Spontaneous Pneumothorax

[Freyja]

Has anyone had this happen to them? A sponetaneous pneumothorax (collapsed lung)? Did it happen again? Did you have surgery?

 

[Huggles]

This happened to my Dad many years ago. He was hospitalised for about a week (mainly because he was a heavy smoker at the time...now a non-smoker since the day it happened) but has had no problems at all. He did not require surgery and has led a fit and active life since ( golf, walking etc).
hope your situation has an equally happy outcome.

 

[disney junky]

DW had two, one when she was pregnant. She was about one third deflated on one side, so they inserted a tube through her chest cavity right below the collarbone and used a syringe like device to withdraw the escaped air. They said if it had been more collapsed or if it happened again, they'd have to do a different procedure. DS had one happen in when he was in high school, actually while he in band rehearsal one day. He also played sports, and the doctor made him lay off strenuous activity for a few days...it went away. According to the doctor, the body absorbs the air that escapes from the lung but if too much escapes, the equilibrium of the lungs around the heart is compromised and the heart can be pushed against the spinal column, jeopardizing the heart's capacity to pump.

 

[Freyja]

The reason for the question is that DH has had this happen to him twice. He has never smoked and is very active and healthy. They told him it something that tends to happen to tall, thin men between 20 and 40 years old. It´s because of blisters on his lungs. The doctos have said he could have surgery to have the blisters removed and then it won´t happen again.

 

[disney junky]

The reason for the question is that DH has had this happen to him twice. He has never smoked and is very active and healthy. They told him it something that tends to happen to tall, thin men between 20 and 40 years old. It´s because of blisters on his lungs. The doctos have said he could have surgery to have the blisters removed and then it won´t happen again.

That's the general diagnosis. The wierd thing is, it may never happen again.

 

[Freyja]

That's the general diagnosis. The wierd thing is, it may never happen again.

I know. I just hate the idea of it happening while we´re hiking in Maccu Piccu, snorkelling of the Great Barrier Reef and so on. Last time it happened we were in Iceland on holiday but lived in Denmark. He wasn´t allowed to fly back with us, so I had to fly back with 3 kids and 7 months pregnant while he had to sail with a large container ship (don´t know what it´s called in the US) to Holland and take the train from there to Denmark. It took him a week to get to Denmark. I can´t exactly imagine what it would have been like had we been in S-America, Africa or Australia

 

[always quiet]

DH had this happen to him. I will never forget it! He had gone to the doctor earlier in the week, complaining of pain in his back. The doctor (one of the ones in the practice) listened to his chest, basically said it was just muscle spasms and gave him pain pills. That was it. 2 days later, the DAY that my mother was buried, he called me after work, telling me it "felt like someone was sucking the air out" of him. I really wasn't in the place emotionally to deal with this....Off to the dr. we go, get a different one this time, who orders a chest exray (luckily the radiolody center was next door). He gets the exray and we go back to the office with the films. The doctor looks at the exray, stares back over to him....astonished! He left lung was totally collapsed! DH drove himself (with me along...the van was too huge for me to handle comfortably) to the ER....had a chest tube inserted...followed my surgery 5 days later when the lung still was leaking. Turns out his hole was the size of your fist!

 

[Cool-Beans]

I know. I just hate the idea of it happening while we´re hiking in Maccu Piccu, snorkelling of the Great Barrier Reef and so on. Last time it happened we were in Iceland on holiday but lived in Denmark. He wasn´t allowed to fly back with us, so I had to fly back with 3 kids and 7 months pregnant while he had to sail with a large container ship (don´t know what it´s called in the US) to Holland and take the train from there to Denmark. It took him a week to get to Denmark. I can´t exactly imagine what it would have been like had we been in S-America, Africa or Australia

This is totally OT, but I'm so jealous of you! I want to go to Maccu Piccu so very badly. And if we don't get there soon, I'll be too old to make the hike. PLEASE share your pictures when you get back!!!!!!!

Will they let you make the hike with the history of pneumothorax?

Lots of people have their lungs collapse. Although everything is a very big deal when it happens to you or someone you love, it isn't uncommon to see. If I trusted the doctors, I'd do whatever they said. It is fairly routine, so I wouldn't worry too much. And I'd absolutely tell them I was planning the climb.

Geez, I hope you like it. Officially living (and hiking) vicariously now!!! So, you MUST have a great time!

 

[Dakota_Lynn]

I know. I just hate the idea of it happening while we´re hiking in Maccu Piccu, snorkelling of the Great Barrier Reef and so on. Last time it happened we were in Iceland on holiday but lived in Denmark. He wasn´t allowed to fly back with us, so I had to fly back with 3 kids and 7 months pregnant while he had to sail with a large container ship (don´t know what it´s called in the US) to Holland and take the train from there to Denmark. It took him a week to get to Denmark. I can´t exactly imagine what it would have been like had we been in S-America, Africa or Australia

Oh my gosh, how scary for you, your husband and kids! I don't know anything about the condition, but I just wanted to wish you and your husband well. I hope the surgery can fix it for good and allow him to live a normal life without anymore problems!

 

[petchie]

The reason for the question is that DH has had this happen to him twice. He has never smoked and is very active and healthy. They told him it something that tends to happen to tall, thin men between 20 and 40 years old. It´s because of blisters on his lungs. The doctos have said he could have surgery to have the blisters removed and then it won´t happen again.

