March 12, 2004 – Several of our readers have expressed concern over former Tour de France rider (and Pedal columnist) Alex Stieda. We checked in with Stieda to see how he is doing since he suffered a collapsed lung.

Hi Pedal,

I was checked in the chest playing recreational (no hit!) hockey on Feb. 4. The pressure of the check caused a “tension pneumo thorax” or collapsed right lung with internal pressure; that is, the lung has a hole in it and then the air leaks out into the chest cavity and creates pressure that pushes the heart over, which could pinch the veins that supply blood to the heart. I went home, took a couple of Advil and slept a bit, then went to work before my wife was able to get me in to see the doctor. He ordered X-Rays and upon reviewing  them immediately drove me to the hospital himself. Apparently, this condition can be lethal and due to the grace of God and my physical condition, I was able to withstand 12 hours of discomfort before they stuck a needle in my chest to relieve the air pressure.

After surgery on Sunday, Feb. 15 and two nights in the hospital, I am now resting at home. What a relief to get out of the hospital (without a chest tube sticking out of me!) – couldn't get any sleep between the nurses bugging me for vital signs and my roommate going to sleep with the light on!

The surgery itself went very well. The surgeon first performed a Bullectomy, and then a Pleurectomy. The long and short of it: remove the damaged area of the lung and then seal the lung by “gluing” it to the chest wall.

After three-and-a-half weeks (March 11), I am feeling remarkably well. Slight discomfort around the incision and chest tube entry areas, but no pain meds needed!

The plan is to slowly begin to add in some aerobic exercise over an additional two weeks. After that  I should be good to go.

All systems go for the Tour de France tour!

Alex