOULDER PAIN TOWARDS CENTER OF BACK LEFT SIDE IDK IF THAT HAS ANYTHING TO DO WITH COLLAPSED LUNG BUT I WANT TO KNOW WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS ANY PAIN IN YOUR BACK
Hi there. Are you still having this issue? I'm not a medical professional, but chest or back pain can sometimes be associated with a collapsed lung. However, it's crucial to seek medical attention immediately if you're experiencing symptoms like these. I hope you find the answers and support you need soon. Take care! In my experience, what you are experiencing is exactly the kind of pain I felt before I went to the hospital and was diagnosed with a collapsed lung.
Is there pain when you breathe in? Mine is at the end of breathing in..very painful.. Great presentation
Hi Kenneth. No pain anymore for me thankfully. Sometimes I get some mild chest pain but nothing major. Did you also see my one year later video? I provide what I hope is a helpful update there which discusses healing, longterm effects and other related subjects. I hope you are back to 100% soon: ruclips.net/video/O2teOkGmz9U/видео.html
av had 6 in 8 months, like breathing through a straw, had zephyr valves fitted, procedure is endoscope tube through the throat into the lung and block off the damaged aveoli air sacs 4 yrs ago, the chest tube goes in the chest cavity not in the lung, chest drain off tube is not painfull but pulling the tape off is, i have 2 large bulla and i cant be under anaesthetic it could kill me, am on oxygen, moral of the story is if you weld plastic as your job wear a mask
Wow Trevor. I am really sorry to hear that. Thank you for sharing all of that. There are many welders in my family, who worked mostly on pipe and other metalwork. Did you have this problem recently or was it from years ago? I wasn’t sure from your explanation.
@@SeanDillman it started about 15 years ago and a thought am getting breathless quite easy, it got worse until the 1st collapse started, from then on it was hell on earth, now a sit at home and only go out with a chaperone in fear it happens again and carry a small bottle of oxygen,
Hi @@kopynd1. Thanks for getting back to me. That is certainly a tale of woe. I'm sorry to hear that. It's not fun to be in pain and to be afraid of it happening again. I have been there. What part of the world do you live in? Have you had a VATS procedure done on you?
@@kopynd1 I hope that this message finds you well. I just posted a one-year review video on my collapsed lung. Here is the link if you'd like to see it. 📺 ruclips.net/video/O2teOkGmz9U/видео.html
I just hope my lung doesn’t get another cut i was put on medication like it had my body shaking but having a tube felt weird ngl
I'm sorry to hear about your experience. I hope that your lung won't get another cut too. Wishing you all the best on your healing journey. Take care.
I am here because I am scared that I might have a collapsed lung. I was rocking my baby to sleep and all of a sudden I got this crazy sharp pain in my back on my right side. It doesn't hurt in the front though, only the back so is it possible it's not a pneumothorax? Don't know whether i should go to hospital or not. Breathing hurts so bad.
Hello @SeanDillman, My sister had the Pleurodesis 2 weeks back. Slight pain is always there and sometimes she feels uneasy during breathing, is it something which happens due to inflammation? OR it is something to get checked?
She's able to take small walks, but sometimes feel out of breath after little longer walks. What do you advise? Reaching out to the surgeons in UK is little difficult, doctor said to have follow up after 6 weeks, but we wanted to be sure if everything is progressing normally.
Hi Pranay. Thanks for reaching out. I’m sorry to hear that your sister had to go through this but ideally the surgery will have her back to 100% soon. I couldn’t say exactly why she may feel uneasy during breathing (I’m not a doctor and I couldn’t say anything about inflammation) and I couldn’t say if she should get checked (because I’m not a doctor and I know almost nothing about her specific situation); that being said, I can say that 2 weeks after having my procedure, I was still not bad to normal and I was still not able to take very long walks. I slowly worked up to taking longer and longer walks, but two weeks after the surgery, I was not completely back to normal (not back to a pre-collapsed lung state). From what you are saying, it seems to match my experience, which was that it took many weeks to get back to normal (not just a few) and that by the time I had my follow-up with my doctor (also about 6 weeks after the procedure) I was still taking things easy but by that time, I felt ready to resume going to the gym and working out (taking it slowly to start and being careful not to overdo it). Is that helpful? Sorry if I've mentioned too many times that I’m not a doctor (I’m sure that I mentioned that in my video). I just feel that I need to be careful and responsible. I can’t really advise anything for anyone. I can just share my experience and let people know what it was like for me. I wish your sister all the best. =)
Hi Pranay. I hope that this message finds you well. I just posted a one-year review video on my collapsed lung. Here is the link if you'd like to see it. 📺 ruclips.net/video/O2teOkGmz9U/видео.html
Hii , I'm Shailendra from India.
