Pneumothorax

[cfbites]

I recently caught the flu and had my first pneumothorax. I spent 16 days in the hospital and it resolved. Then five weeks later I caught a cold and coughed so much, it returned.

The doctor told me no vest for at least six weeks or more. He's unsure about using the flutter. How am I supposed to clear my lungs?

Has anyone else out there had one of these and had to recover? What have your doctors told you? Any advice?

The docs told me I should not do the procedure where they glue the lung to the chest wall because it would rule me out for a transplant.

Any advice or lessons learned would be most helpful.

Thank you.

CF bites age 43.

 

[cfbites]

I recently caught the flu and had my first pneumothorax. I spent 16 days in the hospital and it resolved. Then five weeks later I caught a cold and coughed so much, it returned.

The doctor told me no vest for at least six weeks or more. He's unsure about using the flutter. How am I supposed to clear my lungs?

Has anyone else out there had one of these and had to recover? What have your doctors told you? Any advice?

The docs told me I should not do the procedure where they glue the lung to the chest wall because it would rule me out for a transplant.

Any advice or lessons learned would be most helpful.

Thank you.

CF bites age 43.

 

[cfbites]

I recently caught the flu and had my first pneumothorax. I spent 16 days in the hospital and it resolved. Then five weeks later I caught a cold and coughed so much, it returned.

The doctor told me no vest for at least six weeks or more. He's unsure about using the flutter. How am I supposed to clear my lungs?

Has anyone else out there had one of these and had to recover? What have your doctors told you? Any advice?

The docs told me I should not do the procedure where they glue the lung to the chest wall because it would rule me out for a transplant.

Any advice or lessons learned would be most helpful.

Thank you.

CF bites age 43.

 

[cfbites]

I recently caught the flu and had my first pneumothorax. I spent 16 days in the hospital and it resolved. Then five weeks later I caught a cold and coughed so much, it returned.

The doctor told me no vest for at least six weeks or more. He's unsure about using the flutter. How am I supposed to clear my lungs?

Has anyone else out there had one of these and had to recover? What have your doctors told you? Any advice?

The docs told me I should not do the procedure where they glue the lung to the chest wall because it would rule me out for a transplant.

Any advice or lessons learned would be most helpful.

Thank you.

CF bites age 43.

 

[cfbites]

I recently caught the flu and had my first pneumothorax. I spent 16 days in the hospital and it resolved. Then five weeks later I caught a cold and coughed so much, it returned.
<br />
<br />The doctor told me no vest for at least six weeks or more. He's unsure about using the flutter. How am I supposed to clear my lungs?
<br />
<br />Has anyone else out there had one of these and had to recover? What have your doctors told you? Any advice?
<br />
<br />The docs told me I should not do the procedure where they glue the lung to the chest wall because it would rule me out for a transplant.
<br />
<br />Any advice or lessons learned would be most helpful.
<br />
<br />Thank you.
<br />
<br />CF bites age 43.
<br />
<br />

 

[lightNlife]

I don't have any personal experience with pneumothorax, but here's an article I wrote about it.

<a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://understandingcysticfibrosis.blogspot.com/2007/05/understanding-pneumothorax.html
">http://understandingcysticfibr...ing-pneumothorax.html
</a>
For airway clearance you might want to try something more mild like the "Old school" clapping. I don't think the flutter would cause a problem because it's controlled by your air flow. Another option would be if you have an Acapella--you can attach you neb to it and use it as a PEP device.

I'll get back to you with more info as soon as I have it.

Take care!

 

[lightNlife]

I don't have any personal experience with pneumothorax, but here's an article I wrote about it.

<a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://understandingcysticfibrosis.blogspot.com/2007/05/understanding-pneumothorax.html
">http://understandingcysticfibr...ing-pneumothorax.html
</a>
For airway clearance you might want to try something more mild like the "Old school" clapping. I don't think the flutter would cause a problem because it's controlled by your air flow. Another option would be if you have an Acapella--you can attach you neb to it and use it as a PEP device.

I'll get back to you with more info as soon as I have it.

Take care!

 

[lightNlife]

I don't have any personal experience with pneumothorax, but here's an article I wrote about it.

