Expert: Stacey Lloyd - 7/20/2006

Question
Hi my lung collapsed about 3 month ago,they said it was spontaneous.The first time they syringed the air out then i went home,I overdid it and it collapsed another two times.Both times i had to have a drain in.Im a male aged 24 and since the age of 17 have always been a very athletic person with a keen interest in weightlifting.The last 2 years i lost interest in my fitness regime and hardly excercised.That is when this happened.This experience has scared me to tell the truth,i'm only a young man and i am really worried about my fitness level.I have been excercising and working, pushing myself further and further.I still get out of breath sometimes,have bad nights where i struggle breathing and sometimes have little pains and aches.I just need to know whether i will get back to normal and the breathlessness will slowly fade.I was a smoker but quit immediately after this incident.I have a couple of children and want to be able to give them 100 percent.I feel terrible mentally and can't stop thinking about this,it's eating me up.I just want to get back to normal.

Answer
Philip,

You should see a pulmonologist about pulmonary rehabilitation. This is not an uncommon condition. With the correct pulmonary rehabilitation, you can maintain an active lifestyle without pushing yourself to the point of experiencing another collapsed lung and being in pain. You just need to learn your limits and stay within them.

Take care,

Stacey Lloyd
Lung Diseases Guide
About.com
http://lungdiseases.about.com