[DreamsLast]

The collapsed lung (aka 'pneumothorax') happened because I had a procedure on my neck and back to relieve muscle spams (I have a chronic neck/back problem, called Cervical Facet Syndrome) and the needle accidentally punctured my lung cavity. I had Botox injections done by a Neurologist who specializes in this procedure. I was fine during the procedure, but when I got home, took a nap, and woke up - I knew something was VERY wrong. I had a hard time breathing and I had severe pain in my back on the right side on the lower part of the right lung area. Ironically I had joked with the Dr. about popping the lung cavity during my procedure!!!!! OMG! I guess I jinxed myself, huh? ;-)

I went to the E.R. and they put in a chest tube while I laid there on a table wide awake. They did a 'conscious sedation' where it reduces pain sensation but your mind is awake. They cut about 2 inches in between a couple of my ribs and shoved the equivalent of a garden hose in there! It was about a foot long or more of tubing that went into my chest!!! The pain from this is horrible, as you can imagine. The tube allowed excess fluid to drain off and for the air inside the cavity to come out.

I'm feeling better today. Each day the pain gets less and less. I go next week to get the stitches out and have a follow-up chest X-ray. When I left the hospital, my last X-ray showed I still had a pneumothorax, but it was small. They determined it could then heal itself from that point on. So I'm at home chillin' out. I have to say how wonderful it is to sleep in my own bed again!!!

Thanks for all the well wishes!