I was a 24 yr female, I woke up 1 mornin 4 work n started gettin ready, all of a sudden, i felt a sharp pain in the right side of my chest n i couldnt breath properly. i thought nothin of it, just thought it was really bad heart burn or indegestion. After speakin 2 my friends on the phne, they advised me 2 ring 4 ambulance, so i called nhs direct, told them my syptoms, they sent n ambulance out 2 me n off i went 2 hospital. After some tests, i found out that my lung had collapsed and a chest drain was inserted. I had 2 stay in hospital for a few days until my lung had re-expanded. After a few days, my lung had not re-expanded so i was sent up to the specialist hospital in london for an operation to fix this. Whilst i was there and after havin more xrays, my lung decided 2 re-expand so there was no need for the operation (i thought thank god, i never been in hospital b4, never had anything wrong with me b4 and the thought of an operation scared the hell out of me) My stay in hospital overall was 2 weeks. A year on (i'm now 25 yrs) and i am still under the consultant because i actually have a 10.5cm hole in my lung which they can fix, but this is my decision. I have not had a problem in the last year but have felt some sharp dull pains in my chest. I don't know what to do, should i go for the operation to remove this hole in my lung, knowing that i can then get on an aeroplane and go abraod or go scuba divin (i've never done either), or should i leave it n hope that i do not have another pneumothorax and never b able to leave this country for a holiday on a plane?? :headhurts:
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I would defineatley have the operation because often a pneumothorax happens in rest times. I have had twelve on the right hand side and 3 or four on the left with constant bubbling. I have now had a pluerodesis and thoracotomy on both sides to resect or sew up the holes in my lungs. I wouldn't suggest scuba but I can travel on planes overseas with the confidence that ther is only a ten percent chance of my lungs ever collapsing again after having the operation. I am twelve years on with the operation on the right hand side and have travelled overseas, been snoorkeling on the barrier reef ( a great comprimise to scuba - they won't let you if you have had pnuemothorax) I am also a professional saxophone player. I have recently had a pluerodesis on the left side ( 9 weeks ago) and am hoping for a full recovery. There is residual pain on both sides caused by scar tissue and I need to be carefull of sports and rapid upperbody movement.
So - have the operation - you'll be better off than not.
Sincerely
Damien
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I opted to have the operation done in November 2006 (i was admitted on my birthday :cry::wah What an experience that was! The thought of an operation scared the hell out of me n i was very nervous about it. The doctors were ever so good at calmin me and i would go through it all again if i had to. The only part i didn't like was after the operation, the pain was unbearable. I was in hospital for a futher 2 weeks recovering after 3 attempts on finding the rite painkillers. The pain was awful! I now i have a nice scar on my back and 2 small cars on my stomach from 2 chest drains. After i was sent home from hospital, it was very difficult to do normal things like havin a bath and being able to sleep properly. 5 months on, i am now almost back to complete health, I still have to see a consultant every few months but i do feel alot better for havin it done. It turned out the reason i had the initial pneumothorax/hole in my lung was due to a birth defect, i was born with it - i had always had a hole in my lung, it got bigger as i got older until 1 day it just collapsed my lung. The only problem i have now is they have detected a very small hole on the bottom of my other lung but they reckon it should not b a cause for concern. So my advise to anyone who is in a similar situation to what I was, have the operation, it will be worth it.
I am a 42 years old Army Officer with no history of a chest/lung problem. About 03 months ago while I was on a holidayt for a few days about 150 miles from my home, I suddenly developed chest pain on the left side which I thought to be a heart burn or indigestion. I did take few medicines for indigestion but over aperiod of 02 days it got only worse. We terminated the vacation and I drove back. I reported to the Hospital who initially thought that I have suffered a heart attack. When the ECG confirmed everything was OK with the heart, they conducted a X-ray, which confirmed my lung had totally collapsed. They immediately put a chest-tube. An x-ray later proved that the lung had expanded fully and after 02 days they re-confirmed it by clamping the tube and repeatig the x-ray. I was sent back home after a 09 day stay in the Hospital with a 30 day Sick Leave. After 30 days while I was again in the hospital for my re-categorisation, I again sufferd pneomutharax. The Chest Tube was again put and after few days I underwent pluerodesis operation. I have been discharged from the hospital and am undergoing rest. The pain and discomfort of the chest/lung and the back is slowly reducing and i am recovering hopefully for ever. The CT Scan confirmed that I have few bullae ( air bubbles ) in both my lungs, apparently since birth.
I HAVE HAD A CALAPSED LUNG 3 TIMES NOW AND I AM GOING TO GET MY CT SCAN RESULTS 18-01-2010 BUT I HAVE REQUESTED FOR A OP SO I CAN GET ON WITH MY LIFE IM NOT GOING TO BE LOOKING FORWARD TO IT BUT I THINK ITS GOING TO BE FOR THE BEST , I WANT TO BE ABLE TO GO ON A PLANE FOR THE FIRST TIME AND NOT WORRY BOUT IT , I HAD MY LAST ONE 2 MONTHS AGO I WAS GETTING UP AND FELT A TWINGE IN MY BACK THEN THE PAIN WENT TO MY CHEST AND HEAVY WEIGHT AND STABBING PAIN IN MY SHOULDER WITH IN MINUTES I WAS CURLED OVER ON THE BED I HAD TO DIAL 999 AND WAS RUSFED IN WERE THEY SURPRESSED IT THROUGH THE CHEST WITH A NEEDLE BUT AFTER 3 DAYS IT CALLAPSED AGAIN AND I HAD TO HAVE A CHEST DRAIN AFTER HAVING THESE NOW I GET OUT OF BRETHE MORE EASY NOW WHICH I HATE BECAUSE I WAS VERY FIT AND ACTIVE . I RECOMEND IF YOU GO THROUGH IT MORE THAN ONCE LIKE I HAVE GO AND ASK FOR THE OP AND REPAIR THE MATTER .
I also have a hole in my right lung that is 9 cm in diameter but they say they CANNOT fix it ... can you please forward me some information as to where and how it can be fixed???
I've had trouble breathing since I was 5 years old some 48 years ago
It's getting more difficult to breathe by the day and I'm tired of fighting for air everyday
I'm currently awaiting surgery. It's due in 2 weeks and with the amount of stuff I read I'm not sure I want to do it either. Not 100% however I love travelling!!!!! This is doing it for me because I don't want to be stuck or have really bad paranoia in a country that wouldn't be able to help me. I just found it comical that this was your concern also. I think no one is 100% confident going into anything like this though. What ever happens I wish you the best!
What an experience that was! The thought of an operation scared the hell out of me n i was very nervous about it. The doctors were ever so good at calmin me and i would go through it all again if i had to. The only part i didn't like was after the operation, the pain was unbearable. I was in hospital for a futher 2 weeks recovering after 3 attempts on finding the rite painkillers. The pain was awful! I now i have a nice scar on my back and 2 small cars on my stomach from 2 chest drains. After i was sent home from hospital, it was very difficult to do normal things like havin a bath and being able to sleep properly. 5 months on, i am now almost back to complete health, I still have to see a consultant every few months but i do feel alot better for havin it done. It turned out the reason i had the initial pneumothorax/hole in my lung was due to a birth defect, i was born with it - i had always had a hole in my lung, it got bigger as i got older until 1 day it just collapsed my lung. The only problem i have now is they have detected a very small hole on the bottom of my other lung but they reckon it should not b a cause for concern. So my advise to anyone who is in a similar situation to what I was, have the operation, it will be worth it.