r/pneumothorax

51 yo F, was super active. Spontaneous pnuemo while flying didn’t resolve; had wedge resection/vats, mechanical pluero, and cryoablation. 4 weeks out now and everything went fine, but I am very confused about the nature of the pain and what I can do to make it long term better (or worse). My surgeon is a bit of a maverick I gather and says there’s no clinical data to support any post surgical restrictions. He says literally everything is fine - do pull ups, swing heavy kettle bells, stretch, fly. I have a high pain threshold and haven’t taken any meds since the hospital and it’s not like end of the world painful but it’s very unpleasant. And as someone on here summarized “new pain every day”. Burning, hypersensitive, drinking cold liquids sucks, numb, lots of shocks, feels tight and crampy. I def don’t want to feel like this forever if there’s anything I can do about that. Some days I think I should just lean in and ignore the pain and work out or go to yoga to keep things moving, other days I think I should just chill more. At three weeks out I did a couple pull ups and took a short flight and I’ve been walking quite a bit. Seems about the same level of unpleasant as sitting on the couch - which is to say… fairly unpleasant. but what I really care about is am I maybe making things worse or slowing down recovery by not being patient? Or conversely by being too sedentary? I can make zero sense of what makes things feel better and worse in the moment or the next day, and honestly I barely care about pain now if there’s something I can do to promote long term positive outcomes… but I see no consensus about what that might be, and my surgeons more extreme stance makes it hard for me to just blindly follow with what he says. Has anyone found any useful studies? Or have a team giving them good info they trust about what to do now to feel better long term?

I've had 4 VATS surgeries over the past 5 years. The first 2 went completely fine, but the 3rd failed. The 4th was a real mess. I knew from the moment I woke up that I was messed up. So much more pain than the other 3. Anyway, here I am a year and a half later; I am in so much pain all the time. Is this normal? I know there's a certain amount of discomfort that other people have said they feel even years after surgery, but I am genuinely in so much pain that it keeps me up at night. Sometimes it's all I can think about. I'm just wondering if anyone else has felt similar, and if so; were the doctors able to help? I'm kind of hesitant to go back to the doctor since getting out of the hospital, but I really need help here.

Has anyone experienced really slow healing from their chest tube sites? I’m 6 weeks post-op, and 4 weeks home from the hospital - where I had 2 chest tubes. One of the tube sites is healing well but the other is still open and the scab “falls off” every time I shower.

Going in tomorrow for wound debridement under general anesthesia and wondering if anyone else has gone through this?

Seems like a pretty straight forward procedure, as it was offered that I could do it awake (but that it would be really painful) lol. Any in sight or advice for healing is appreciated!

I’m about 11 weeks post surgery. My discharge info was to avoid cycling, driving, lifting and carrying for 6 weeks. I’ve had a bad week of pain this week having done a bit of gardening last weekend and various things, none of them heavy. I have a treadmill and was brisk walking 35 minutes a day but have dialled that down to 20 mins. Also have an ebike which I consciously keep on max power. Interested to know how other people found the recovery process. I take paracetamol all day and have dihydrocodeine for occasional use (couple of days this week). What pain experience did you have and what did your first 4 months feel like?

Hello everyone. Back in 2024 I (16m, 6'7, and 152lbs, also diagnosed with Marfans syndrome) had 3 pneumos in my left lung within like 4 months. All have been spontaneous. The first time I was sent home with a pigtail chest tube because it was very minor. The second time was more major, I stayed in the hospital for longer, and received a traditional chest tube. I was eventually discharged, this time with no chest tube. After the second time the doctors recommended the pluridesis and blebectomy procedures but I didn't have it done for some reason. The third time happened not long after. I had both procedures and successfully recovered. My memory is fuzzy on all the details due to this being a while ago, so I apologize.

Now, just last Wednesday (May 27th) I had my first pneumo in my right lung. a 40% collapse. again, spontaneous. I had the same two procedures performed and recovered slowly but surely. I was released today.

So, I have been smoking weed all throughout the previously mentioned events, in between each pneumo id wait a week or so after getting home, before continuing to smoke again. From the end of 2024 till the 27th I had absolutely no issues in either lungs, smoking everyday.

Now, correct me if I am wrong, but I am under the influence that after the pluridesis, the likelihood of a future collapse is extremely slim. So my question is can I go back to smoking? I planned on waiting two weeks before starting again, but I'd love to hear what you all think. Again, id like to mention, despite major coughing fits and smoking more than sketchy disposable weed cartridges, none of these pneumos have been directly caused by smoking. That is the main reason why I figured id be safe to continue.

Just to clarify. 1: I am not ragebaiting, I am just young and dumb. 2: I am not looking to be lectured for my undergrad smoking.

Thank you in advance to anyone who replies!!! :D

also sorry if this is a tough read.

