For some people, it’s a one-and-done deal. For others? Their lungs are drama queens. They collapse again.
If you’re a repeat offender, doctors might glue your lung to your chest wall. It’s called pleurodesis. It sounds medieval, but it works. They basically irritate the lining so it scars shut.
After that, your lung is stuck in place. No more collapsing. You trade a tiny bit of lung movement for a whole lot of peace of mind.
The Silver Lining
Look, a collapsed lung is scary. It hurts. It makes you feel like a fish out of water. But it’s also incredibly treatable.
You get a cool story. You get to say, “Oh yeah, I had a pneumothorax once.” People will be weirdly impressed. I promise.
So, next time you take a deep breath? High-five your lungs. They’re doing a great job. And maybe don’t play tackle football right after a yoga class. You know, just in case.
