12/28/2004 -- kc
hi everyone! i am a student and doing a research to be reported in our class next year. it's all about pyothorax and hydrothorax diseases in human.. can anybody give me any links, articles or anything that could be of help in my research? please, my deadline is so so near! pls message me thru this email or reply with this query. tnx so much! godbless!!
kc
_student_01@yahoo.com
Post Reply -- kc

11/26/2004 -- Eric
Hi everyone. I had my first in Sept. Not good, 100% collapse on the left lung. I waited to long to go the hospital hoping it would "go away". They could give me nothing but a local for the tube incision. I tried to knock the doctor out as he shoved the tube between my ribs.

Had my second 3 weeks later in October this year. After that I had the Pleurodesis done.

It's been about 6 weeks since the operation and I feel pretty good. Some numbness on my left side but that is better than the alternative. For those who have not had the procedure or are on the fence about it, my suggestion is DO IT.

I am very athletic, I have also been fighting in a full contact medieval group for 15 years. I have not returned since the surgury but am feeling well enough to do so.

For those who have had the procedure how long was it until you returned to athletic activity?
Post Reply -- Eric

11/20/2004 -- Rick
Hi,i`ve had 2 s/p`s this year.Both on the left lung.The last one was in late March.Both times had a chest tube put in for about a week.Have a 60% chance of having another one.The next one will have surgery.Since March i have had slight pain and some numbness on the left side,i also get a tightness in my chest which is constant,will probably go to the hospital next week to have it checked.Has anyone else experienced this?Thanks for listening.
Post Reply -- Rick

11/12/2004 -- Mark
Hello... My mum has a SP. She has a chest tube for two days. The doctors said that the surgery will be needed if the lungs will not re-expand until Monday. My question: is this surgery connected with high or low risk? How many people have a serious complications during/after the surgery?
My mum is a 46 years old smoker(!). Thank you for the answer.
Post Reply -- Mark

11/11/2004 -- Nate
I have had 2 s/p's on my left lung. One in 1998 and the second in 1999. I had surgery done to remove the blebs in late 1999. Ever since I had the surgery done on my lung almost 5 years ago, I have experienced a numb like feeling on my whole left side. It comes and goes and some days the numb feeling feels worse than others. I also feel a poking sensation around the incision area. Is this common? Has anybody else felt this numb feeling and poking before. I have had a few x-rays of my lungs over the past 5 years and the doctors tell me everything is fine. The numbness and poking doesn't cause any pain, it's just annoying. Also, the numbness seems to go away when nothing is on it or rubbin it, (ex. shirt, t-shirt).
Post Reply -- Nate

11/04/2004 -- Mark
More then a month ago I had a spontaneous pneumothorax. I walked around with for 2 days before the pain became unbearable. Went to ER and got a chest tube immediately. After 6 days they used the Tetracycline method to seal the hole (and yes folks this is VERY painfull).

My question: its been a month now. Can I get in an airplane to travel?
Post Reply -- Mark

11/03/2004 -- Cath
Has anyone experienced SPT after general anaesthetic? Had minor surgery recently and had a SPT four days later. Also what are the facts on smokers being more prone? Reports are conflicting. Would appreciate feedback.
Post Reply -- Cath

10/27/2004 -- Booger
I suffered a spontaneous pneumothorax 2 months ago. I'm all recovered now but I still feel some pain where the incision was, around it and sometimes on my back behind my right lung. Is this normal or something I need to get concerned about.
Post Reply -- Booger

10/23/2004 -- Atom
I had 2 episodes of pneumothorax within the past month. The doctor told me not to fly on an airplane. Does anybody know if this is just for these couple months or does it mean that I couldn't fly forever??
Post Reply

10/19/2004 -- Adam
I had a spontaneous (may have been tension) pneumothorax in my left lung in September of 2001-- 100% collapse. After taking three days to get a diagnosis, it came back up after six days with a chest tube.

I could swear that I've had a number of smaller pneumothoraxes since then, but they go away. Dull chest pain at the top of my lungs is a monthly (sometimes weekly) experience, but nothing I can't live with.

Anyway, I'm now living in freezing Minnesota, where it can get 30-below (with lower windchill). I've noticed with the air getting colder that my chest pain seems to be getting more frequent.

