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Small Pneumothorax lung after vats with pleurodesis

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LJSmit
LJSmit

I am a 21 year old male, 5'10 and around 135 pounds. My right lung has been collapsing about once a year since I was 17 and always thought I was pulling a muscle so I ignored it. Fast forward to now and I kept getting the pain every 2-3 weeks, so i decided to go to the doctor and to my surprise was a collapsed lung. Went back to normal, then It happened again 2 weeks later so I went to a specialist and surprise surprise, he recommended vats with pleurodesis. I had the surgery about a week and a half ago. Actually am doing great so far, serious numbness and tenderness around the large tube I had in, the numbness and tenderness basically is from my upper abdomen and goes kinda in a straight line under my pectoral muscle to the chest, and then some random sharp pains but am no longer on pain meds (my choice) The other small tube I had in has no pain at that location or the incision. Worst pain of my life waking up though and I was crying out for help (literally) and they really gave me some pain meds, I was messed up for hours, though Im sure its not uncommon. Also couldn't pee and almost needed a catheter. Regardless here I am at home, had originally been sent home after 5 days with the small tube in because I had a small collapsed lung still, everything expanded, got it removed black friday. Now its monday and I woke up with the damn dreaded bubbling, I go in for an x-ray and its partially collapsed AGAIN. All my surgeon said was to get another x-ray on wednesday and got no more info, not even the percent of collapse, though the lady on the phone said it was small. I don't know what to do and am really overwhelmed. I know I read some people have recurrent ones after surgery, but really, after a week? Is this uncommon? and what happens next. I work a construction job in their prefabrication shop, and am very valued there so I hate missing work as it is. If anyone has any insight on this that would be great. Also it doesn't help that I suffer from anxiety either. Thanks in advance

0 likes, 8 replies

8 Replies

  • dor08270
    dor08270 LJSmit

    Posted

    I had 2 pneomotorax befour the surgery and it's was like hall to recover after . but then I was okay for almost 3 years and it happened again .

    the problem is the no one has an answer for this problem so no one know how to prevent it from happening or what to do to heal it completly.

    • LJSmit
      LJSmit dor08270

      Posted

      Thanks for you're response. I'm sure everyone feels this way, but never in my life did I think this would happen, you're always afraid of the scary diseases and things as such, never have I heard of random, recurrent lung collapses that require surgery until it happened to me. Anyways, Have you been ok since then, and have they done anything else?

    • dor08270
      dor08270 LJSmit

      Posted

      after it happened again they put a tube for few days and I went home . then 2 weeks after it happened again then the doctorst insert talc in to my lung with the tube ...now I'm almost 2 month after and I'm fine but I don't really know if I wake up tomorrow or next week with a collap lung again

    • LJSmit
      LJSmit dor08270

      Posted

      Oh ok, yea I wont know the course of action at all for me until tomorrow. What I can't figure out is how everything is so shrouded in mystery. How do they not have explanations or solutions that work in this day and age. I really appreciate you're response and hope you continue to do better. Being in this situation is beyond frustrating.

  • marie_lowe
    marie_lowe LJSmit

    Posted

    I was wondering if they found a solution for you.

    I have suffered a collapse since my May surgery. i was told on Monday it was healed, but today a week later it doesn't feel healed. 

    • LJSmit
      LJSmit marie_lowe

      Posted

      I am so sorry that I never replied, but it ended up re expanding and has stayed put so far. Still get stabbing pains, aches, ect. Sometimes it kind of takes my breath away itll hurt so bad for a second or two. I am still doing routine checkups with the surgeon and xrays. I apparently have a very small space at the top of my lung that is filled with fluid but not air. I am assuming that is due to them removing a small piece of my lung. I hope you are doing ok, really scary stuff. I'm assuming they never said much to you, about yours collapsing again after the surgery in terms of why or what you can do either?

  • Southerngal
    Southerngal LJSmit

    Posted

    How are you now?  What did they do after the second collapse after your surgery?
    • LJSmit
      LJSmit Southerngal

      Posted

      They told me to just keep getting x-rays and eventually it filled up for the most part. I apparently have a very small space at the top of my lung that is filled with fluid and not air and might stay there forever. I am assuming that is from when they removed a small piece of my lung during the surgery. Thanks for asking though, I am doing good so far. Random stabs and aches that can hurt pretty bad still but always subside. Still a looming worry of mine of having to go through it all again though lol.
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