Pneumothorax Support Group
A pneumothorax (or collapsed lung) is a medical emergency caused by the collapse of the lung within the chest cavity. It can result from: a penetrating chest wound, barotrauma to the lungs, spontaneously (most commonly in tall, slim young males who smoke), chronic lung pathologies including emphysema, asthma, acute infections, chronic infections (tuberculosis, cancer).
Not sure where to post this question, but I'm totally confused about these symptoms I'm having! For about a month, I've been having these dull sensations from my left rear chest, like towards the bottom of ribcage. First they felt like a vague bubbling sensation if I moved a certain way, and when I'd wake up especially after sleeping on my back or on my left side I'd feel sore on that side. I went to the ER they did a chest x-ray and said it was normal and EKG was normal and said it was Costochondritis (muscular). But about two weeks ago, I had a singing lesson where I got into it, and after that I noticed definate shortness of breath and some pain on my left side if I breathed deeply. A couple days after that I felt heaviness on my left side, along my collar bone, and felt like I couldn't quite get a deep breath on that side. And I started waking up in the morning for a couple of days feeling like a brick on my left upper chest, very unpleasant. I went to my regular doctor, he did another chest x-ray at my request, said it was normal to my surprise. The extreme heaviness has gone away mostly now but in the past few days I have been waking up with this gurgling/bubbling sensation in my left middle back after I have been laying on my back. I take a couple of breaths and it goes away.
I went to the ER again yesterday and they did a chest CT scan and said it was normal. They also did an EKG which was normal. None of the x-rays or CT scan showed even a slight pneumothorax, which I was worried about. The doc said the CT would show even a small one. Would it show small blebs too on the lung? The ER doc said he thought my symptoms are caused by lung secretions or allergies which pool at night when I'm at rest. But I'm not coughing any at all. I do have hay fever and sinus drainage but never a persistent gurgling when waking up on the left side. He didn't give me any medicine or anything, just advised I take allergy meds if needed. My mind was eased somewhat by the CT results, because don't they show anything wrong in the chest? I do have allergies but they've always been in my nasal and throat areas not my chest unless I had a bad cold which I don't. I do have also soreness/dull aching in my left middle back during the day too. Not sure if it's connected to my symptoms of gurgling in the morning.
My other thought was a heart issue like mitral valve prolapse or regurgitation, but wouldn't the recent x-rays and ct-scan have shown that too? The docs said no evidence at all of any cardiac problem. So what is it, just drainage? And if so is there no treatment for it? I'm just tired of waking up with this gurgling and the doctors all sa
I went to the ER again yesterday and they did a chest CT scan and said it was normal. They also did an EKG which was normal. None of the x-rays or CT scan showed even a slight pneumothorax, which I was worried about. The doc said the CT would show even a small one. Would it show small blebs too on the lung? The ER doc said he thought my symptoms are caused by lung secretions or allergies which pool at night when I'm at rest. But I'm not coughing any at all. I do have hay fever and sinus drainage but never a persistent gurgling when waking up on the left side. He didn't give me any medicine or anything, just advised I take allergy meds if needed. My mind was eased somewhat by the CT results, because don't they show anything wrong in the chest? I do have allergies but they've always been in my nasal and throat areas not my chest unless I had a bad cold which I don't. I do have also soreness/dull aching in my left middle back during the day too. Not sure if it's connected to my symptoms of gurgling in the morning.
My other thought was a heart issue like mitral valve prolapse or regurgitation, but wouldn't the recent x-rays and ct-scan have shown that too? The docs said no evidence at all of any cardiac problem. So what is it, just drainage? And if so is there no treatment for it? I'm just tired of waking up with this gurgling and the doctors all sa
I'm not sure if you're checking back anymore since this post was a few months ago, but I sent you a dm as well. I have exactly the same thing with the gurgling after lying down. I have spoken to numerous doctors and specialists about it and they basically say that if they can't hear/see it, they can't tell me what it is. In addition to that, I have a dull ache on my pneumo side that comes and goes randomly and could be awful or non-existent, depending on the day. It's very unnerving and I totally relate to what you're going through. I hope you have found some answers....I'm still searching, but will post if I find anything out.