Has anybody else noticed their lungs/pneumothorax symptoms being affected by cold weather?
Post Reply -- Adam

10/17/2004 -- Dana
My husband has had repeated occurrences of Neumothorax. The doctors are recommending surgery. I am jusst beginning to research the laternatives. I believe thate are a couple. Can anyone tell me or guide me to a good website that explains what they are - their pros and cons?
Also, how do you find the best doctor in your area for this surgery? Thanks
Post Reply -- Dana

10/14/2004 -- J.V.P.
I was 20 when I had my first SP fixed with a chest tube. Two weeks later, bigger SP, same lung and had the wonderfully painful surgery with staples and scraping the chest wall. well 5 years later the other lung has just collapsed right after I sneezed. I'm 25 years old, a non smoker(five years), 6'1" and 135lbs. I'm a mechanic and work approx 50 hours a week. I drink a lot of beer nightly and was wondering if anybody else could illustrate their conditions/lifestyles around the time they had an SP. Maybe We can help do our own research of do's and dont's.
Thanks for your time.
Post Reply -- J.V.P.

10/10/2004 -- uzma hussain
Hi, I suffered a spontanious pnumothorax in May 2004. I was at a conference when it happened & had never heard of this before then. I've had the tube inserted & was in hospital for a few days. I would appreciate it if anyone would be able to tell me what happens now?? I wasnt really told anything about after care, what i can / cannot do etc from doctors or the nurses, I've not had any follow up appointments either; as a result I've carried on, with some pain, as per norm - or as much as my body will let me.
My family is constantly on my case to "take it easy" in particular my mom - god bless her! when i came out of hospital I didnt want to create an unnecessary fuss or to "overplay?" - for want of a word - this pneumothorax thing that had happened to me. BUT curiosity of what this ACTUALLY is after the constant comments from my friends/family compelled me to recently log onto this site & having read various accounts & comments from fellow sufferes i am beginning to realise maybe i should take this a little more seriously. I would really appreciate any information anyone can give me, in particular what i am to do & not to do!!! I have been going for walks up hill with the aim of gradually building up to continuing my streneous exercise regime & getting back into shape for xmas SHOULD I EVEN BE DOING THIS????!!! many thanks for any prompt replies.
Post Reply -- uzma hussain

10/04/2004 -- Julie Butler
My relative is seriously ill with complications of emphysema no treatment is being offered for her collapsed lung,she has severe breathing difficulties surely a chest tube should be inserted or some other form of treatment offered the doctors say they cannot help she is struggling for breath now for 2 weeks it is unbearable to watch, surely they can attempt to inflate the lung. oxygen is the only treatment being offered,they say she will not survive this and it could take weeks for her to pass away when her heart can no longer take the strain can you offer any advice thanks Mrs J butler
Post Reply -- Julie Butler

10/04/2004 -- Anne Villiger
hello,
a friend of mine (woman, 42 Years) has got the 3. pneumothorax in eight weeks. There are no visible signs for pt but all pt-symptoms come together with personal difficulties. Are there more information of pt in combination with psycological Stress?
Or are there other women in comparable situations?
Post Reply -- Anne Villiger

10/04/2004 -- Anne Villiger
hello,
a friend of mine (woman, 42 Years) has got the 3. pneumothorax in eight weeks. There are no visible signs for pt but all pt-symptoms come together with personal difficulties. Are there more information of pt in combination with psycological Stress?
Or are there other women in comparable situations?
Post Reply -- Anne Villiger

09/27/2004 -- Bryan
I'm a 21 year old male that just underwent a thoracic surgeory after 3 lung collapses in the past 6 months.my left lung was "roughed up" and the bleb was stapled. Now I am one week into recovery and i have intense pain in my lower left area of my back, right at the bottom of my left ribcage. It seems too low to be my lung, we're thinking maybe a muscle pull? anyone with a similar experience? Please email me.
Post Reply -- Bryan

09/21/2004 -- scott
Is there any further evidence of blebs being hereditary?
Post Reply -- scott

09/04/2004 -- Mark
hi there, i'm a 21yr old male and have already had surgery (pleurectomy) in my left lung after several small pneumothoraxes. my right lung's now suffering the same problem and i'm going in for the same surgery next week. i can't remember but can anyone tell me how long it takes to recover from the surgery to be able to be 'out and about'? i'd really appreciate an answer soon as i'm heading in a few days and have to organise when to head back to uni! thanks, Mark
. scotland.
Post Reply -- Mark