I had my first ever spontaneous pneumothorax on April 25th while out on a casual bike ride. I’m a 53 year-old, very active and fit male. I’m six feet tall and weight 160 pounds. After reading about the fairly high recurrence rate, I opted for the blebectomy and pleurodesis procedure on April 27th. I am lucky to be in Nashville with good insurance so that sort of thing is readily available to me.

I’m six weeks out now. Everything is healing well. X-rays look good and I’m able to be fairly active, although I clearly have a ways to go to return to my previous level of endurance.

My primary issue at the moment is mostly anxiety. For the past few weeks I’ve been obsessively worrying that something isn’t right and that I’m somehow going to further injure myself. Even the headline about Kyle Busch dying of sepsis managed to work its way into the anxiety soup. My chest has felt tight and when I focus on it, I can easily become lightheaded and on the verge of all out panic. But I’ve been checked out and there is absolutely not a thing physically wrong with me.

I found another thread from six years ago that was all about the lingering anxiety brought on by this. Maybe this is common for any serious medical emergency, or maybe it’s somehow heightened by the location of the injury in the chest and the random and spontaneous nature of it all.

I’m curious to hear from others who have been through it and to get some perspective on how the recovery went for you. Particularly if you are an older athlete.

Hi so I had a recurrence of a primary spontaneous pneumothorax earlier this week, 5 months after my first one, which was treated with VATS bullectomy and Mechanical Pleurodesis.
My lung had re collapsed to around the same size as the first time, so I had a chest drain inserted. Due to strict time constraints regarding crucially important exams that I have missed because of this, hence meaning I have to sit deferred exams later this month, I want to get the surgery done asap. I was told it’d likely be VATS but with chemical Pleurodesis instead of mechanical.
My lung has managed to re inflate with just the chest drain, not fully reexpanded but nearly. However, I know that it could, and probably will collapse again at some stage. I do not want this to happen again, and the thought of living with constant paranoia of it happening is not what i would want. One of the consultants has said that they may not do any procedure if it is fully re inflated again, but I still want it done because if I miss any more time then I miss my exams and there’s no contingency plan if I miss the deferred papers.

Has anybody here ever had the VATS and Pleurodesis done do a lung that is re inflated or nearly re inflated? Or are they able to do a controlled deflation in surgery to do this? Any help would be much appreciated as I do not want to leave here without the surgery done.

25M, 6,3 and 150lbs (severly afraid of operations)

Hey,
Last week i really overworked myself at my job and woke up with a pneumothorax, i didn’t know this at the time so i tried to get through the the day as normal (wich did not go well because i had to rush to a hospital).
They put in a chest tube and was fine to go home after 5 days.

I also have been smoking weed & sigarettes for the last 6 years wich i know isn’t optimal aswell.

Now i am reaallly afraid to have another one even though the doctor said my lungs were in ok condition. 100km bike rides were no problem before this day so my lungs aren’t that bad

Now i’m afraid to go skateboarding, marathon bike rides and even have sex…
Anything that raises heart rate and breathing.

I stopped smoking now but i kinda wish i can smoke 1 joint a month with friends even when i know it’s not smart to do so.
Im jealous they have better lungs then me but smoke more.
The sigarettes i can forget.

-Any tips for getting over the anxiety?

-If i wait till my lung is fully healed can i go take a trip to Amsterdam? (If you know what i mean)

-Is there a way to heal better? Breathing methods? Inhalers? (Sounds stupid)

- I kinda wish they had done this VAT surgery so i could live less afraid.

I know you are not doctors but have more experience with this.

Btw sorry for spelling errors, i’m Belgian.

Hi everyone,

I’m a 38-year-old male. In September 2024, I suffered a primary spontaneous pneumothorax on my left lung while working out.

I was initially treated with a chest tube for 7 days and then underwent VATS pleurodesis. In total, I spent about 14 days in the hospital.

I had been a heavy smoker since age 16 and had switched to vaping about 4 years before the pneumothorax. The day I was hospitalized, I quit smoking and vaping completely.

After following my recovery protocol, I gradually returned to weight training. For the past 8–9 months, I’ve been lifting fairly heavy weights again with no issues or recurrence.

Lately, I occasionally get the urge to smoke. I’m not looking to go back to my old habits, but I’m wondering about having 2–3 cigarettes per week socially while drinking.

Has anyone here who was into weightlifting and smoking before their pneumothorax gone back to occasional smoking after recovery and VATS? If so, what has your experience been?

Also is it suggested to get a CT SCAN first?

Thanks in advance.

Hello. So had a hard day and one I thought was behind me. I’m almost 1-year post mechanical VATS and today while walking with some colleagues for lunch felt like I was having a relapse of collapse. Very much the same sensations in my mid-back and shoulder, feeling like a sharp muscle tweak. I had on a shoulder bag (which I use a few times a week) but was standing around when it started, feeling like I had building pressure in my back and diaphragm area. I was not short of breath but they were sensations I hadn’t had in approx 11 months. Felt like I needed to stretch. The same stuff that happened on my first known collapse.

