ive had 7 sp's in 4 years and when i was 18 i had a plurectomy and bulectomy since then the same side has collapsed almost as bad as before my op tbh i was worried because they told me it would never happen again and it has im waiting to see the surgeons to find out what they will do and tbh im so nevous
I have a persistent right pleural effusion caused by 1) radiotherapy scarring, 2) a moderately regurgitating aortic valve and 3) other problems associated with bypass surgery and radiation. Pleurodesis didn't work as the volume of transudate produced flushed out the talc. Pleurectomy is now being recommended. Is there anyone out there who has had pleurectomy for pleural effusion who can tell me whether it works? It seems like an incredibly crude methodology which has great potential to make things worse.
Yes it has happened to me too. I had a total pleurectomy and the top bit of my lung stapled off after my lung collapsed several times, and six months after the surgery, I had a recurrence. It was almost a complete collapse too, as if there had been no surgery. My surgeon also said I was his first patient to have a recurrence like that. Recurrences, if they happen, are not usually as severe, the adhesions don't allow the lung to collapse much.
The worst thing about it happening again is the shock, and the feeling that there are no real, ie. more effective, options after a complete pleurectomy. I had another surgery, using talc. I don't know if it will work, maybe some people just don't form much adhesions.
There have been many times when I felt pressure in my chest too, and even breathless, as if my lung never fully healed after a collapse, but x-rays were perfect. I think if you feel bad, it's not all in your mind, the x-rays just can't pick it up.
It's been two months since my talc surgery, the good thing is, the talc surgery was a lot less traumatic than the pleurectomy, and I feel almost normal, except for poor stamina. Let me know how you are.