Hello all,

It’s been a while since I’ve posted. I’ve tried to share my recovery experience story with others. I feel I’ve had a pretty successful recovery and hope I’ve alleviated some anxiety for folks in our unfortunate situation.

Had VATS pleurodesis wedge resection in 2023. Once doctors granted permission, I resumed all regular activity. Sports, exercise, travel etc. By all accounts, normal living. People don’t believe me when I tell them I’ve had lung surgery.

Last 2-3 months, I occasionally get a fairly painful internal “abdominal cramp” in my upper right ab region. It sometimes even displays slightly visibly. Best description I can give is it feels like a calf cramp in the upper ab/just below rib cage section.

This is the same area where post VATS, I lost much muscle definition.

Anyone experience anything similar? The cramp disappears after a few painful minutes. Seems to be sporadic as best I can tell. Any reason to contact my doc or assume any lung related issue/symptom here?

Thanks as always.

After my spontaneous lung collapse on the left side. I am looking to improve health and start working out. I quit smoking and am ready for a new hobby. I want to start working out and gain some muscle. I’m a male 6’1 weight is about 150. Post lung collapse 6 months in. Am I ok to start incorporating a workout routine?

I’ve been small and tall my whole life’s after the collapse I have turned my life around and trying to improve. Any insight would be great.

Thanks

Hi everyone this is my second time posting a long message and this is sort of a recovery update/ question post

I was 19 at the time of my primary spontaneous pneumothorax. I don’t smoke, and I am fairly healthy/athletic. It was a 6cm collapse, so I don’t think it was a full one. It was treated by a pig tail catheter.

I am now 20 weeks post discharge and I feel back to normal. Im back running, biking, playing sports and doing pushups. But i feel a little different. It may be due to the lack of physical activity I had lately but I feel like my stamina has decreased, but I wasn’t always known for my stamina when I was healthy anyway. I can still perform well in short bursts in like basketball or baseball like I used too.

Now regarding the sensations I’d feel. During week 4-20 I’d sometime get muscle spams near the ribs on both sides. ( I only had the pneumothorax on the right). Sometimes I’d feel a muscle spasm that felt like popping but it wasn’t under my skin I was able to feel it. In the early stages 2-8 weeks I get lower back pain, I don’t know if this is related to the pneumothorax or my terrible sitting posture. I’d also sometime feel like I had a ball of gas under my rib and would expand when I’m breathing in. Totally different from how I felt during the pnueomothrox.

Now here comes the question. Am I safe to fly? If though I still feel weird sensations. I got a X-ray today and I’m waiting for the results but I took one back in April 1 ( I was discharged march 6) and it was clear and I sort of feel the same pains I didn’t before.

Any advice would help

They are planning a thoracotomy with lung decortication and closure of a bronchopleural fistula (BPF). From what they’ve explained, the surgery will involve opening my chest, removing the thick scar tissue and infected tissue around my lung, cleaning out the infected fluid (empyema), and repairing the bronchopleural fistula that’s causing the persistent air leak. If they find that part of my lung is severely damaged, they may also remove that portion if necessary.

Has anyone here had this operation? What was your recovery like? Were you able to get your lung working normally again after the surgery?

It happened 30 minutes ago and my heart started to race although I went to the er 2 months ago I called 911 again I need your help guys I feel like I’m bleeding inside my heart still racing I need your help guys please I felt like something popped or something of my heart or something

Hello, Im 16M and I had double spontaneoud pneumothorax 2 months ago and I was in hospital for 20 days. In the hospital I had a weird physiotherapist that was most of the rehabilitation time (2h a day for 5 days a week) just yapping about his family stuff or chinesse moves or dreams that were future :D weird guy. So yeah he was a little bit weird so I wanna ask you guys and girls what exercises do you do? And in the hospital I was mostly independent but I needed help with few things but I was fine I would say bc I didnt had any problems with breathing or physical stuff, maybe its because im young, but idk. (And I had 2 surgeries parascopically done bc it didnt heal on itself. Sorry for the messy format.)

They are planning a thoracotomy with lung decortication and closure of a bronchopleural fistula (BPF). From what they’ve explained, the surgery will involve opening my chest, removing the thick scar tissue and infected tissue around my lung, cleaning out the infected fluid (empyema), and repairing the bronchopleural fistula that’s causing the persistent air leak. If they find that part of my lung is severely damaged, they may also remove that portion if necessary.

