I don't know why, I don't really think there's any specific reason. It just is.
In any case, here's the story behind it;
Two years ago, April of 2012, I developed a Spontaneous Pneumothorax, or a collapsed lung. However, a spontaneous pneumothorax is not like a regular pneumothorax. The added 'spontaneous' implies that it happens for no specific cause. I have never smoked, taken any injuries to the chest, and I have an excellent heart and very healthy lungs. They simply have the habit of... Leaking.
The first pneumothorax (pneumo; air, thorax; chest. Air in chest) happened abruptly and cause my left lung to collapse. I went an entire school day, and spent time after school to see a lecture, but when I came home complaining of chest pains, my mom drove me to see a doctor. The doctor figured it was nothing, he could hear a slight difference in my breathing that he figured to be bronchitis or something similar. Thankfully he ordered an x-ray, just in case.
I was rushed into surgery. So much air had had leaked into my chest the pressure was pushing my heart into the center of my chest.
I ended up spending the next week and a half in the hospital, spending the majority of my time playing Morrowind on my Xbox and eating (or not eating) shrimp penne pasta. I had two surgeries, one was simply an attempt to suck out the fluid and let the lung re-inflate itself. It did not fill itself up with air, and instead they went in for a second surgery, where they searched for a cause of the collapse. They found what they call a bleb, or a small blister-like thing. They cut that part of the lung out, stapled it back up again and gave me two more chest tubes in order to drain the fluid again.
Finally, the doctor sent me on my way. Advised me to stay away from extreme exercise in the near future, avoid playing any brass instruments, and stay off airplanes for 6 months at least. I was on bed rest for another week at my house, but as soon as I did my time I was back on my feet, playing ultimate frisbee and marching with the drumline.
This time I have a problem.
I can't have a collapsed lung. I'm in college, homework matters, midterms are coming up and I'm just about to start a new block class. If I start missing classes I'll lose scholarships and punch my 3.88 GPA in the nuts.
Of course there's also the issue of my Great Journey. This week I get my... memo of assignment, that tells me where I go on my Journey, what language I'll be speaking and when I leave. If I have a collapsed lung, no planes. No Journey. Not for at least six months. Six months from now happens to September. Which is right at the beginning of school. This means I have two options; leave at the semester (which means returning at the beginning of the second semester, or hold off an entire year to go on my Great Journey. Anyone will tell you, The Great Journey only gets harder to go on the older you get.
I don't know what I'm going to do if I open my memo of assignment knowing I won't be going there.
Not for at least 6 months.
Thankfully, tomorrow I'll know exactly what's happening.
Tomorrow morning, when I get my follow-up x-ray I'll know.
Either it's got bigger or it hasn't.
Either way, they might operate.
Either way, at least I won't be waiting to know anymore.
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