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Life after a Pneumothorax

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MissMichelle
MissMichelle

I am 35 yrs old and suffered a SP in May 2014 followed by a bullectomy and VATS pleurodesis in July 2014. I was walking to my front door when it happened, I thought I had suffered a heart attack, the pain was intense and my left side went numb and it was hard to breathe.  Having a SP and lung surgery has got to be the most painfull and heartbreaking thing I have ever had to go through, it took a week for my lung to re-inflate and I had to stay in hospital, the surgery was extremly painfull... its lung surgery!! I spent a week in a hospital ward full of cancer sufferers (I was the lucky one) and the mental scars you deal with when it happens are terrible, I thought I was going to breakdown as I coudn't understand why it happened....but..... it also has got to be one of best things that has ever happened to me, I stopped smoking straight away and have not touched a cigarette in the last 12 months, it made me realise what was important in life, 4 months after surgery my boyfriend and I went travelling for 2 months, we climbed the great wall of china and have done so many great things since it happened. It took quite a few months for the pain to subside (and the pain was horrific) and I still get the odd twinge and stabbing pain now and again.. I have accepted that I probably will for a very long time and I refuse to let it get me down, I ignore it and carry on. I changed my attitude about it and wouldnt let it beat me and having a positive outlook really helped me. When I went through the worst part I read so many horror stories on the internet, so I wanted to say this isnt one of those, yes it was absolutely horrendous but its turned out ok and I am sure there are many more people that have the same experience as me and for those that are struggling, I really feel your pain but try and be positive and make the most of what you have now.

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  • gemma75282
    gemma75282 MissMichelle

    Posted

    I was 17yo when i suffered with a sp on my left side. I am now 30yo and am suffering on the left side with sharp stabbing pains and aches when i lay in certain positions or on my back and also a bubbling type of feeling like bubbles poppinh. I have been to the doctors a few times with this and they are saying i need cortozone injections in my shoulders but i dont understand how this could be true? Can someone help me with this? Is it normal after 13 years.
    • Mr_hill
      Mr_hill gemma75282

      Posted

      Maybe should go to emergency room and say you think your lung has collapsed again. At least they will Xray your chest
    • mathew5xx
      mathew5xx gemma75282

      Posted

      When I was 16 my left lung went down and then 6 months later my right did and ever since even 8 years later I’ve had that bubble popping feeling on and off. I’ve even been at the hospital while it was happening and showing them and they said I was fine which is still odd to me . I don’t know how those shots would help to me but your not crazy most people don’t understand
  • mario8846
    mario8846 MissMichelle

    Posted

    I had a SP about a week or 2 ago and every morning I wake up with pain. I didn't have surgery just the tube. Is this normal?

    • Mr_hill
      Mr_hill mario8846

      Posted

      Give it a month or so and you'll be feeling better stronger. Remember to try and use your lung. Try not to take to much shallow breaths. Sleep on your opposite side from the collapse. Bend down with legs not back for at least 3 weeks. And stop smoking especially if you think you've burned a hole in your lung. Hope you heal well & fast

    • Mr_hill
      Mr_hill mario8846

      Posted

      You can't help but get anxiety. This is a big thing to happen to anyone. Keep strong and I wish you all the best

    • mario8846
      mario8846 Mr_hill

      Posted

      Thank you. One last question for now. Is it normal so feel pain/bubble feeling where I turn or lay a certain way?
    • Mr_hill
      Mr_hill mario8846

      Posted

      Yeah your body will take a while to absorb the air into the blood system. Your chest will have equalised the air pressure by now. But you will still be feeling some air moving about. It's un pleasant but should be fine. My first S/P 6 years ago took months before I forgot about it.

  • Rendar
    Rendar MissMichelle

    Posted

    Hi i just collapsed my lung last week on tuesday it was 70% they put the tube in while i was awake and 3 days later it wasnt getting better so they suggested the surgery they removed a small chunk. I was released on thursday thisweek my main question though is about pain management they gave me 15 pills at about 1/2 the strength as in the hospital and instead of every 4 hrs and having a pca like in the hospital its every 6 and at that rate ill be out before i start work next week not to mention its barely helping and of coarse at night the pain is worse and by the time i wake up im in severe pain. Was it like this for anyone else? And do you think my dr would either up the dosage or give me a refil im not one for pain meds im really against them honestly but this pain is pretty extreme.
    • Barbasol
      Barbasol Rendar

      Posted

      Hello Rendar - I saw your post a few days ago and intended to respond.  Sorry for the delay.  Since it's been 18 days now, hopefully your are feeling better.  15 pills does not seem to be very much.  I was given 30 and after that, the Dr. told me to take Motrin as needed (which I find not very helpful).  Hopefully you have had a follow-up visit with your specialist and/or surgeon by now and have been able to get a re-fill of your pain Rx. 