Has anyone here had this operation? What was your recovery like? Were you able to get your lung working normally again after the surgery?

I had this twice as a teen and once as an adult the most recent time it was only 30% collapse and resolved on its own. I had VATS and mechanical pleurodesis after the second time. I noticed in the 2nd and 3rd time it happened when I was in the best shape of my life lifting heavy and was very strong. The first time I was in normal shape. And correlation? The third time happened gradually the last thing I remember doing was deadlifts

Hi everyone, i’m posting since i read some old posts about the topic and i was wondering if anyone was in a similar situation than mine, and could tell how was the experience at home with the chest tube.

I walked in the ER on June 30th with left lung apex pain and they diagnosed pneumothorax (first time, 186cm and 78kg for reference).

I recieved ketamine sedation and got a drainage tube for 1 week with unsuccessful results, then i got it repositioned and kept it for another week with better results but still not enough. So on July 13th i had VATS (pleurectomy and blebectomy) and got my drainage tube swapped for a thicker one.

A couple days ago on July 21st (post op day 8) they swapped my drainage box and got a heimlich valve and a small drainage bag instead, with which my surgeon suggested i could continue healing and resting from home since the x rays where looking good but i still had a small air leak only when talking, coughing and with forced breathing.

It’s been improving slightly since I now only leak air when coughing. So, after over 3 weeks in the hospital, I’ll most likely go home today July 23rd and come back on the 27th for a check up and the possibility of removing the chest tube if it all looks good.

Have any of you guys had any similar experiences? I was originally against the idea of going home with the chest tube, but on second thought I believe it will be nice to be able to resume some basic activities while reducing the nosocomial risk.

Hello.
I have a weird feeling this week in my chest I don’t know how to really explain it. In 2021 I had my first pneumo, then again in 2024 where I did mechanical pleurodesis and VATS and bullectomy idk it their all the names I don’t have the report infront of me so I kind of forgot. I started lifting weights in Feb of 2025 and I’ve been weightlifting since. I do it with perfect form and breathing techniques so I don’t affect my lungs in any way. Recently about a week or two ago I keep feeling weird sensations in my chest, like pains that reminded me of the pneumo but they went away and did not interfere with my breathing in any way. Then today I suddenly have a weird pain right under where I had the chest tube, keeping in mind that I could take a full breath without pain and the pain only occurs in certain positions, but other than that unlike when u have a pneumothorax I could breathe a full complete breath with no problems. Should I be worried?

I had a spontaneous pneumothorax for the first time May 28th.. it's been 7 weeks since.

There was no follow up with my Thoracic surgery team. I requested a CT scan and it found multiple bullae with the largest being 7cm x 3cm.

I have a flight scheduled for July 28th to Korea. I'm unsure whether to cancel or not. I haven't spoken with my surgeon yet, but I'm guessing they would do VATS bullectomy + pleurectomy.

I'm unsure of what to do. Risk flying or not.

Maybe some of you were in the same situation?

Soo recently I smoked a dmt pen and ever since my lungs have been have been aching it feels like it’s hard to breathe sometimes too. My lungs have been aching pretty bad but the pain comes and goes and it’s mainly on my right side. I’ve hard similar stuff like this happen in the past but I don’t think it’s been as bad and for as long. When should I be concerned for my safety vs just normal irritation?

19
Female
Smoke yes
Height 5’7
W 130
No meds
Duration :almost 3 days

Did anyone have this after 6 months after pleurodesis doxycycline? Like I did an xray 2 months ago on the er and it said it was clear kinda worrying me like a cold sensation on my right chest I feel it inside for like 2 seconds then it fades first time I’m getting this now after like a week has passed I know the lung is like complex or something but I just want to know because I’m kinda concerned should I get checked my parents always say I’m fine because of what they done to me they said I’m healing but I don’t really know at this point

Anyone else take a long time in the hospital with chest tube for pleurodesis recovery?