I know it is very common in Marfan's syndrome. http://www.marfan.org

 

[DawnCt1]

It happened to DS#1 at the age of 18. It expanded on its own but they did determine that he has blebs on his lungs so it could re occur. Because of this, unless he choses to have surgery and be assured that there are no more blebs, he can neve SCUBA dive. He has had no problems snorkeling or SNUBA diving however.

 

[Freyja]

This is totally OT, but I'm so jealous of you! I want to go to Maccu Piccu so very badly. And if we don't get there soon, I'll be too old to make the hike. PLEASE share your pictures when you get back!!!!!!!

Will they let you make the hike with the history of pneumothorax?

Lots of people have their lungs collapse. Although everything is a very big deal when it happens to you or someone you love, it isn't uncommon to see. If I trusted the doctors, I'd do whatever they said. It is fairly routine, so I wouldn't worry too much. And I'd absolutely tell them I was planning the climb.

Geez, I hope you like it. Officially living (and hiking) vicariously now!!! So, you MUST have a great time!

LOL. It was just wishful thinking, out loud. But the truth is, we travel a lot. We travel overseas approx 3-4 times a year and both Maccu Piccu and snorkelling at the Great Barrier Reef (Australia) are high on our list. I´ve never actually thought of them not letting him hike due to his condition. Better check that with the doctors first.

He´ll discuss the operation with his doctors soon. They haven´t really wanted to encourage nor discourage him having it. They have sort of left it totally up to him.

 

[Cool-Beans]

LOL. It was just wishful thinking, out loud. But the truth is, we travel a lot. We travel overseas approx 3-4 times a year and both Maccu Piccu and snorkelling at the Great Barrier Reef (Australia) are high on our list. I´ve never actually thought of them not letting him hike due to his condition. Better check that with the doctors first.

He´ll discuss the operation with his doctors soon. They haven´t really wanted to encourage nor discourage him having it. They have sort of left it totally up to him.

You are such a TEASE!!!! Get me all excited...what a letdown. DH is too out of shape and nobody else I know gets excited about going to Peru and climbing stairs up to the clouds. Losers.

Either I go alone or I miss out forever. Decisions, decisions. And now I don't even get your pictures. Crap.

If it were me (and this isn't really advice), I'd just wait it out. I don't have surgery unless I need to, or whatever it is is seriously interfering with my life.

Good luck on your decison, and if you DO go, please post your pics.

 

[Freyja]

You are such a TEASE!!!! Get me all excited...what a letdown. DH is too out of shape and nobody else I know gets excited about going to Peru and climbing stairs up to the clouds. Losers.

Either I go alone or I miss out forever. Decisions, decisions. And now I don't even get your pictures. Crap.

If it were me (and this isn't really advice), I'd just wait it out. I don't have surgery unless I need to, or whatever it is is seriously interfering with my life.
Good luck on your decison, and if you DO go, please post your pics.

That´s exactly how we feel and why he hasn´t had it yet. The last time his lung collapsed was 2 years ago. However, the thought of it happening again is terrifying when I think of all the places where it could happen.

I definately will post pics if we go!

 

[NotUrsula]

It runs in families. When it happened to the third of my older siblings I was warned that if I ever picked up a cigarette it would be just like taking a razor to my lung. In our case we all have weak spots in the lung wall; doesn't take much to pop through it, and we now know that smoking is a definite no-no. It hasn't happened to me yet, but I try to assiduously avoid any substance that might damage my lungs.

One sister had it happen while she was getting out of a bath, and she managed to have it strike the area where the lungs connect, deflating both of them simultaneously. The tear was over three inches long, and if she hadn't made a huge splash falling over she might have died -- luckily her roommate heard the noise and investigated.

 

[NHAnn]

Oh my goodness...this happened to me 3 1/2 weeks ago! I am almost 50, in good health (after successful breast cancer treatment 2 years ago), never smoked, etc. I had a 50% collpase of the right lung...which didn't show up on 2 chest Xrays in the first couple hours after the very sudden onset of symptoms. (Strange "stitch" sensation on the right side, shortness of breath) I also had 2 EKGs and blood work to rule out a heart attack and finally about 6 hours later a CT scan (which was to rule out a pulmonary embolism...yikes) they saw the pneumothorax on the CT. Had the little chest catheter put in right in the ER, went home and after a sleepless night it was taken out about 12 hours later. A bigger collapse warrants a bigger chest tube with vacuum type pump and overnight hospital stay.

They kept asking me "are you a smoker?" (No) "Have you had any physical trauma like a fall or car accident?" (No) hhhmmmmm.... must be a spontaneous pneumothrorax, more usual in tall thin athletic males.

They said the spontaneous type increases the likelihood that it could happe again...and if it happened again I would need the more invasive procedure to staple the lung "bleb" closed.... but more than half of those who have them spontaneously do NOT ever have another....and if it does happen again you know what it feels like and can tell emergency medical services. I have to say it's a bit scarey that something like this could happen at all....or happen while you are not near any medical services. On the other hand it took more than 6 hours from the onset of my symptoms until they put the chest tube in to allow the lung to reinflate...and I can't think of any circumstances for me persoanlly at this point that I would be very far from enmergency medical services....so I've decided I'm not going to worry about it, at the moment!

I wish you and your husband happy travels and good health!!