I have got second pneumothorax within 16 days of recovery from first one . They put chest tube on 27th September . Chest Tube is still there since 5 days . We had CT scan, it shows small bubble on top of left lung , that might be possible reason for second pneumothorax . Dr told to keep tube for 2 more days in hope that it will go away . After which they will chemically glue lung permanently (pluro desis). Then I will not require VAts or surgery .they discharged me on very next day along with chest tube , I can walk with tube at my house although that's painful . I go to hospital daily for check-up .
Your video is very helpful . Thanks for sharing your experience .
Can you please tell me about breathing exercise during chest tube , sleeping position etc.
Hi Shailendra. I’m sorry to hear that. Your story is very similar to mine except your second pneumothorax happened only 16 days after your first one, whereas my second one happened months after my first. It sounds like the bubbles in your top left lung were likely the reason for the second pneumothorax, in consideration of what the doctor told me when I had my second pneumothorax. It sounds like you are basically getting the same procedure that I had except perhaps that they may not be cutting out the part of the lung with the bubbles. Perhaps the gluing (the pleurodesis) is sufficient in your case. Perhaps the bubbles in your lung are very small or not a problem.
When I had my first chest tube in, I just laid in bed all the time. I didn’t do any breathing exercises and the only sleeping position that worked for me was to sleep on my left side - my chest tube was in my right side. When I had my second and third chest tubes in, I was in the hospital. With these, I didn’t do any breathing exercises and I slept on my back. The mechanical hospital bed was helpful and had buttons to help me get up and raise my legs and change my position. I basically only got out of bed to go to the bathroom. Sometimes I used the portable urinal bottle so that I didn’t have to suffer the pain of getting up and going to the bathroom.
I’m glad to know that you found my video to be helpful. That is what it’s all about. You are most welcome for me sharing my experience. Please let me know if there is anything else that you would like to know and if there is any way I can help. It may not feel great right now, but you will get past this and will hopefully be back to normal very soon. 🙂
@@SeanDillman thanks allot for replying .
I was doing a lot if breathing exercise on spirometer .Dr told me stop it . Maybe that was enough .
Hi @@Shailendr.S.Ch.1919. You are most welcome. That is good that you stopped. I think that while you are recovering, just breathing normally is good enough. During my recovery process, to get my breathing and level of health back up, I went for long walks. Eventually I felt good enough to go to the gym and do weightlifting. Now I'm back to normal. 👍
So did u need VATS?
@@MrKalpanarahul no , they did chemical pleurodesis before removing chest tube .
It's was painfull but atleast saved me from surgery .
One more thing , chest tube lasted fore 17 days .
I'm in UK and was told i have a partically collapsed that was 5 weeks ago and then tokd have sarcoidosis on both ..i am waiting to see a respiratory team ...and i am geussing frim there the decision will be made what to do .. there is a waiting list on the nhs so i am worried as i am struggling to breath daily doing the simplest thing ..i was told by the doc i may have to have the camera down to see what's going on ..i doubt i will have anyone here dsijy to help me if i have to have surgery i can't think what else they can do if like you i have a partically collasped lung. .how long was you in hopsital for ..sorry if you did say i am just very worried at as whats to come and not knwoing if i will have full support afterwards .
Hi there. I'm really sorry to hear that. I hope that the respiratory team will be available soon to take a look and see what is happening. I know what it's like to struggle to breath. Keep the faith my friend. I was in the hospital for about one week. I was supposed to have surgery within the first few days, but I kept getting bumped by people who needed surgery more than I did, which is fair enough and I was content to wait. I am very grateful for the healthcare system we have in Canada. I hope that the UK system is similar. I hear you about being worried. Try to take it easy as much as possible and try to look on the bright side as much as possible. At least you are already in the system and are getting it taken care of.
@@SeanDillman Thankyou for replying so quickly ..I have a routine phone call with my doctor Friday and then a discussion when I do receive my appointment for the respiratory team..this lack of energy and wanting to sleep all the time and no appetite now ..but pray wit will be sorted soon .thankyou .
Sorry to bombard you ...just feel I need to get this of my chest. .feeling let down as I recvd my letter with a list of diagnosis from my CT scan from 4 weeks ago ..but reads more than I was originally told but also the letter starts you was sent for a referral for a CT scan due to suspected lung cancer. And this was never mentioned to me at all 4 weeks ago ..so this was a shock to read the first line in a letter today ..I have called my gp surgery to ask for a call back sooner because 4 weeks ago the results were sarcoidosis now I have an enlarged lymph node and this is the same scan results from 4 weeks ago ..so all a shock and frightening ..but still no appointment, I will receive that in due course..sorry just need to off load as only my sister knows and not wanting to let on to anyone else in the family as yet .
Hi! I had pleurodesis surgery 7 weeks ago (after two lung collapses) and I am still uncomfortable and it still feels like my lung is inflamed. Is that normal? Also! I still cannot lay flat in a bed to get some sleep. I tried a couple weeks ago and after I got up I was having sharp pains and trouble breathing. Is it normal that I will have to keep sleeping in a recliner chair for a while? Thanks!
