I feel some shifting sensation in my chest. Is that due to pneumothorax?

Question

Hi doctor,

Before five years, I had surgery for a spontaneous pneumothorax. I am having the same sensation in my chest again where it feels like when I bend down my lung is shifting. It does not hurt, but it is very uncomfortable. I had the same feeling two years ago and went to the ER. They said there was nothing wrong. Is it possible to have air in my chest cavity without lung collapse? I had lateral chest x-ray (both views) done two days ago, and the results came back normal.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

No, it is highly unlikely to have pneumothorax with shifting sensation and normal reports. It is possible that you may have very minimal pneumothorax which cannot be picked up on x-ray, but this will certainly will not cause this symptom. Also, it will not be significant and needs no treatment as it will be absorbed on its own. Pneumothorax patients usually get pain and shortness of breath. This may be a psychological feeling or may be just an associated symptoms with your first pneumothorax. So, keep focused more on chest pain which is pleuritic. It means the chest pain increases on deep breathing and associated shortness of breath.