I ended up going home early, taking some Advil, and laying down. I’m feeling a bit better but certainly this has made me question my entire recovery and trajectory, which has been positive to date the last year.

So disappointed and feeling a bit threatened that something is off.

I rest knowing that I can exercise well (and do) with barely thinking about it and also that from my understanding recurrence post-op at 1-year mark is about 5%…

Hey all. I'm stoked there is a support group here of fellow bum lungs.

So I collapsed my left lung pretty badly in late feb this year (left side) and have made a full recovery. That being said we are coming into winter here in Australia and I'm noticing a lot of 'phantom pains' like ripping and tearing sensations around the surgical site and where I had some lung polyp cut out.

I believe this is because of cold air and low pressure systems being more common in winter and I guess I'm getting paranoid about having another incident. It's really quite affecting my mental health as it nearly ruined me financially and career wise (I'm studying horticulture to get out of hospo)

Does anyone have any advice on managing lung pain or any advice at all in general that I wouldn't even think to ask? Like struggling to exercise because I'm worried about over doing it etc (AUDHD, so it can be tough to notice things internally sometimes until it's screaming at me)

I had what I thought was a small recurrence of a Primary Spontaneous Pneumothorax back in April, where, after a sharp pain in my back between the shoulder blades, it was followed chest bubbling when I lay on my left. There was no shortness of breath, and eventually after 2 weeks it went away.

However, today I have again had that sharp stabbing pain, a little bit worse this time I think. And I’m scared to lay down on my left in case I bubble again.

What is the chances that this is a possible bleb rupture and would this heal on its own again?

Has anybody ever experienced similar to this?

EDIT: I eventually muster up the courage to lay down on my left, my right, and flat on my back. No bubbling, just the consistent back pain that has lingered on much longer this time than the instance in April. Leading me to think perhaps this is a muscular strain in my back? Perhaps or maybe not. Still if anyone has anything similar to this please let me know.

Wondering for all those who have endured pneumothorax what did your doctor's provide as a reason for your lungs collapsing? At what age did this happen to you? And did you take the COVID vaccine before this happened?

I'm so sorry for anyone who's gone through this. This happened to my son at the age of 17, and I was scared to death for him. They said this happens to tall slender boys of this age. The scariest experience I've ever had medically with my children. You guys are all brave to live through this and I hope you're all healing well.

I was in a mountain bike crash yesterday where I washed out and my body collided with a tree at a decent amount of speed. After going to urgent care where an x ray confirmed broken ribs I was sent to the er for a ct scan for a possible small pneumothorax. Ct scan showed 4 broken ribs and sure enough the pneumo. After 24 hours from the crash I am being discharged with no tube inserted or really any other treatment for it, but the void that is showing on the scan looks anything but small to my untrained eye, and im wondering how freaked out i should be about my lung collapsing after im home? Should I seek out a specialist and get a second opinion?

I (M28) was playing at the park with my kid last weekend. I think it was Sunday. So about 5ish days ago. I, impulsively, jumped up on this square of big metal poles that was right underneath the platform where you go down a slide from. Since it was just structure holding the platform and not a part actually meant for playing, there was very little room once I pulled myself on top of them so the only choice I had was to lay on top of 2 sides. So all my body weight was was basically pushing down on these two poles. One side underneath my thighs & one side going across my mid-torso/lungs/ribs. It was uncomfortable like you’d expect but no pain in my lung. And I went to start getting down but right when I did I felt my lung kinda.. shift? (Not sure how to describe it) and with that shift came slight pain. Like a 1-2 on the 1-10 pain scale. More of an uncomfortable feeling than pain but still. And it went away for a bit but would come back if I moved a certain way or over exerted myself (like breaking into a full sprint)

It’s been like this for the past few days and today it feels a little worse. Only a little. It feels like I have a bruise on my lung almost. That’s the kind of pain it is. And the bruise feels worse today. It hurts if I put pressure on the area with my hand. But I haven’t felt any shortness of breath or pain when I breathe which makes me feel like this isn’t a big deal or worth going in for. My hope/belief is that I just kinda banged it up a bit but that it’s fine and will heal on its own. I figure it’s still just weak and not as tough due to all the trauma it endured since I also got VATS surgery done on it, making it more susceptible to something like this happening from such a minor action.

So yeah any insight/opinions will be appreciated. I also called the clinic and left a message for the girl who kinda overseed my whole hospital visit along with the doctor. Same girl who I had both my post-op appointments with so she should be able to give me good insight too but she probs won’t get back to me until Monday. Thanks in advance to anyone who comments:)

I just don’t want another hospital bill if I can avoid it

So long story short I just turned 18 and had my 3rd lung collapse. My 2nd time I had a chemical pleurodesis with a blebectomy on my right lung. 5 days ago I had the same procedure on the other lung and was discharged from the hospital yesterday. Since leaving, every now and then I have a singular hiccup that results in excruciating pain. Has anyone else had this experience?