Hi there. I'm sorry to hear that you had two lung collapses. I'm not sure if it is normal for a lung to feel inflamed but I definitely had pain for many weeks while recovering and I definitely had sharp pains and trouble sleeping. A recliner chair would definitely have been helpful. Please take a look at my One Year Later video. I give a lot of information about my recovery process: ruclips.net/video/O2teOkGmz9U/видео.html.
I May need this surgery too. I had a chest tube in for 9 days and my lung is still 20% collapsed. They discharged me and referred me to the pulmonologist (who mentioned during my hospital stay about pleurodesis & lung decortication. I’m only 22, not a smoker, skinny, active, and 5 foot 3. They don’t know why it happened but it seems to be chronic & that I’ve had it awhile.
Hey mate, was it a VATS bullectomy and pleurectomy? Could you please confirm? How can i contact you!? Im getting one next week
Hi there. Yes indeed. I believe that it was indeed a VATS bullectomy but it was a plural effusion, which seems to be different from a pleurectomy (though I'm not a doctor). My email address is sdillman[at]telus[dot]net.
Hope you're doing better now and forgot about it as much as possible
Thank you Eric. I appreciate it. I'm coming up to one year since it happened soon and I'm planning to do a 'year after' video to talk about how everything has been since the procedure. I love being a part of the RUclips community. Ideally my new video will help people. 🙂
@@SeanDillman that's awesome, can't wait to see the video...in short, how are you doing since the operation... I'm wondering because i am currently also recovering from surgery i had 5 weeks ago and it was also a second occurrence so it was basically almost identical to what had happened to you, only my second time was while i was still recovering from the first one...Also I have a follow up doctor appointment tomorrow so i will let you know :)
@@ericgagic7609 Oh wow. It sounds like we did indeed have similar experiences.
In short, I’m doing very well. I have some scars from the surgery sites but for me they are no big deal. They aren’t interfering with my career as a topless model or anything. In the first two months I used vitamin e-oil (like this one amzn.to/3TtRdFu) to reduce the appearance of scarring and make them heal faster. I applied a small amount to each cut every morning when I woke up and every evening before I went to bed. I basically used the oil for a month or so until the bottle was empty. I'm not sure if it helped or not, but I hope that it did and at very least, it made me feel like I was taking action, and doing something to help with the healing process.
As far as pain management goes, you know as well as I do that having a collapsed lung hurts. After my surgery, I basically stayed home for a week or two and barely went outside. Although my lungs felt fine and I didn't experience any of the sensations that I experienced when I suffered my collapsed lung, I did have a few weeks of pain related to the surgery itself. Basically, everything on my right side felt tender and sensitive around the cuts, and many kinds of movement hurt including getting in and out of bed, coughing, sneezing, and any other big or fast movements. I only started to go out in public once I was suffering less pain. I suspect that you know about this for yourself and that you are past this stage or almost past this stage.
When it comes to recovery time, it took me about two or three months to feel fully back to normal. Little-by-little, I also went for walks outside to get myself moving again. The first few days I went for only 5-minute walks, but I slowly worked up to 10 minutes, and then 20, and then a half hour, and so on. Within about 2 weeks, I still had some pain around my cuts, but I felt like I could walk as much as I wanted. About 5 weeks after my surgery, I had a follow up telephone call with the doctor who performed the procedure, just like you will be having, though it sounds like perhaps you may actually be seeing your doctor in person? My doctor asked me how everything was going since the surgery, and we chatted for about 10 minutes. I told him that I was feeling good and ready to get back to normal, and he gave me clearance to start going back to the gym though he warned me to take it easy and go slowly. A few weeks later I started going back to the gym and I slowly worked myself back up to my usual routine of running and weightlifting.
As far as lasting effects go, I don't really have any. I have my scars and I don’t think that they’ll reduce much in appearance, but I don't really notice them and there isn't any sensation on or around them. The doctor did tell me that I should now never scuba dive or go into outer space, but I didn't really plan to do those things anyway. Since the procedure, I’ve taken many long flights including round trips from North America to Europe. When I was in Europe, I spent entire days walking, touring, and sightseeing, and I never had any issues. And aside from feeling like I didn't have enough leg room on the plane, there were no problems with flying. If you’d like to see something more positive that’s happened in my life since suffering a collapsed lung, check out my latest RUclips Short. Here is the link: ruclips.net/user/shortsEfH6XOXMIlo.
I hope that all goes well with your follow-up appointment with your doctor tomorrow. Yes indeed. Please let me know how it goes. I’d love to know if your doctor tells you anything different from what my doctor told me.
@@SeanDillman Wow thank you for all the advice and I'm glad you're doing great. Also awesome short, congrats🎉. I just finished my appointment and yes it was not a phone call appointment i went there and they also took another x-ray as i was supposed to. They said it is all fine now, that the lung needs to fully stretch a bit more but that it's all good and i have another appointment in a month which they said also might be my last check-up. Wish you all the best and hope you will continue to feel great and not have to think about it... Many greetings from Croatia
@@ericgagic7609 You are most welcome, and thanks for the congrats.