  • XDKTC
    XDKTC MissMichelle

    Posted

    Wow , not to make light of your situation as i have been there but your blessed. Doctors made me wait until my 3rd SP on right side before they did the same surgeries you underwent after your first !  and yep ! it takes quite awhile to stop feeling all the little aches/paints and stuff after. 
    • paul30083
      paul30083 XDKTC

      Posted

      In fairness my first collapse was an almost complete collapse and I had been walked around for a week with it like that as the A&E department didn't initially conduct an X Ray and mis-diagnosed as a muscle strain!

  • jay33784
    jay33784 MissMichelle

    Posted

    Hi everyone, 

    I’m 29 years old. I had my first SP last January 2018 with 50% lung collapse (right) and had CTT during that time for 3 days.  After 2 weeks I went back to work and felt perfectly fine. 

    After 2 months, SP reoccur in the right lung at 14% which made my surgeon decide to push through with VATS surgery (removal of blebs and pleurodesis). CTT was removed 3 days after the surgery. I was discharged from the hospital today. Basically I’m on my 5th day post op and I feel so weak and paranoid.

    I can hear/feel the crackling sound of my right lung and the surgeon said that it is expected due to the friction of the lung with talc and the chest wall. I still get sudden needle-like pain. 

    I just want to know when the crackling sound would end? When will the pain when inhaling end? Is it advisable to move around or just stay in bed?

    • Barbasol
      Barbasol jay33784

      Posted

      Good morning, Jay.  You and I are quite alike (although I am a 52 y/o woman).  I too had my first SP in January, with a second one end of Feb which required VATS surgery.  I was discharged March 6.  First, know that you will get better.  Keep positive.  I just saw the Dr. again yesterday and he reminded me that the hard part is over, I now need to take it easy so I can heal, and I offer you this same reminder.  The pain will take time to recover from, even up to a month, but thereafter you may be sore and uncomfortable, but not in pain.  I am no Dr. but from experience, I suggest that you please continue to do your breathing treatments even though it hurts. I would take as deep of a breath as I could (even if not a lot at first) during the commercial times of every TV program I watched.  You must keep your lung expanded and moving so you don't end up with pneumonia.  I am over a month now from my surgery and I still feel the crackling, gurgling, sloshing strange sensation in my Rt. lung which concerned me too, until I read a few prior posts here and found that others have also experiences this sensation too, so I'm not as fearful anymore.  As for being weak and paranoid - of course you are!  You are not breathing as you had normally, and you are tired, and your body has undergone a major trauma.  This is not an "easy" surgical procedure.  Your lung and chest has been intentionally harmed and now it will take time to get better.  I know it is difficult, but you should move around somewhat, and at first make sure you have someone with you.  I'm not saying you should exercise, but short walks to the kitchen or sitting out in the sunroom or to the patio/deck to move about is helpful.  Don't overexert though.  You may have a 10-lb weight limit, so be careful not to exceed.

      Hope this helps to calm your anxiety and give you some peace and show you some support. 

    • brian74750
      brian74750 jay33784

      Posted

      helo jay, I had same op as you 17months ago, I'm in my 70th year, and I'm doing ok still in pain at times, nerve damage I'm told,iv had a few chest infections but antibiotics soon clear it up. my doc told me to exercise slowly and carefuly but try keep on the move if you can. purse lip breathing and the spider climbing up the wall,

      ?which is a great exercise for us oldies. you stand near a wall or door at arms length and run your hand up and down as low and as high as you can do it a few times them move nearer the door and do same thing again,until you are very close to the door or wall then do same thing in reverse  the doc said it stops us getting frozen shoulder, 

      ok hope I explained it ok.       good luck   brian

    • jay33784
      jay33784 brian74750

      Posted

      Thank you, Brian! I will try the lip breathing and spider climbing up the wall exercise. I’m on my 7th day post op and I should really move around to avoid getting frozen shoulder.  I’d like to express my admiration to people like you who is very positive. Thank you for listening and sharing some tips for recovery.
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