# Effect(s) of a collapsed lung

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/effect-s-of-a-collapsed-lung/437271>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [February 12, 2008, 11:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/effect-s-of-a-collapsed-lung/437271 "2008-02-12T11:58:28Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![BarnOwl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e95f7d/32.png) [@BarnOwl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BarnOwl)\
**Post date:** [February 12, 2008, 11:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/effect-s-of-a-collapsed-lung/437271/1 "2008-02-12T11:58:28Z")

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Last Tuesday, my right lung collapsed during a needle biopsy, and although I’m mostly fine now, it seems that I run out of breath faster than before. Might this situation improve over time?

I’m already severely emphysemic, so every little breath counts. 😃😃😃

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**Author:** ![Odesio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/odesio/32/20003_2.png) [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)\
**Post date:** [February 12, 2008, 12:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/effect-s-of-a-collapsed-lung/437271/2 "2008-02-12T12:49:13Z")

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My left lung collapsed way back in 1989 as a result of fluid build up in my pleural cavity in response to pneumonia. In my case aspiration failed to drain the fluid and they had to cut me open to get all the gunk out. It took about a year before I could take a real deep breath without feeling discomfort in my left lung.

Marc

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**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\
**Post date:** [February 12, 2008, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/effect-s-of-a-collapsed-lung/437271/3 "2008-02-12T17:06:00Z")

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I suffered repeated lung collapse (technical term: chronic spontaneous pneumothorax) a little less than twenty years ago. Treatment began, in the first incident, with chest tubes; treatment culminated, in the final (so far) incident, with removal of part of my left lung because the tear had healed open. :eek:

You’re going to be short of breath for a while. Presuming your lung is reinflating, the lining of your chest wall (the pleura) is going to be swollen and tender. It’s extremely sensitive tissue and doesn’t like being traumatized by having the lung torn away from it. It’ll heal, but slowly. You should notice some improvement by the beginning of summer, if my own experience is any guide.

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**Author:** ![BarnOwl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e95f7d/32.png) [@BarnOwl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BarnOwl)\
**Post date:** [February 12, 2008, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/effect-s-of-a-collapsed-lung/437271/4 "2008-02-12T17:10:13Z")

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Thank you, **Cervaise** and **MGibson**.

You answered my question.