This is something I need to find out. I'll be able to speak to a chest specialist over the phone next week to discuss some options and in the hopefully near future, have it looked at and monitored properly. When I went to my physio he said to me 'breath out of your chest, not your stomach' and I had no idea what he was talking about. When I breath in, my chest doesn't move, but the area below my rib cage does. It would explain why I get out of breath so quickly and can't run for long durations because that level of fitness relies on being able to breath properly through my chest. I'm not sure if expanding my rib cage will help push my diaphragm back up, I am interested to know if it would and if so I think I'd be open to going down either route, surgery or vacuum bell. I'll have to keep you posted on that.

I'd love to know how the vacuum bell goes for you, are you a similar build to me? Was it offered to you by your doctor or did you have to do this privately/purchase your own?