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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Hi there,
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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Thanks Damien for your response.
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.
Hi There,
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.
Thanks
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
Thank you so much for sharing your story
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!