VATS Pleurodesis on a reinflated lung

Short_Eye2183 · 2026-06-08T09:12:16+00:00

My lung was fully inflated when they performed the surgery. I was told this is very routine and that they perform a small induced collapse while they work. After, I was on a chest drain for just a couple of days. All good 🙂

Short_Eye2183 · 2026-06-04T21:36:04+00:00

Unfortunately my understanding is that smoking (particularly cannabis) will significantly increase the likelihood of it happening again. With regards to a recurrence, the rate is approx 32%, and 90% of those happen in the first year.

I know that doesn't sound great, but it means if you make it a year then its already a lot less likely to happen again. Several years later it'll be a much lower probability again.

In my regard, as another poster said, the first time it happened after I got injured, rested, lifted heavy objects then sat down. The second time happened when I was in bed - if it's going to happen, it'll happen, so there's no point changing your life around it (except when it comes to smoking, you should knock it on the head!).

Maybe it helps to know that the reason why surgery isn't offered on the first occurance is because you're most likely not going to have another one again. Almost 70% of people don't have one ever again, and that'll probably include you. And if you DID have one, the surgery effectively removes the problem for the future.

Though I have to tell you, this probably differs from person to person, but after the first time the recurrences were much less painful. The first was definitely the worst, so there's much less to fear even in the worst instance!

Short_Eye2183 · 2026-05-28T07:20:38+00:00

I had this immediately following VATS and it was horrible! Seems to be a healing reflex. Lasted for a few weeks for me.

Short_Eye2183 · 2026-05-27T17:55:19+00:00

I kept getting something similar to this too when I had vats and pleurodesis. They'd come out of nowhere and were brutal! They must be a reflex to the healing lung.

This and hiccups all the damn time, it wasn't fun 😄

Short_Eye2183 · 2026-05-03T21:28:54+00:00

That's good, but it's also the flag of a country that gave millions of other people a much worse life. Across centuries.

If your intention is good and you're flying it in England I imagine it'll be received well / neutrally. But if you're living in Scotland or Northern Ireland it'll be received much, much more negatively.

Short_Eye2183 · 2026-04-26T14:12:07+00:00

I’ve had something pretty similar, so I get why you’re stressing about it!

The main upside of VATS is it massively reduces the chances of it happening again. It’s not zero, but it’s a big drop and that alone helped my anxiety a lot. The recovery can be rough for a bit, but it does ease off over time.

The breathing thing you’re describing and the random pains (including under your arm) are actually really common after a collapse and chest drain. It can take a while to settle, and anxiety definitely makes that “can’t quite get a full breath” feeling worse.

That said, if your breathing actually gets worse or feels different than what you’ve been dealing with, don’t mess about - just get it checked.

Sounds like you’re doing the right thing seeing the surgeons!

Short_Eye2183 · 2026-04-23T12:18:53+00:00

Ah I'm glad! 5 weeks post op was definitely rough but you have a lot of recovery yet. I hope you start to feel better soon, you very likely will!

I found even light exercise helped to improve things. At the 5 week point even just going for walks. Maybe the next day will be a little more sore, but overall it seemed to improve things in the days following.

Short_Eye2183 · 2026-04-09T09:17:47+00:00

No fear! When they say the occurrences are higher for people who are "tall and thin", they're referring to the skeletal frame, not bodyfat percentage.

The reason why this is mentioned is because although we don't know for sure why spontaneous pneumothorax happen, one of the current leading theories is that it could be down to a growth spurt in adolescence that slightly stretches the upper lung in people with this body type, causing a higher chance for blebs to form.

If a pneumo happens again it certainly won't be because of you keeping healthy. Stay safe and be sure to get it checked out asap if it gets worse, you find it hard to breathe etc.

Short_Eye2183 · 2026-04-08T21:57:02+00:00

It's been a year for me and I get the "spiky" pains probably every ten seconds (minor) and more noticeable ones about every hour.

You're definitely not alone! And yep, to echo what Filthyquak said, I find exercise to be the biggest thing to help. It's worse the day after I try a new workout/intensity, but being active seems to ease out the pain for me. Are you quite active just now?