That's great news about your appointment. It's good that you had a final x-ray which confirmed that everything is fine. That's what we want to hear. They also said that to me, that the lungs will need to fully stretch a bit but that I was good to go. Your next call may be like my final check-up, which was pretty short. I wish you all the best too.
Did I mention Croatia or are you in Croatia? I was just in Croatia for a month. Učim hrvatski. 🙂
Hey I’m
Going to be going through this surgery in a week how long did it take you to heal ? When did you get to return back to work ? I’m planning on booking a whole
Month off but wondering if that’s long enough 😅
Hi Cassandra. I spent about 4 or 5 days in the hospital waiting to get the surgery. I was bumped a few times and that extended my stay by a few days. If I hadn’t been bumped, I would have only been there about 3 days. As for healing time, it took me about a week to feel confident to go out in public and take short walks. I think that if you take a month off, that should be enough time to feel able to go back to work. You may need only a few weeks.
When I had my first collapsed lung, and I hadn’t yet had a chest tube, I asked a doctor if I would be able to continue to work with a chest tube in. I had no idea, and it was all new to me. He said that I would be able to work. In hindsight, I think that he wasn’t entirely right. In my opinion, having a chest in is very uncomfortable and it would be a bad idea to go out in public with one in. Even if working at home, the pain is distracting. However, that being said, I did set up a little standing desk during my hospital stay, when I had my chest tube in, and I did my taxes and other paperwork. It was nice to have something to distract me and help pass the time. After my surgery and my chest tube was out, I had pain for weeks and sleeping was difficult for the first week or so. Is that helpful?
@@SeanDillman definitely is thank you so much for getting back to me ..
You are most welcome @@MysteryValut. Please don't hesitate to get in touch again if you have any other questions. I'm happy to help. I wish you all the best with your surgery and a speedy recovery.
Hi Cassandra, how did your surgery go? Did you get the talc pleurodesis?
@@MysteryValut I hope that this message finds you well. I just posted a one-year review video on my collapsed lung. Here is the link if you'd like to see it. 📺 ruclips.net/video/O2teOkGmz9U/видео.html
When you had your surgery, did they put an epidural catheter in your spine along with the IV or just an IV?
I have this rn a random person came to the house with cookies and i eat it i thought i was beinf poison my chest hurt alot
Yeah, it can be confusing when it happens. I thought I was having a heart attack. I was surprised but somewhat relieved when the doctors did the x-ray and told me definitively that they knew that it was a collapsed lung.
I'm 15 and already had it happen twice without surgery and it healed on its own in a week or two, think I popped it again while stretching and think I may need the surgery
Hi there. I'm sorry to hear that but it's good that it has been healing by itself. You probably don't want to keep worrying about it forever and have it keep happening. I suppose it will be up your doctor(s) to decide if you should get the surgery, though you may be right that it is on the horizon. It sounds like you are handling it well so kudos to you my friend. 😊👍
i had a surgery on my right chest because of pneumothorax from more than a year, and im wondering if i can do regular training like gym lifting weights is that possible?
Yes, it's possible. I waited a few months after surgery before returning to the gym without issue.
Brother , just got my surgery plaurodesis , but my chest is numb and feel like its hold with straps or somthimg like that, how are you doing with the recovery , regarding mobility , thanks
Hi César. I hope that you’ll feel 100% soon. I had my surgery about a year ago. In terms of mobility, I’m completely back to normal. I go to the gym 5 days a week (Monday to Friday) and I’m feeling great. For 2023 I'm cleaning up my diet and working on losing a bit of weight but as far as my lung goes, I don’t even think about it anymore.
@@SeanDillman Hey, thanks for your respose brother , it really help me a lot , its really numb at this time but I needed to express it to a person that went thro the same process. keep up the great work.
You are most welcome @@cesaralejandromotivacion2034. I hear you. I'm glad that I can help. Take a look in the comments at the one from Luis Yan and show him some support. He's in the middle of going through it right now. Stay tuned for my update video and stay strong brother. 💪👍
@@cesaralejandromotivacion2034 I hope that this message finds you well. I just posted a one-year review video on my collapsed lung. Here is the link if you'd like to see it. 📺 ruclips.net/video/O2teOkGmz9U/видео.html
How long were you in the hospital for?
Hi there. I was in the hospital for about five and a half days. I was admitted on a Saturday morning and then discharged Thursday afternoon.
I have a mild one where i can just fell something that feels similar to a second pulse almost like a heartbeat in my lung. I also sometimes get a bit of mild back pain but thats it. I am also a smoker and im tall and skinny. I had the same problem a month ago and it went away on its own. I hope this one goes by its self and never comes back. Do u think if i stop smoking and put on some weight it wont bother me again? because i am going abroad to study in 2 months and i really hope it doesnt get in the way of my studies. So stressed rn honestly dont know what to do its gets me so anxious just thinking about it.
