Spontaneous Pneumothorax

Rash

Anyone suffered this? I just had my second (possibly 3rd, but wasn't diagnosed) this past weekend. Very painful followed by discomfort and audible clicking in my chest. Mine have been small enough pockets of air to not need intervention, but the pulmonologist is recommending surgery to glue/staple (?) the lung to the chest lining to prevent future collapses which could be much more severe and potentially critical because she says at this juncture I am no longer in if, but when territory since the change for recurrence goes up exponentially with each episode.

I'll be getting second/third opinions but am curious about the procedure because it sounds pretty invasive (5 days in the hospital), awful and gross. Anyone had this kind of fun and care to share their experience? Unless you died from it - I don't want to hear your story!

M_Ware

Hey Roosters, @Rash is in the hospital having the pneumothorax problem repaired. I’m sure he would appreciate some good thoughts and cowbell jingles.

Martin

Get well soon @Rash . Sure beats sudden death on the side of the road.

More of a pitchfork guy than cowbell, myself.

Tad_M

Oh man, get better @Rash , hope your recovery is smooth and complete. Rest up and come back strong!

Aaron Webstey

Good luck @Rash ! Love from all of us!

wchevron

Hope you're feeling better. What is your room number. I want to send you a dozen penis pops.

Rash

thanks all for the well wishes. all went well. Surgery was last Thursday and I got to get the tubes out and head home on Sunday. Was wishing I had the epidural back in Sunday night, but otherwise am recovering well. Hope to be off the painkillers by tomorrow then just Tylenol/Advil as needed.

No lifting over 10 lbs or traveling for 6 more weeks, but I think I can get back to the trainer after my 2 week follow up (will find out then). Glad it's behind me and hope its a one and done!

Tad_M

Fantastic to hear Rash!
A beer is slightly more than 12 ounces, and our custom burgers are about 8 oz fully dressed. I have a gravity chair you can borrow. Come rehab in July!
Seriously, hope it's a smooth recovery and yes, one and done.

Rash

Latest wrinkle - was feeling better everyday until Thursday. By noon, I was in bed and spent the majority of the rest of the day/evening there just feeling bad. Not really pain, just not feeling great. Same thing on Friday. Friday night my chest was turning red under my peck on the side of my surgery. Decided to go to my primary care doc on Saturday morning and discovered I had shingles. A bit of a bummer, but at least it wasn't something wrong internally from my surgery.

Been on antiviral drugs and last night started to feel like I was improving and today feel much better. Hopefully smooth sailing from here.

M_Ware

Drat! Shingles suck, Dave had them a few years ago while recovering from a rotator cuff surgery. Hope you are feeling better soon! Gabapentin helped Dave.

Side note: I had my Shingrix shot #1 a couple of weeks ago. It was no fun, but way better than shingles. If anyone is planning on getting Shingrix vaccinations my non- medical professional advice it to plan it for a time when feeling thrashed and having an aching arm for several days won’t be a hardship.