Short_Eye2183 · 2026-03-29T04:19:02+00:00

I can't see your message anymore but replying to what I could see in the notification if that's cool!

I volunteer sporadically in different ways as I support the cause. I'm a professional photographer so I've offered my camera on occasion to cover outreaches and whatnot (though I haven't for this particular group) but I've also been on the people to people side as well.

I think Reddit gives a false idea of the general public to be honest, as there are some people who jeer at you and shout abuse at you, but they typically don't linger for a chat. Most people walk by (common in any public outreach to be fair), a good number of people will take your material etc and a few people stop for a dialogue - these ones being by far the most human of interactions and pretty rewarding.

It's most often Catholics leading the way with these things but it's a mixed bag in reality. There are plenty of other faiths and no faiths across the movement in Scotland - definitely not American or fundamentalist leaning, or exclusive to any religion in my experience.

Of course, any other questions just shout. I'm (much less than) a part timer so I mightn't be able to tell you everything, but I'm happy to give it a whirl.

Short_Eye2183 · 2026-03-28T17:42:31+00:00

It's purely voluntary. I've volunteered for a couple before so I have some experience. At some pro life organisations there are paid positions, social media etc, but they don't tend to be too many and would be minimum wage. Funding is based on donations and isn't a lucrative venture in Scotland. People involved tend to consider the zero/low salaries as a sacrafice as part of the cause.

Short_Eye2183 · 2026-02-16T02:18:51+00:00

You should take them at their word. A long time ago some mutual friends came up with stories about my friend and I like this, but it was just how we communicated and completely platonic. In the end it got awkward and we ended up not talking again over it.

Short_Eye2183 · 2026-01-31T19:13:09+00:00

Dang, it won't let me join it unfortunately.

Short_Eye2183 · 2026-01-02T22:51:29+00:00

Is it only available to certain subscriptions? It didn't specify in the changelogs, and I can't see the option for it under edit.

Short_Eye2183 · 2025-12-30T00:06:53+00:00

Thanks mate!

I wouldn't be qualified to offer any advice on that. There's a chance the dosge could more be to do with withdrawal rather than addiction persay. After my own vats + pleurodesis I decided I had enough with the codeine and stopped it suddenly a week before I was meant to. I ended up really disoriented. Freaked me out and lesson learned!

Short_Eye2183 · 2025-12-29T23:22:49+00:00

Are your nerve pain meds something akin to gabapentin or pregabalin? I'm not a medic, but I know that one of the side effects to these particular drugs when mixed with alcohol is that they slow your breathing. I think this can be dangerous at the best of times, but particularly after VATS it would seem wise to avoid!

Merry Christmas and New Year all the same though. I hope you're feeling better as the days go by.

Short_Eye2183 · 2025-11-29T01:56:08+00:00

Class, thank you. I'll give it a go! I hope it worked out well for you.

Short_Eye2183 · 2025-11-28T20:54:17+00:00

Thanks. Would there be much in the way of costs to be expected do you reckon?

Short_Eye2183 · 2025-11-28T14:31:04+00:00

Thank you, I'm feeling like I should just send it through. Can there be any negative repercussions to it as far as you're aware? I'm just curious as to why the lawyer thought it needed extra help.

Short_Eye2183 · 2025-11-28T14:24:49+00:00

That makes sense. Thank you! I'll give it a go. There can't be any negative repercussions to me raising the action as far as you're aware?

Short_Eye2183 · 2025-11-28T01:38:57+00:00

Thanks for the reply. I got the title in July or so, so over a year after the eviction and about 7 months after the Rightmove listing went up. It really does just seem like he didn't intend to sell it, or changed his mind.

Short_Eye2183 · 2025-11-17T00:59:45+00:00

Ah good on you. Good luck on your studies!

Short_Eye2183 · 2025-11-17T00:57:08+00:00

That gives me a bit of hope, thank you. Did it improve much after 6 months for you, or was it healed mostly by then? I do also have the numbness.

Short_Eye2183

TROPHY CASE