Tags: articles, blebs, diseases, drugs, health, lungs, medications, pneumothorax, respiratory, sinse

Any information on blebs in lungs?? Pneumothorax info?

On Health & Drugs & Medications » Respiratory Diseases

6,068 words with 4 Comments; publish: Thu, 13 Dec 2007 19:15:00 GMT; (90093.75, « »)

It's been a while sinse I posted here. I am still trying to find out as much as I can about blebs. I have read many articles; but nothing is really clear about my sons diagnosis. I did feel better when we got a second opinion a few months ago; and the pulmonary specialist said that my sons blebs are caused by his congenital diaphragmatic hernia. But he has had many x-rays over the years, and we were always told lungs looked good. We knew our sons left lung would not ever be fully developed due to the stomach,etc. compressing in his chest cavity. (he had the hernia repaired when he was three hours old. He is now 15 and is doing well; considering these blebs in his lungs. He uses advair, and so far is doing well on it. He likes the fact that it has the bronchial dilator/steroid all in one disk. He uses it twice a day. He has not had to be admitted for asthma ever. I just want to make sure I am doing everything possible for my big guy. We were told this type of emphysema/blebs is not progressive; if so, how did the blebs develop?? This turned out to be kind of long, I was only going to ask for some info. I need to get my list together for the specialist; I need him to explain to me how the blebs developed? We were told that pneumothorax is a possibility. I pray that doesn't happen.

Take care, Kathy

All Comments

Leave a comment...

  • 4 Comments
    • Hello everyone, I have made previous posts about my condition at http://www.healthboards.com/lung-and-respiratory/692.html

      Early this February I collapsed my left lung for the first time. It has been over a year since I had the corrective surgery on the right lung which was giving me the problems and I was hoping it was all over. While I was standing up at work, not exerting myself or doing anything, I felt a weird soreness in my back on the left side. It was kinda tingly at first and I was thinking it was probably my heart, as I had acute pericarditis when I had mono this summer and it reminded me of that. It seemed to get better with some movement but it still worried me. On the way home it got worse and I could feel the achie pain on my front side near the top of my chest and I was pretty darn sure it was my lung at that time. I was very upset, scared, nervous and worried as I was driving home. I got to the door and told my mom I needed to run to the ER NOW and get an Xray. Sure enough I had a collapse of something like 20% and it wasnt getting better as time went on. I wasnt totally surprised this time as I knew I had belebs on BOTH lungs. Again, I have been told by three doctors and one pulmonologist that mine were formed due to me being a tall, skinny, young male. My body grew faster than my lungs, and the lungs try to catch up creating these soft spots known as belbs. Not a totally uncommon thing I found out. Also it is worsened among those who smoke and have asthma. I spoke with a surgeon and told him that I was NOT going to have just a chest tube as I felt they didn't work on me due to my past experiences. I said if anything is being done I want the surgery. He said they no longer use the talc powder as it makes it harder in the future if any chest surgery as to be done, but he did rough up the lining on the lung which has the same effect. I said sounds good and they operated and that went just like it had the other time. I woke up with the chest tube in, but it didnt seem to hurt as much as before. I learned to tell the nurses that I was always having more pain than I really did because then they gave me enough pain killers to make it more tolerable. The tube came out a few days later, but before they put all of the bandages over the hole, the nurse said it was okay to breathe, and when I did some air leaked in as I could hear and feel it going through there. I got really scared as she immediated pressed more padding against it to seal it and taped it up. I had to cough (which is extremely painful) and do a lot of deep breathing to help my lungs absorbe what got into the chest area. It got better and they allowed me to go home. I still have to do a lot of deep breathing to get my lung better and I go back in a few weeks for an X-ray to see if it is all the way back up. I really hope it is as I dont want any more tubes!! If anyone has any questions please feel free to email me at mdamttc199.respiratory.itags.org.aol.com

      Matt D

      #1; Fri, 14 Dec 2007 23:41:00 GMT
    • Blebs are normal for skinny people. If they burst (spontaneous pneumothorax) your lung collapses. Given the circumstances they will remove the bleb and perform different types of surgeries. I don't know the names of them but I'll describe mine. They removed it and "glued" my lung in place with talc. I've had collapsed lungs on both sides, the surgeries on both sides. So both of mine are glued in. Now with your son there's really nothing you can do to prevent it. Learn the signs and hopefully it will never happen. Mine happened within 3 years. The first lung was in my sleep and 4:00 the next day I was passing in and out!! 95% collapsed. the second one I was watching tv, felt the pains got pale, went to bed. I knew what was wrong but I didn't want to go through the pain. It sealed on it's own and two days after the initial burst and collapsed at work. I was out for two months total. Learn the signs pains by your shoulder blades, shortness of breath, pale , and exhaustion. It can really happen to anyone but it's common with tall and skinny people with LONG arms especially. I hope this helped, good luck and god bless.
      #2; Fri, 14 Dec 2007 23:42:00 GMT
    • Thanks for your replies, and I hope you are both feeling well. Information is really what we all need. So far so good (no spontaneous pneumothorax's) I am constantly asking my son (Corey) if he is feeling ok/different. He is doing pretty good with remembering to use his inhaler. We also have learned that vitamin c is very good for the lungs and helping to heal.

      Take care, Kathy

      #3; Fri, 14 Dec 2007 23:43:00 GMT
    • This is for those of you who responded here about the Talc operation. Please see my posting of 2/15/02 about the possible long term effects of talc.
      #4; Fri, 14 Dec 2007 23:44:00 GMT