Hi Jack. Thank you for sharing that. When I had mild pain in my back, that is when I knew that it was something new, not just a sore muscle or something like that. I’m glad that it went away on its own for you. I hope that it will never come back as well.
I’m not a doctor but I was told by numerous doctors that smoking increases the chances of it happening so if you were to stop smoking, that would likely decrease your risk of it happening.
Although my doctors all told me that tall and thin/skinny guys were the ones who it usually happened to, I didn’t get the impression that being tall or thin/skinny actually caused the condition. It was just a description of the types of people who it usually happens to. So I’m not sure if you gaining or losing weight would decrease your risk of it happening. I suppose that having a healthy body weight (whatever that is for your build), would contribute to general wellness and may decrease the risk or at least make it easier to recover from if it does happen. I remember when I was in the hospital thinking that I was glad that I was generally healthy and didn’t have any other kind of health condition that would have made the recovery process more difficult.
I really hope that it doesn’t happen for you as well, particularly given that you’ll be studying abroad. Where will you be studying? Worst case scenario, if it happens while you are away, if you are able to access a good hospital, they may be able to get you back in health in about a week or so (that is how long I was sort of out of commission the first time it happened). How old are you? I'm in my late 30s. If you are younger, you may be able to handle it better.
Hi Jack. I hope that this message finds you well. I just posted a one-year review video on my collapsed lung. Here is the link if you'd like to see it. 📺 ruclips.net/video/O2teOkGmz9U/видео.html
My left chest is pain persistent from 1week can it be penumothorax please reply 😭😭😭
Hi NePub G. I'm sorry to hear that. Do you also feel pain in your back? That was something that I found to be notable that happened to me.
Also, have you done any tests or been to a doctor? Do you have access to a finger oximeter? Here is a link to a popular one on Amazon: amzn.to/3SQjvtR. I'm not a doctor but as I understand it, a typical oxygen saturation level (SpO2) should be 95% or higher. I think that if a person has a collapsed lung, they will definitely not have a normal oxygen saturation level.
Please let me know. As I said, I'm not a doctor but I'm happy to support you and make suggestions.
@@SeanDillman yes back pain and chest pain but persistent from 1week...
Hi @@nepubg7700. I'm sorry to hear about the persistent pain. It's not pleasant. Have you been to a doctor yet? When I went, and when they did a chest x-ray, they were able to detect the collapsed lung immediately.
@@SeanDillman yes i had chest xray today there is all normal they said...
Diagnosed with musculoskeleton pain
And gave some nsaid now i am feeling lil comfortable ❤️
Hi @@nepubg7700. I am glad to hear that you have ruled out a collapsed lung. I don't know much about a diagnosis of musculoskeletal pain, but I can say that having a collapsed lung is quite painful. I am glad that you are feeling more comfortable now. I hope that the doctors will help you determine what to do about your musculoskeletal pain. Thank you for sharing about your experience here. Other people may read it and it may help them too. 🙂
I had one this April. It sucks!
Thanks for commenting Az. It really is a bummer. It's good to be in touch with other people who have went through it. How are you feeling now? Are you getting back to normal?
@@SeanDillman I do feel better, however, I still get chest pains every now and then. I hope it doesn't happen again, I really don't want to do the thoracic surgery! Fingers crossed!
And what about yourself?
Good morning @@Thisbook2022. Oh I understand now. When you said that it happened in April, you mean that you had a lung collapse and that you didn’t have to do the VATs procedure. I really hope that it won’t happen again (your lung will not re-collapse) and you won’t have to have surgery. After it happened the first time, I remember that I asked if there was anything that I could do to prevent it from happening again and they told me that there wasn’t. It was not caused because of anything I was doing at the gym or by what I was eating, etc. It just unfortunately seems to be random, which I suppose is why they call it ‘spontaneous pneumothorax’ in our case.
With respect to the surgery, if it makes you feel any better, if it does happen again, I was told that the procedure success rate is generally high for everyone. For me, since having the surgery, and after taking a month or so to recover, I have felt great. I haven’t noticed anything going on in my chest. I even unfortunately had COVID last month and aside from it generally being a bummer to have COVID, it was fine. I don’t believe that it affected me any differently because of my lung surgery.
I will keep my fingers crossed for you too. Let me know if anything happens and if you learn anything new. Maybe you will have a doctor who will tell you something different. Perhaps there will be a large study someday and the medical community will determine why this happens and ways to prevent it.
@@SeanDillman Thanks a lot for all the info! mine happened 2-3 weeks after recovering from covid. It must've been all the coughing! I also used to vape in the past, which I'm pretty sure played a massive role in my case.
I'm glad you're doing well, and that you've recovered from both the PT and C19. I would like to wish you the best with all your future endeavours. I've subscribed to your channel and will be tuned in!
