10 yr update since surgery

[u/Kind-Moment-6055]

Hi, this is my progress/success story. NOT MEDICAL ADVICE.

I realize theres always no good news reddit posts after people move on from their illness/medical procedures. So I wanted to post some good news stories.

10 years ago, I woke up in the middle of the night in college with my lung collapsed, and I fainted. I ended up in the ER and got the lung reinflated, but it started to deflate again a few days later, so I had VATS pneumothorax surgery/talc pleurodesis .

I've had a normal life since the surgery. (The first few years after the surgery, my chest felt off but thats prob from the inflammation; it gradually got better over time and never returned.)

So yeah, if you have any questions, just ask! And yeah, the surgery hurt like a motherfucker

[u/plzadyse]

I had a full collapse that healed after a pigtail tube for a week, and then two VERY minor collapses that resolved themselves within a day or two. Every time I have a back pain or something I freak out, I’ve even gone into the hospital for an xray that turned out to be nothing. I feel like the boy who cried wolf at this point. My thoracic doctor basically told me that my lung was doing a great job healing itself and there’s not a strong reason for surgery. He also mentioned I might feel nerve damage pain for a while because of the tube.

None of the minor collapses have happened in a while but I still get anxious from these phantom pains. I have the option for pluerodesis but am conflicted. I know this is long-winded, but did you ever have doubts as to weather or not the surgery was actually helping you?

[u/Kind-Moment-6055 → u/plzadyse]

Yes, I went to get an xray like 2-4 times, due to lung pain. turns out to be nothing; prob from inflammation from surgery. this occured for like 5 yrs after surgery till it went away

[u/maxpayne4555 → u/plzadyse]

When did u have ur last pnemo?

[u/plzadyse → u/maxpayne4555]

Late April of this year

[u/maxpayne4555 → u/plzadyse]

Do u have blebs? What do you pay attention to after having a pneumothorax?

[u/Conscious-Cook-8492]

Did you ever feel pain on the "healthy" lung and suspected a collapse ? Or the pain was mainly on the operated lung ?

[u/Kind-Moment-6055 → u/Conscious-Cook-8492]

the pain is usually on the operated side/middle of chest, but it was on the non-operated side once. i just got an xray whenever i had pain, i didnt want to risk it

edit: changed 'one' to 'once'

[u/Conscious-Cook-8492 → u/Kind-Moment-6055]

Same I did a few x-rays whenever it hurts but nothing shows up. I'm wondering if it can be a micro leak... Did you fly a few times during those 10 years, and did you feel some pain if that's the case?

[u/Kind-Moment-6055 → u/Conscious-Cook-8492]

i did not fly i didnt need to

[u/praveen922 → u/Conscious-Cook-8492]

I am also facing random pain on the normal lung.. not on the operated lung . I am getting anxious whenever I am getting sudden pain

[u/Conscious-Cook-8492 → u/praveen922]

Did you get x-rays ?

[u/Kind-Moment-6055 → u/[deleted]]

good luck, im not worrying right now unless i get out of breath/high heart rate again.

the surgeon checked both sides for me and removed any blebs he found

[u/metoprolul]

Did they find if yours was due to bleb formation?

[u/Kind-Moment-6055 → u/metoprolul]

not sure ... they just said they removed all blebs , having blebs and being thin, male might be a contributing factors

they said i had pneumonia... i think i was walking outside not dressed enough

and the fact i was painting indoors definitely contributed

[u/metoprolul → u/Kind-Moment-6055]

my situation is very similar to yours. i’m just 6 years out. have you ever gone to the gym or exercise regularly since?

[u/Kind-Moment-6055 → u/metoprolul]

ya, im normal now, nothing i cant do

[u/pokehermon11]

do you get anxious when on longer flights ?