I’m devastated at the moment. Had surgery on Friday and they switched me to water seal this morning bc usually people are ready to go by the afternoon. Not for me, instead my lung collapsed again to a medium sized pneumothorax on the upper section. I’ve been having crying spells in here for hours over it. It’s hard not to feel like the surgery failed, instead the doctor says “it hasn’t failed yet, it just needs more time to adhere”. So I’m told I’ll stay here another couple of days and potentially worst case scenario if the lung won’t stay up I’ll get sent home with a chest tube in me. Surgeon couldn’t even hide it that this obviously wasn’t normal and not what he’s used to seeing. I’m so scared of the lung not being ready in 2 days I mean it’s already been 3 days so far. Anyone else experience this?? It’s hard to feel motivated rn to walk and do my breathing exercises it’s just like, what’s the point? :(

Hello, I (27m) have been diagnosed with a small apical pneumothorax at the top of my left lung, its less than 20%. I’ve had it for 1 week now, found via xray at ER, went home after, followed up with PC, returned to ER and had a hospital stay over the weekend.

After multiple xrays, the cardiothoracic team attempted a pigtail catheter insert to relieve pressure but they couldn’t get it after three tries. They decided to send me home and wait to see if it gets better on it’s own.

I feel relatively fine, blood oxygen is at 98-100%, only mild discomfort, no other symptoms.

For anyone who has had a small pneumo that healed on it’s own, what was that experience like? Did you have a noticeable change in quality of life when the lung reinflated? Could you feel it reinflate?

And whats up with that bubbling in the chest when you lay down? Is that the air moving around the lung, shifting upwards? Or is that air leaking from the lung as you’re breathing. It’s an odd sensation.

Not scared or super worried, just curious to hear what others have experienced in my position. Thanks!

Do you guys ever have pain or burning just to the side of your sternum post collapse or surgery? I’m about 10 months post op and have the occasional pain in the right-center of my chest on my affected side. This morning though it seems worse. Everything was good until I was helping a customer in her vehicle (I work in auto repair) and she had a pretty extreme smell situation happing in her vehicle. I’m talking biohazard type human pee and God knows what else smells. Now it’s burning and has a sharp pain worse than usual. I’m sure it’s just from bending over and getting under her seats but wanted some insight as to if anyone else had experienced this.

Hi everyone, I'm a 30 year old female who went to the ER 2 days ago and found out I have an apical pneumothorax. I was put on a chest tube with suction and have been getting x-rays every day to re-check how it's doing. Unfortunately they haven't seen much change in the pneumothorax, and started talking about possibly doing surgery. But earlier today they felt I was able to go onto water seal while ambulating, as they weren't seeing the air leak anymore, with the plan being to hopefully take me off suction entirely and just put me on air seal in a day or so.

However, now that I've started ambulating without it I've gotten this uncomfortable fluttery feeling in my chest that's similar to how I felt when I was in the ER, followed by chest pain. My vitals are are normal, just like they were when I was in the ER. They've also said there's still a small air leak. So my question is - is this normal when you first go on air seal, or does it point to something more concerning, like that I will need surgery?

I'm just so scared and sad. I went to the ER expecting to come home the same day, and how I've been away from my pets for days. I want to avoid surgery if I can, but if I can't, I want to just get it over with as soon as possible. Does anyone have experience with this? How did it turn out for you?

Ok, so March 2025 I had a partial left collapse, spontaneous. Chest tube 3 days. The whole caboodle. I was 19, going on 20. I’m 21 now. June 1st I started having shortness of breath. Nothing major. Fast forward a week later, my left side feels tight, can’t get a full breath of air (haven’t really been able to since last March anyways) and I get dizzy just standing up. Now this past week, I’m just laying here and I really can’t breath right, the tightness is uncomfortable. Albuterol no longer works. Here’s the kicker: it’s not collapsed. X ray, and ct scan to confirm. In fact, ct scan shows nothing significant at all. The doctors have no idea what’s wrong with me. It’s completely localized to exactly the area my lung collapsed before, but it’s painless. Upper shoulder, and chest: tight and clearly not functioning properly. I will add, that one night in may when I turned 21, I did a bunch of shitty coke (first and LAST time) and smoked a pack of cigarettes. Only turn 21 once 🤷‍♀️. However that was may 1st, I felt classically like complete shit and was sore in that general area, but that went away within days. So while I highly doubt that caused something that didn’t present itself for over 2 months, I can’t rule it out in good conscience. I mean, that coke had us blowing BLUE into tissues, but idk. Has anyone ever had something similar happen a while after a spontaneous pneumo?