You're most welcome @@Thisbook2022. It's good to have some community around this issue. It isn't as serious as so many other medical conditions but it's still scary and a bit traumatic.
You're probably right that the vaping played a role for you. I remember that doctors told me that vaping increases the risk factor.
I appreciate that very much. I feel much better. I've been going to the gym 5 days a week, trying to stay healthy so that I may avoid things like this happening in the future and recovering more quickly if they do, though my doctors told me that spontaneous pneumothorax happens even to very fit people. I think that it happened to a player in the NBA in recent years.
Thanks so much for subscribing to my channel. I do my best to help as much as I can. I stick to things that I know about: tech, academics, legal information, and apparently somewhat random medical problems. =)
hi hope you are feeling btr! is it still possible for me to resume air travelling 4 months after pneumothorax
Hi there. I'm feeling much better thanks. I cannot say if it is okay for you, but I definitely resumed air travel within 4 months of my procedure. Please check out my One Year Later video for more information about this: ruclips.net/video/O2teOkGmz9U/видео.html
thanks 👍
How are you feeling after a year
It's been 8 year's since I got treated and now I am scared to go in flight should I goo to intentional flight trip is it safe ??
Hi everyone,
I had talc pleurodesis surgery just over two weeks ago. I am.seeking information from those that have had the same procedure in the hope of getting an idea how long I may expect the pain and discomfort in my chest to last? Also, did anyone battle with phlegm issues post surgery?
Thanks in advance
Hi Chuck. I had the talc pleurodesis as well. My doctor said that he usually tells patients that it is like using 'glue' but in reality it is a chemical irritant (magnesium silicate I think) that it applied in the pleural space, the area between the chest wall and the lung. My pain following the procedure lasted at least a few weeks. The pain was almost entirely from the throat irritation (because of the breathing tube during the procedure) and then the pain at the surgery four sites (two for tools, one for a chest tube, and one for a camera I believe). The throat pain was the first to go away completely and lasted only a few days. After that, I recall that it was difficult to sleep on my right side (where the surgery sites are), and that getting out of bed was painful. Once I was up, I was able to distract myself with work at my standing desk and I challenged myself to go for short walks every day. When I finally felt good enough to go out for walks, they were very short, like only about 5 minutes, but as time went on, I could walk further and without any pain. At no point did I feel any pain or discomfort in my chest. I actually felt like the procedure worked perfectly and that my chest and lungs felt fine.
With respect to phlegm, I didn't ever have any issues with phlegm, not when I had my first collapsed lung, or my second, or during the recovery process. I hope that some other people may be able to respond here and offer some insight from their experiences.
When you say "phlegm issues", what do you mean? Are you coughing it up? If so, I would imagine that it would be painful because of the jarring of the body. I remember that while recovering I would sneeze sometimes (as one does) and it was very painful, because of the body spasm (my sneezes are generally big ones).
I hope that you have a speedy recovery Chuck.
@@SeanDillman Thanks for your reply Sean and as others have said, thanks for creating a place for us to talk about everything. I found it difficult to have good conversations with the surgeons in hospital as they were always so busy and racing around to see everyone.
I had a follow up with my GP yesterday and she said that I've got a bit of atelectasis which can be common after general anaesthetic or chest surgery. This is on my right lung (not the left which han a pneumothorax) and apparently deep breathing will help to treat it and break the phlegm up that is trapped in the lower part of the lung that is collapsed.
When I first got out of surgery and had the drain removed almost everything would hurt my chest but the worst things were yawning, hiccups or deep breaths. All of those things now seem to hurt a little less so I'm hoping that trend continues.
I've got a sore, sensitive area just to the left of my centre chest bone and I wonder if that is more from the oxygen tube that maybe scratched around that area?
I'm feeling stronger with my walking now. I do feel quite tired when I get back from a walk and I feel as though strain on the lungs brings on a bit of pain as I assume the irritation and inflammation/scarring may not be completely settled yet but I see the importance of getting the air in there and stretching the lung out so I will persist with the daily walking.
I guess my original question of wondering how long before the chest might feel 'normal' was to appease my anxiety. If I hear that others too months, let's say, before they felt back to normal I feel like I would stress less and just accept that the pain is a natural part of the process. In saying that, I guess everyone heals differently but I just find the mental battle to be as hard, if not harder than the physical recovery.
Thanks again for your story and your reply Sean. ❤️
Hi @@chuckburke6601. You are most welcome. This thread is definitely developing into the community that I was hoping for. When I suffered my pneumothorax, I found that there wasn't really a good place to go and talk about this.
I agree as well about the hospital experience. The doctors and nurses were always so busy. I felt like every time I saw them, I really could only maybe ask one or two questions, even if I had more than that. I would basically keep my questions written down and prioritize which ones I wanted to ask first in case I only got a little bit of time with the doctor. At the end of it, I feel that I mostly got all my questions answered, which was good.