08/27/2004 -- Kamal
I am a 17 and a half year old student, currently in the middle of exams. I am currently diagnosed with spontaenous pneumothorax, and the doctors have decided to leave it for a week, to see if it goes away by itself. Could someone please tell me how this condition will affect my life now, can I still play active sports such as tennis, etc. Is there anyway of preventing a reoccurence? I'm not a smoker, lol. Any feedback would be appreciated.
Post Reply -- Kamal

08/24/2004 -- Amber
I recently suffered from a spontaneous pneomothorax (we believe it's the 2nd time it's happened to me; the 1st time I was misdiagnosed). I did not undergo surgery. For the last week I've been experiencing the same chest pains (just as severe but not as long) I initially had with the pnuemothorax... does anyone know if there are side effects/after effects to a pnuemothorax? I have a catscan this week and I'm hoping to find out more information. In addition to the pain, I've also been experiencing numbness in my chest and neck. Any information would appreciated. Best wishes to all that are recovering!
Post Reply -- Amber

08/22/2004 -- Trisha
I'm trying to get in touch with Stephanie Gervais from France who got in touch with me by e-mail to let me know she has the same problems with her SP and operation.I tried to return an e- mail but it would not go through due to a problem with the e-mail address can anyone help,or if Stephanie reads this send me another and i will get back to you.Thankyou Trisha

Post Reply -- Trisha

08/20/2004 -- taso
On December 24th I got my first SPT on the left lung. It only collapsed 25%-30%. Typical shoulder pain, a little short of breath for couple of days, and the doctor didn't do a thing, I was actually feeling fine, kept riding my bike out the trails, no problem. Went back to the doctor 3 months later for an X-Ray, lung had already expanded fully. Memorial day weekend same thing happen, only on the right lung this time, and again was feeling ok, a little short of breath, but figured it would resolve itself just like the left lung had. So I kept riding my bike lightly, but still a little short of breath. After 2 months I decided to really push it on the bike, and that's when I realized this time the problem was worst than the first SPT I had because I was struggling to take a breath in, no improvement; and that's when I decided to get an X-ray, which revealed the lung had collapsed 80%-90%. So they put a chest tube in for a couple of days, lung re-inflated, but as soon as they pulled the suction, the lung would collapse again. So they started talking about putting in a thicker tube for around 4 days, and I told them to forget that, and go ahead and get the surgery done. So I went I had the "VATS" surgery done at Grossmont Sharp, was in the hospital for 4 days, and then I was out. The surgery is not painful; the most painful part was when they pulled the chest tubes out. After just two weeks I started riding my bike again lightly. Last 5 days now I have been riding hard, and appears the lung it in perfect shape.
Post Reply -- taso

08/19/2004 -- Mary Gentry
My mother in law had a port inserted for chemotherapy when they did this procedure they put a pin hole in her lung they have inserted a tube to take the air and liquid out and it has been 6 day they had to reposition the tube twice in the six days and the pin hole is still there she smoked for a lot of years how long does it take for the hole to heal in the lungs please advise
Post Reply -- Mary Gentry

08/14/2004 -- Becky
I posted the wrong email address on my previous comment. Please reply to this one instead.

My son is 24 years old, tall and thin. Funny that no doctor had ever mentioned the risk factors of SPT. Anyway, on July 4th he called me with chest pain and a numbness in his left arm. He went to ER and had a collapsed lung. Chest tube was inserted, lung reinflated and sent home 3 days later. Five weeks later another call. It had happened again in 5 weeks. Same treatment but they also did the pleurodesis surgery. It is a VERY PAINFUL surgery, but the reoccurance rate of another collapse is now 3%. We don't know if the right lung is effected by the blebs. He had no insurance and they will not do a CT scan with upfront payment. We want to get him home (he is now in New York City) but are afraid to fly. Has anyone who has flown since such an experience? How long did you wait and did you have any problems (pain reoccurance)? How about SPT since such a procedure was done. I hear he could still have a hole occur but his lung wouldn't collapse. Any thoughts would be appreciated. Since he has no insurance, they will not tell us much on next steps, prevention of future occurances or his health in general following such an experience.





Post Reply -- Becky

07/25/2004 -- Matt
I am 23 and just had my first spontaneous PT on my right side. I had a chest tube for three days and the doctor said my lung wqas rienflated and i was ok to go. I am supposed to fly on vacation it two weeks and the dr. said no problem, to enjoy my trip. Reading here though it sounds like everyone has multiple and multiple PT's. Is it really safe for me to go and is it possible for this to have been a one-time occurence? My Dr. said he only saw a couple blebs on just my right side on my Cat Scan.
Post Reply -- Matt