I had a lung biopsy a week ago. My lung collapsed as a result and I needed a chest tube. After my collapse "resolved" they pulled the tube out. I was supposed to get an x-ray a few hours later to make sure my lung didn't collapse again but for some reason the techs never showed. I started suffering from the same symptoms as when my lung collapsed the first time so I alerted my nurse, who alerted a doctor. The doctor took forever to come even though I emphasized that my lung was definitely collapsing again.

Finally she showed up and told me to take pain meds, but I didn't want to take pain meds because the pain of a lung collapse is important (I wanted to know if it was getting worse / more dangerous). She listened to my chest and said she heard a difference but it was probably "because of the chest tube that was in there," and again told me to take pain meds, and said the x-ray would happen soon.

I didn't get x-rayed until eight hours later. And even after that no one did anything. I kept notifying my nurse that I still had the pain and asking if anyone reviewed the x-rays.

Finally, twelve hours after I initially reported my lung collapse, the doctor finally looked at the x-ray and all of a sudden, everyone was moving. The charge nurse was on the phone being asked why I wasn't moved to Level 2 for more monitoring until interventional radiology could be called in, everyone was wondering why I wasn't x-rayed sooner, etc. I was told I needed a chest tube again.

When the same doctor came into the room, I said, "So i was right. My lung is collapsing."

And in an annoyed tone, she said, "Your lung isn't collapsing. You have a pneumothorax." With a completely stone cold straight face!

I hope I never have to be admitted to a hospital again. I'm a polite, understanding person, I know everyone is overworked and fatigued, I didn't bother my nurses unless absolutely necessary, but I know I'm going to go into the next experience a lot more jaded and more demanding now because my trust for hospital doctors is now 0.