It's good that you saw your GP and they provided an explanation about the phlegm. That makes sense and may be helpful to other people. I hadn’t heard of atelectasis before but I’m looking it up and reading about it now. It’s not something that I experienced but as you say, if deep breathing will help treat it and break up, then that’s good and it sounds like it should resolve itself gradually.
Your description of when you first got out of surgery matches my experience exactly. Every little thing hurt. Yawning. Hiccups. Deep breaths. Getting in and out of a vehicle. Getting in and out of bed. Everything hurt but it did eventually get better and better over time, as you seem to be experiencing as well. I think that the trend will indeed continue for you.
If I had to guess, I would say that your sore sensitive area is from the oxygen tube. I feel that the oxygen tube hole was the place where I had the most pain and I think that it is because it was the biggest incision, or at least that's what it looks like from my scars.
It's good to hear that you are feeling stronger and walking now. I agree that it is probably important to get out and get some air and stretch the lungs and do some walking. I think that it definitely helped me physically and mentally.
It’s easy for me to say because I'm on the other side of it, but it sounds like your experience matches mine (except for the phlegm) that you’re on a good track. If I had to say, I’d say that it probably did actually take many months for me to feel completely back to normal. Even now it has been about 10 months and sometimes I’ll push on my incision sites to see if there is any sensation that’s different than on the other side. There doesn’t seem to be any difference anymore but there was even three months or so after the surgery.
I hear you about the mental battle, particularly if you consider that for many of us, this happens completely randomly and without any explanation. That was the thing that I found difficult to deal with. It was like having a piano fall from the sky and hit me. There was no rhyme or reason. I like things to make sense so the randomness of it made it difficult to deal with. However, at this point I have certainly come to terms with it. It is what it is.
You are most welcome. Thank you for your story Chuck. One of the great things about this RUclips thing is that anyone can come and comment and read other comments, so even this conversation that you and I are having may be read by other people and it may help them, so I hope that you’ll feel good about that. 🙂
@@SeanDillman Hi Sean,
Just over a month post surgery now. Had a consultation (super quick) with the surgeon a few days back where he looked at a recent x-ray and said all looked good and reassured me the surgery went to plan. Despite feeling like I couldn't really get to ask all of the questions I wanted to, and he seemed in a rush again, I left feeling relieved.
I'm feeling like I'm coping a little better with my stress/anxiety since the consultation. I'm still feeling the odd little aches and pains but I'm not focusing on them like I was.
The atelectasis with the right lung seems to have resolved and I haven't had a phlegmy cough now for a couple of weeks. One thing I have noticed is I seem to be getting lots of indigestion now and I wonder if it's a result of the large amount of pain killers and medication I was on (pretty much weaned off it all now).
I have started feeling more comfortable to discuss and describe the whole ordeal with friends. For a while I didn't like talking about it but now I feel more at ease to go into detail about it.
Exercise is going well. Feel tired and physically take a little longer to recover compared to pre - pneumothorax but I see that as being very normal at this point.
Anyway, that's an update from me. I hope you're still going well 👍
@@chuckburke6601 Thank you very much for the update Chuck. That all sounds positive. I had a similar experience when I spoke with the surgeon. I think that most doctors are so busy that they’re run off their feet, so I understand why he would have seemed like he was in a rush, but it’s good that you were able to ask enough questions to leave feeling relieved.
I'm also glad to hear that you are doing better with your stress and anxiety since speaking with him. I think that little aches and pains are normal but that they will pass with time and that not focusing on them is probably a good way to go. I’m also really happy to hear that the issue with the phlegmy cough has completely passed. That’s a good thing.
You make an interesting point about the possible cause of your indigestion. I can’t recall experiencing anything like that, but I think that it may be a reasonable assumption in your case and that is also something that should pass with time now that you’re taking less medication.
I hear you about discussing the ordeal with friends. There are a lot of people that I did not ever discuss it with just because of the stress of it. I had my teeth cleaned this morning by someone who I haven’t seen in a few years. I mean I didn’t see this particular hygienist in a few years, not that I did not have my teeth cleaned in a few years. Haha. Anyway, she asked if there was anything new since she last saw me, and I told her about the collapsed lung and I had to tell her the whole long story that I tell everyone. The conversation just always kind of ends with an anticlimax and nothing more than that. I guess that’s just how it goes but it isn't the most fun thing to talk about is it?
That’s good that your exercise is going well. I think that it makes sense that you feel tired and take a little longer to recover. If you’re like me, you probably took many months off any kind of physical activity so it may just be the same kind of atrophy that would come with not going to the gym for a long time.
Thanks again for the update. I’m glad to hear how well you’re doing.
If you’re interested, take a look at the thread here that was started by Eric Gagic. His experience is similar to ours too. He will be seeing the doctor tomorrow for his post-surgery checkup. I thought that you may be interested because I gave him a fairly in-depth update on how I’ve been doing since my surgery.