<a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://understandingcysticfibrosis.blogspot.com/2007/05/understanding-pneumothorax.html
">http://understandingcysticfibr...ing-pneumothorax.html
</a>
For airway clearance you might want to try something more mild like the "Old school" clapping. I don't think the flutter would cause a problem because it's controlled by your air flow. Another option would be if you have an Acapella--you can attach you neb to it and use it as a PEP device.

I'll get back to you with more info as soon as I have it.

Take care!

 

[lightNlife]

I don't have any personal experience with pneumothorax, but here's an article I wrote about it.

<a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://understandingcysticfibrosis.blogspot.com/2007/05/understanding-pneumothorax.html
">http://understandingcysticfibr...ing-pneumothorax.html
</a>
For airway clearance you might want to try something more mild like the "Old school" clapping. I don't think the flutter would cause a problem because it's controlled by your air flow. Another option would be if you have an Acapella--you can attach you neb to it and use it as a PEP device.

I'll get back to you with more info as soon as I have it.

Take care!

 

[lightNlife]

I don't have any personal experience with pneumothorax, but here's an article I wrote about it.
<br />
<br /><a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://understandingcysticfibrosis.blogspot.com/2007/05/understanding-pneumothorax.html
">http://understandingcysticfibr...ing-pneumothorax.html
</a><br />
<br />For airway clearance you might want to try something more mild like the "Old school" clapping. I don't think the flutter would cause a problem because it's controlled by your air flow. Another option would be if you have an Acapella--you can attach you neb to it and use it as a PEP device.
<br />
<br />I'll get back to you with more info as soon as I have it.
<br />
<br />Take care!

 

[cfbites]

Thank you very much for the reply and article. Yikes. I'm still moderate, so hopefully this won't mean a transition to severe for me. I'll have to talk to the Dr. about it.

I think the clapping would still work on the other lung, but they stopped the vest, so I don't think it would work on the pneumo side.

Any other information is much appreciated and valued.

 

[cfbites]

Thank you very much for the reply and article. Yikes. I'm still moderate, so hopefully this won't mean a transition to severe for me. I'll have to talk to the Dr. about it.

I think the clapping would still work on the other lung, but they stopped the vest, so I don't think it would work on the pneumo side.

Any other information is much appreciated and valued.

 

[cfbites]

Thank you very much for the reply and article. Yikes. I'm still moderate, so hopefully this won't mean a transition to severe for me. I'll have to talk to the Dr. about it.

I think the clapping would still work on the other lung, but they stopped the vest, so I don't think it would work on the pneumo side.

Any other information is much appreciated and valued.

 

[cfbites]

Thank you very much for the reply and article. Yikes. I'm still moderate, so hopefully this won't mean a transition to severe for me. I'll have to talk to the Dr. about it.

I think the clapping would still work on the other lung, but they stopped the vest, so I don't think it would work on the pneumo side.

Any other information is much appreciated and valued.

 

[cfbites]

Thank you very much for the reply and article. Yikes. I'm still moderate, so hopefully this won't mean a transition to severe for me. I'll have to talk to the Dr. about it.
<br />
<br />I think the clapping would still work on the other lung, but they stopped the vest, so I don't think it would work on the pneumo side.
<br />
<br />Any other information is much appreciated and valued.

 

[blindhearted]

I had a spontaneous pneumothorax back in April 07. I was never told not to do anything, but mind did not return either. I did not have to spend time in the hospital, they used some sort of new chest tube. I didnt do any CPT on the side the chest tube was in because it hurt so bad. Anyway, while I had my chest tube in, my DH did manual CPT. DH would do extra time on my back on the side with the chest tube, hoping it would vibrate through. During CPT I would use a soft, squishy pillow to support that side so I could handle CPT as long as possible. I would also take a pain pill 30 mins before CPT to help. I also used a spirometer (the thing they give you after surgery where you have to get all three balls (or one marker) to the top with deep breathing). It would force me to inhale deeply but slowly to keep the lung expanding. And did not cause me to be forceful when breathing out, like with the flutter. Doing this did cause some stuff to come out. If you have vibrating percussor that might help. I also braced the side that my chest tube was in whenever I coughed. I used the same soft, squishy pillow and it gave just enough support.

