Preparedness for storm situations.
I have a portable oxygen concentrator that lasts up to 3hrs. and a portable tank that lasts for 6hrs. I have albuterol inhalers that help so as far as being ready I am as ready as I can be. I can still be able to function a little on my own without any extra oxygen as long as I do not have to do much. I do exercises with my breathing apparatus to help expand my lung capacity. My capacity is not as good as it used to be but I feel it still helps to do the exercises.
My brother recently had a lung collapse because of his COPD. I did not realize this could happen but the Dr. told him with patients with COPD sometimes they form bubbles in their lungs that causes the lung to collapse. I f you already have difficulty breathing how would you know your lung was collapsed?
Hi CM1747, and thanks for your post and question - it's a good one! You may be aware we cannot provide medical advice or diagnostics over the internet (for your own safety), but your concern certainly warrants a reply.
With some types of COPD. the lung has over-inflated air sacs (which can be a characteristic of bullous disease). Generally speaking, sometimes these bullae, rupture. Perhaps, your doctor was referring to that aspect of the disease.
However, for some folks with a diagnosis of COPD, as well as other diseases, a pneumothorax can occ
I hope this brief explanation helps to answer your question. This may be the sort of topic you'd want to discuss more extensively with your physician.
Should you be interested in reading more about pneumothoraces, I thought you might gain some additional insight from this article on that very topic: https://asthma.net/living/collapsed-lung. It was published on our sister site, asthma.net about three (3) years ago: https://asthma.net/living/collapsed-lung.
Wishing you well,
Leon (site moderator COPD.net)
