After a spontanous pneumothorax

[erinbjk34]

I have been diagnosed with moderate emphysema after my lung collapsed in november.  I am a 30 yr old who quit smoking last March and do not plan to pick up another cig again!!!!! I had surgury to fix the bleb the popped and remove others on my right side.  I was told that I still have some on my left lung although they are not quite as large as the ones on my right were.  I have looked all through this site and I am looking to see if what I continue to feel is normal.  On my right side I feel as though when I take a deep breath my right side kinda hurts.  Almost a feeling of my lung stuck to my chest wall.  I know they used the talc powder... I think...  But another question I have is can I return to my normal activities... I have a fear still in the back of my mind that the left lung will collapse if I over excert myself.  I know that I have a little anxiety but that really scared me... I was trying to do like Tae Bo before this happened.. Now I am afraid to yell...LOL...I am sure that it is just anxiety getting the best of me at times, but I just wanted to check.  The nurses told me that the chance of my lung collapsing again is less then 10 percent since I had surgery.  Everyone else says the chances are much greater.  Thank you for your help.  

[National Jewish Health]

Blebs and bullae, which are large blebs, do occur with cigarette-smoke induced emphysema and are likely to cause recurrent pneumothorax with lung collapse.  They can also be congenital or inherited, and these are less likely to burst.  Talc-treated lungs can cause pain for years after the procedure, but if done effectively, the chance of recurrent lung collapse on the right should be markedly reduced and the nurse's estimate of 10% is reasonable.

The likelihood of collapse of the left lung will be dependent on the number, location and size of the blebs or bullae.  A pulmonary specialist should be able to provide an estimate of the likelihood of this happening.  Some experts might recommend waiting for the first lung collapse on the left but if the likelihood is deemed to be high, pre-emptive surgical treatment of the left lung might be an option.  We can't speak to that likelihood.

You should resume your normal activities anytime, if your doctors approve.