How u recovering
I hand on 24
I am still recovering from a pneumothorax.
It’s been a day since I’ve had the chest tube out & still having pain when breathing in. Did you experience that?
Hi there. I'm sorry to hear that you had a pneumothorax as well. Yes. I did experience that. I had pain with breathing for a week or more after I had my chest tube out. I basically went for walks and then go home when the pain would start. Gradually I worked up to doing longer and longer walks. Even at home I noticed discomfort from time to time. I suppose that it was both from within, the lung, and around the site of where the tube and medical instruments were inserted. I would say that I was only fully pain-free after many weeks. Please let me know if that is helpful and if you have any other questions. I'm wishing you all the best with your recovery. =)
Hi. Mine occurred twice and my doctors decided to do surgery which I had 14 days ago. Been in hospital for 21 days wherein 16-17 days under chest tube. Man, they put my chest tube twice as I got healed on the first time, drain all the trapped air, then my final x-ray before discharge shows collapsed lungs, again. I cried a lot as I know how painful it is. I could say that the second time hits harder and more painful than first one. I was under morphine drips for more than 24 hours.
Then comes the surgery through VATS, 2 procedures. One is pleurodisis , and other one is removing part of my lung that aint work , then staple it( I don’t know what it’s called). 24-36 hours after the surgery is painful as well, plus building up of mucus on my lung. Thankfully, through physiotherapy and insensitive spirometer, my lung gradually opened and coughed out the mucus.
What I’m concerning now is my hoarse voice now. A week or so before my Pneumothorax, I experienced having hoarse voice. A little bit paranoid.
Please keep on posting your journey.
My stitches has been removed today. Pain on the chest is still there, but occasionally. My doctors said all are normal including today’s x-ray.
@@SeanDillman thank you so much!
@@Pizza_Edits2012 oh gosh, I’m wishing you a great recovery. I just hope I won’t have to go through all that, so far I am on day 3 since having the chest tube out. I am still in pain and it hurts when I inhale or even walk to much. I just came from my pcp and she thinks I still have a little air in my lung smh when I left the hospital they said everything looked great so I am confused now 🫤. What caused mine pneumothorax was a lung biopsy, I regret getting that biopsy now.
I also have a collapse lung , can i live with one lung
Hi there. I'm sorry to hear that you have a collapsed lung, but let me welcome you to the club. I'm not a doctor so I can't really answer that. I can say, in my experience, when I had a collapsed lung (on two occasions), the reduced availability of oxygen really made things difficult, and my lung wasn't even fully collapsed. Carrying a small briefcase felt like carrying a load of bricks. I suppose that if you have a collapsed lung right now, and if you're alive, then logically, you can live with one lung; however, I don't know what would it mean to live with only one lung in terms of capability, health, life-span, etc. Here is a link to an article that you may find to be helpful: www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/treatment-tests-and-therapies/pneumonectomy#:~:text=Oxygen%20is%20necessary%20for%20all,the%20other%20lung%20is%20damaged. The article says "Most people can get by with only one lung instead of two, if needed. Usually, one lung can provide enough oxygen and remove enough carbon dioxide, unless the other lung is damaged." I don't know what it means by 'can get by'. To me, 'getting by' is not necessarily the same thing as living a healthy, happy life.
Hi, any trouble breathing, singing or running?
HI Simon. Thanks for the question. No. Like many people, I gained about 20 or 30 extra pounds during COVID (my girlfriend’s mother is a great cook and she likes to feed me dinner and I have a tendency to overeat). I went into my first collapsed lung with this extra weight, and lower ability to breath and run just because of my lesser cardiovascular fitness level, but the collapsed lung didn’t affect it once I healed from it happening. Again, after the lung collapsed again and I had the VATS procedure to correct it, once I was healed from the surgery, I was back at the gym and having no problems with breathing or running. I am still back at the gym and experience no problems, though I’m still battling to shed the additional weight. Silly me to put it on in the first place. As for singing, I’m not a professional but I love to sing and I haven’t noticed any issues with that. I sing in my car all the time and have no problems.
Let me know if you have any other questions Simon. I’m happy to help. 🙂
@@SeanDillman Wow thanks for the reply :) did the tube damage your vocal cords? Did the raspy voice go away completely?
You are most welcome @@SeemoreDunkan. As I recall, the rasp in my voice went away after about 2 or 3 days. I would say that the tube irritated my throat but did not damage it or my vocal chords. I don't think that it had any lasting affect on my voice, the tone, depth, timbre, etc. I never thought before about how this could affect someone who relies really heavily on their lungs. For a scuba diver, having a collapsed lung would be really bad. Could be career ending I suppose. Do you sing a lot?
@@SeanDillman I sing a lot, and stayed at a place with mold for months.
Hi @@SeemoreDunkan. Oh no. I'm sorry to hear that. Mold can be pretty bad. How are you feeling now?
If my life depended on your info right now 🙄