Does anyone have a regular doctor they see about their lungs

Hi. I'm new to the site and glad it is here.

I've had 3 SP's. Two on the left, one on the right. In both cases I had pleurodesis surgery and stapling. My last surgery was on my right side almost 2 months ago. Since then, there have been several times when I thought I had may have had a recurrence of pneumothorax, but wasn't sure. One time I got so worried that I decided to go the emergency room. They took an x-ray and I was fine.

A couple days ago I went jogging for the first time and then spent the evening in a smoky bar. The tightness in the front of my lung is worse and there is a little pain in my back. Now I am worried again, but don't want to go to the emergency room this time, or every time I am worried. It's a hassle; it is scary because going makes something you are feeling seem like it is real; and if I did have a small pneumo, which I think is possible, I don't think they would do anything anyway. The whole thing makes me feel depressed and like there is no use in getting care.

Do many of you see a doctor every couple weeks/month when recovering? Do you have a regular pulmonologist or some other expert? Are they able to tell you how your lung is improving or able to explain the different sensations/symptoms that you may be experiencing?

Thanks for your time,

Nanda (tall, thin, non-smoking male, U.S.A.)

Posted: Mon Oct 05, 2009 10:02 pm Post subject:

2 months is a little soon I would think to start jogging.
If you read all the posts here, you will see a lot of us have discomforts of one kind or the other. Getting a chest x-ray is the best way to find out if you are ok. You should find a general practitioner doctor.
Take things slow man. You will be ok. Wink

Posted: Sat Feb 27, 2010 11:33 am Post subject:

Thanks for this advice. It's simple but very useful.

Instead of going to the emergency room, which sucks, I went to an out-patient radiology clinic, which I tend to do now if I am worried but my symptoms are not definite. It's cheap and easy. The only problem is that sometimes you have to wait because places are not open or do not have immediate appointments.

I feel like I have a lot more control over my situation now.

Posted: Sat Feb 27, 2010 8:15 pm Post subject:

Hi Nanda,

I realize much time has passed since you originally posted, but I thought I'd reply anyway in case someone else is currently in the same boat...

After my first SP, I called my regular doctor to tell him about it. He suggested getting an appointment with a pulmonologist as soon as possible. It was the best advice I got. A pulmonologist is familiar with the various conditions that cause SP's. As I learned, it's very easy to write off a pneumo as spontaneous, but other conditions really should be ruled out before saying for sure. I've had 2 SP's and a VATS pleurodesis/pleurectomy and continue to see my pulmo regularly (only because they are following something else they found on a CT scan).

Also, an x-ray can't always show a pneumo if it is very small. Sometimes those can only be seen on CT. However, you are right -- if it is that small, you will probably just be sent home to rest.

Glad to hear you are doing better now!

Be well,
Mackie
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41F, VATS w/mechanical pleurodesis and parietal/visceral pleurectomy-Sept. '08

Posted: Tue Mar 23, 2010 4:50 am Post subject:

Yeah, it's very helpful to see a pulmonologist. Mine has been amazing. As for the jogging, be aware of your fitness level and pay attention to how hard you're breathing and monitor your heart rate (just fingers on the jugular for 30 seconds, multiply by 2). As for monitoring your breathing during exercise, you should be breathing hard but you shouldn't feel resistance to taking a big breath--if that's the case, pull back a little.

I'm 7 weeks post-thoracotomy/pleurectomy and two days ago I hiked 1000 feet to the top of a 2000 foot mountain, and today i cycled for 20 minutes, ran a quarter of a mile (stopped because the impact was uncomfortable), then rock climbed for 2 hours.

I get that same tightness/back pain whenever I'm around smoke so I avoid it like the plague now. Nothing has happened from it but it's definitely not good and I'd rather avoid the discomfort.

I have a video posted on my surgery/recovery blog that you might like. it's a 30 minute Q&A with my surgeon, one of the top surgeons in the Northwest.
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Nathan Schmitt
Http://brainchocolateblog.com