I hope you get feeling better soon.

 

[blindhearted]

I had a spontaneous pneumothorax back in April 07. I was never told not to do anything, but mind did not return either. I did not have to spend time in the hospital, they used some sort of new chest tube. I didnt do any CPT on the side the chest tube was in because it hurt so bad. Anyway, while I had my chest tube in, my DH did manual CPT. DH would do extra time on my back on the side with the chest tube, hoping it would vibrate through. During CPT I would use a soft, squishy pillow to support that side so I could handle CPT as long as possible. I would also take a pain pill 30 mins before CPT to help. I also used a spirometer (the thing they give you after surgery where you have to get all three balls (or one marker) to the top with deep breathing). It would force me to inhale deeply but slowly to keep the lung expanding. And did not cause me to be forceful when breathing out, like with the flutter. Doing this did cause some stuff to come out. If you have vibrating percussor that might help. I also braced the side that my chest tube was in whenever I coughed. I used the same soft, squishy pillow and it gave just enough support.

I hope you get feeling better soon.

 

[blindhearted]

I had a spontaneous pneumothorax back in April 07. I was never told not to do anything, but mind did not return either. I did not have to spend time in the hospital, they used some sort of new chest tube. I didnt do any CPT on the side the chest tube was in because it hurt so bad. Anyway, while I had my chest tube in, my DH did manual CPT. DH would do extra time on my back on the side with the chest tube, hoping it would vibrate through. During CPT I would use a soft, squishy pillow to support that side so I could handle CPT as long as possible. I would also take a pain pill 30 mins before CPT to help. I also used a spirometer (the thing they give you after surgery where you have to get all three balls (or one marker) to the top with deep breathing). It would force me to inhale deeply but slowly to keep the lung expanding. And did not cause me to be forceful when breathing out, like with the flutter. Doing this did cause some stuff to come out. If you have vibrating percussor that might help. I also braced the side that my chest tube was in whenever I coughed. I used the same soft, squishy pillow and it gave just enough support.

I hope you get feeling better soon.

 

[blindhearted]

I had a spontaneous pneumothorax back in April 07. I was never told not to do anything, but mind did not return either. I did not have to spend time in the hospital, they used some sort of new chest tube. I didnt do any CPT on the side the chest tube was in because it hurt so bad. Anyway, while I had my chest tube in, my DH did manual CPT. DH would do extra time on my back on the side with the chest tube, hoping it would vibrate through. During CPT I would use a soft, squishy pillow to support that side so I could handle CPT as long as possible. I would also take a pain pill 30 mins before CPT to help. I also used a spirometer (the thing they give you after surgery where you have to get all three balls (or one marker) to the top with deep breathing). It would force me to inhale deeply but slowly to keep the lung expanding. And did not cause me to be forceful when breathing out, like with the flutter. Doing this did cause some stuff to come out. If you have vibrating percussor that might help. I also braced the side that my chest tube was in whenever I coughed. I used the same soft, squishy pillow and it gave just enough support.

I hope you get feeling better soon.

 

[blindhearted]

I had a spontaneous pneumothorax back in April 07. I was never told not to do anything, but mind did not return either. I did not have to spend time in the hospital, they used some sort of new chest tube. I didnt do any CPT on the side the chest tube was in because it hurt so bad. Anyway, while I had my chest tube in, my DH did manual CPT. DH would do extra time on my back on the side with the chest tube, hoping it would vibrate through. During CPT I would use a soft, squishy pillow to support that side so I could handle CPT as long as possible. I would also take a pain pill 30 mins before CPT to help. I also used a spirometer (the thing they give you after surgery where you have to get all three balls (or one marker) to the top with deep breathing). It would force me to inhale deeply but slowly to keep the lung expanding. And did not cause me to be forceful when breathing out, like with the flutter. Doing this did cause some stuff to come out. If you have vibrating percussor that might help. I also braced the side that my chest tube was in whenever I coughed. I used the same soft, squishy pillow and it gave just enough support.
<br />
<br />I hope you get feeling better soon.