Went to report sick…

After being advised by my GP. Skipped range this morning and went to see the Medical Officer at Mandai Hill Camp. The 2 MO who attended to me arranged for me to go to A&E @ Tan Tock Seng Hospital plus xray for suspected Pneumothorax. Wow such a big word. Basically it means collasped lung. Normally, the outer surface of the lung sits next to the inner surface of the chest wall. Thin membranes called pleura cover both surfaces. A pneumothorax occurs when air escapes from the lungs or leaks through the chest wall and enters the space between the two membranes (pleural cavity). As air builds up, it causes the nearby lung to collapse.

Quote:
Occasionally, a collapsed lung can occur without any direct injury to the lung or chest. This is called a spontaneous pneumothorax. Often, this results from lung damage caused by diseases such as asthma, cystic fibrosis and pneumonia. It is particularly common in emphysema, which causes air-filled sacs, called blebs, to form. When a bleb bursts, air is released into the pleural cavity, triggering a pneumothorax. A spontaneous pneumothorax also can develop in people who don’t have any obvious lung disease. It’s most common in tall, thin men between the ages of 20 and 40, and is much more common in smokers. Some people who don’t have any obvious lung disease have blebs that can rupture and cause this type of spontaneous pneumothorax.

I was diagnosed with spontaneous pneumothorax after the x-ray. And the doctor poked a needle into my left chest, into the space in the cavity and drew the air out using syring. Feeling was wierd as there is something poking around in the chest. Haha.. took an x-ray right after that, but too bad the condition didn’t seems to improve. They warded me into the observation ward and arranged a x-ray 4 hours later (meaning 1930 hrs). Did the x-ray and was relieved that the space in the cavity got smaller. That’s why he discharged me from hospital, else I would still be lying down there. *keke*

Got a medical review on Friday and he say that recovery wont be that fast. *Sigh* Meantime I cant do any sports. *sad*