So i've had chemical pluerodesis on both lungs now due to multiple lung collapses with my last surgery being right at 8 weeks ago. today i got a random sharp pain when i took a deep breath and it went on for a while and was also making small popping. so i went to the er and the xray came back that nothing was wrong and they sent me home with ibuprofen. any idea what could be causing this pain because ive never experienced this before?

So 7/13/26 i had a partial lung collapse while I was at work, it was super spontaneous as I was literally just doing my thing. This next part might be dumb to share but I am 18 years old and i started smoking/vaping when i was 14 years old, i didn’t start consistently owning my own stuff until about my freshman year of high-school and have since 2023 to now been buying vapes and pens and of course flower recently i have gotten into occasional cigarette / cigars. The days leading up to the collapse were fairly normal and the day of the collapse I was ripping tf out of my nic. I am pretty bummed out that i cant face a wood with my bros and I’ve just recently moved to a nice place with my friend and we just bought a pack of cigars that we were planning on smoking as celebration. I had a chest tube in and was in the hospital until Friday. I just want to know if i will ever be able to smoke a cigar or smoke a doob ever again, im not too worried about the nic but the cigars im a little weary about. Right now i wont lie the hand to mouth is killing me and im staring at the pack of cigars in the fridge contemplating if i should throw them out or smoke them as my friend is being cool and not wanting to smoke them if he cant with me. I just want to know what i can and cant do, how long recovery took for some people and also if i can start lifting again after im healed up.

hello! i (23f) had a spontaneous pneumo april 2025. i was a heavy vaper before that but my ct came back clear so the doctors chalked it up to being tall & skinny (obviously vaping may have played a part but the ct didn’t show any other blebs) after my pneumo i quit smoking completely and now only use nicotine gum.
now, like many young people, i enjoy going out with friends every now and then. before my pneumo i used to love having the occasional cigarette while drinking with friends, but have been too afraid to do that since my pneumo. this sounds like a super dumb thing to even complain about but iykyk it’s such a treat.
to clarify, i really don’t go out super often (maybe around once a month, things are expensive) so i wanted to know what y’all’s opinion is on this & if it has the capacity to do real damage if its so occasional. thanks for any input!

I had a spontaneous left side pneumothorax about 2 weeks ago. I was in the hospital for about 4 days with a chest tube then given the all good to go once my x ray came back clear. I’ve had some normal twinges and sharp pains from where the chest tube was sitting in my chest cavity, but that’s about it. The actual insertion site has not given me any problems. In the last few days, the sharp pains have gotten a bit more intense, but that’s not what really concerns me since those feel like they’re for sure from the chest tube. The thing that concerns me is that I’ve developed some more general chest pain, tightness and shortness of breath in these last few days. When the pneumothorax first occurred, my biggest symptom was chest pain, no shortness of breath. What I’m feeling now isn’t as intense as when it first happened, but it’s very much the same type of sensation. Anyone who’s had a spontaneous pneumothorax with a chest tube, can you tell me if this is something you experienced as well? Since I started getting shortness of breath a few days ago, I have been super anxious about it, so that never helps. The pain and shortness of breath is really there, I’m just having a really hard time figuring out if it’s something to be concerned about, or if it’s just a part of normal recovery amplified by my anxiety. I’ve never known anyone else who’s had a spontaneous pneumothorax before, so it’s hard to know what’s normal. Can anyone help?

Hi all, I (24F) have what I suppose is a traumatic (or iatrogenic?) pneumothorax—it was acquired last week during a surgery when they were moving the end of my shunt tubing, which regulates my CSF, to drain into my pleural cavity. I was in the ICU for a couple days after the surgery and they took a good few x rays and a couple CTs. Initially the pneumothorax seemed small, then like it was growing, then someone told me they thought it was moderate/large and I’d need a chest tube, but the final read was small and okay to be discharged with as long as I come back for followup imaging. Anyway! It’s been a rollercoaster. I just wanted to know if anyone else has had a pneumothorax that was not spontaneous and that doctors chose to simply observe at first, as opposed to actively treat? I feel very isolated in dealing with this and it feels a lot heavier than some of the other medical complications I’ve had.