Pneumothorax......what?

So, last Sunday Jeff went for a bike ride and it turned his world upside down. Let me preface this story by saying Jeff is physically fit. At this point in his life, he is in the best shape he has ever been in. He's been running, biking, working out for quite some time. Eating healthier, etc.

So imagine my surprise when Jeff comes back from his bike ride stumbling into the house, clutching his chest and can't catch a breath. How fast do you think it took me to go into "freak out" mode? It's not a good mode for me! I wanted to call 911 but Jeff was insistent that I not do that. He said as he was riding, he was hit with this severe piercing pain in his chest and couldn't breathe. (Okay, so I'm thinking some type of cardiac event, right?)

He was able to finally catch a breath, but the intense pain did not let up. Silly man took a shower and went to a Church meeting. I begged him to go to the emergency room or at the very least go to the urgent care, he instead went to work and then out of town to work for a couple of days. (Maybe this post is more about me venting than explaining what happened to my husband, what do you think?)

He's not sleeping because he's in pain, shortness of breath when doing anything. So when he came home Tuesday night I begged him to stop by the urgent care on his way out of town the next morning and I know you will be shocked....he did. I only thought a possible infection....it was much worse.

They told him to go straight to the hospital through the ER, do not pass GO, do not collect $100. His lung had either partially or completely collapsed and it happened when he was on his bike ride...4 days ago at that time. They told him he would be getting a chest tube and be in the hospital for a few days....um, WHAT!?!?

I won't go detail about my melt down event and hysterical crying.....what if something had happened on that long drive, by himself, to Mississippi? Okay, not going there.

So at the ER the doctor says he actually does not have to check into the hospital....yet. He gave Jeff the option of waiting until Monday to see if there is any healing on its own or to check-in then and have the chest tube put in. Guess what he chose?? Actually, healing on its own would be the less invasive procedure and wouldn't take as long to heal. At this point, he can go to work but 6 weeks of no exercise. :( He chose this option because the doctor recommended it and kudos to the doctor for calling him everyday and talking to Jeff about his symptoms and how he is feeling!!

So, if you read this, could you please say a prayer for my husband. It is very painful. There is only a 20% chance this will heal on its own, please pray Jeff is in the 20%! If you're bored and want to see what a chest tube insertion involves, you can find it on youtube. We don't want that!


Definition: A pneumothorax (noo-mo-THOR-acks) is a collapsed lung. Pneumothorax occurs when air leaks into the space between your lungs and chest wall. This air pushes on the outside of your lung and makes it collapse. In most cases, only a portion of the lung collapses.