Hi everyone, I've eventually got a date for my lobectomy after what seems a long wait, (it's probably not) and I'm starting to get nervous. Has anyone any advice about how to keep calm in the run up to surgery. Thanks in advance
Snap! My tumour was also found while I was being investigated for RA. No symptoms of cancer previously. I am 64.
Had a VATS lobectomy (top right lobe) in July. Would it help you to have some info on what it was like or do you just want more general suggestions for keeping calm in the run up to your op. Happy to help with details if the former?. (My own exp was a positive one and not as bad as I’d expected.)
Details would be helpful as I've read too much rubbish on Google. Also what treatment were you on for RA, was it stopped prior to surgery, did you have any RA problems after?
They’d actually decided I didn’t have RA (just unexplained joint pain and inflammation in the blood) when the docs suggested I have a range of general tests, including chest X-ray. Once we saw the tumour in my lung the RA concerns ended up on the back burner. Still are to be honest but will revisit when things settle down.
I had my VAT in July. Early morning op. Sitting up in a chair the same evening. Various drips attached plus largish drain from the lung. walking up and down hospital corridors the next day. Out in four days. Then back in for a day and night because op had caused serious arrhythmia. I had no heart problems at all before but it seems this is a possible side effect. Still on beta blockers now but hoping to come off them later this month. two small scars front and back plus one about 2/3 inches under right arm. Most painful part was removal of drain. From your name am guessing you are female. If so then scars were just above and below bra line. Tender and tingling skin on right side of chest for several weeks. But only needed paracetamol. Breathing good almost immediately after op. I still get tired a lot and the occasional niggling pain from the under arm scar.
Other people will have had a different experience but that was mine. hope it helps and happy to answer queries.
Thanks so much for your reply, it's very reassuring and pretty straightforward, until the arrhythmia that is. Good to know your breathing was good, I know everyone is different but a couple have said the same so hopefully thatll be me. Were you discharged with blood thinners? Also good to know that I can expect niggles from scar and that it is to be expected also. Hopefully I'll be like you just needing paracetamol so not too painful, and I'll expect the tiredness for a while. Thanks so much, you've put my mind at rest a bit. Hope you continue to recover well x
I came out of hospital with three types of heart meds including blood thinners. Taken off two of them within a month. Docs told me about 15pc of people have similar problems after a lobectomy. The op site is fairly near your heart and it gives it a bit of a shock! most people get back to normal I believe if no previous problems.
I was unable to have biopsy before lobectomy. Unfortunately it revealed the tumour was bigger than scans showed and had spread into the pleura. So have just had four rounds of chemo. That wasn’t so bad either. Maybe it’s just me!
hope nothing similar for you. Good luck with the op. When is it? Do let us know how you go on.
I had a VATS upper right Lobectomy in August last year. The lung cancer was discovered by chance on a CT scan that was ordered following an iffy bowel polyp removal. Very similar experience to Baytree123, pretty positive. I still get a little breathless now and then but mostly if I’m really pushing the walking pace or going uphill. Absolutely agree about the drain removal, but that’s really no more than a few minutes, plus it’s a good sign if it’s ok to remove it.
I had met the surgeon and some of the lung team and made a conscious decision to place my trust in them and concentrate on the things I could influence….. like keeping out of reach of people with colds etc and doing some deep breathing exercises, plenty of walking etc. I can also knit for Britain so that certainly helped. It was also good to think of the cancer going in the bin!
Happy to try to answer any questions you might have from a personal perspective - feel free to ask. I wish you all the very best.
Hello avidknitter, I'm like you, I have put my faith in the hospital and am confident all will be well, lots of finger crossing. Its encouraging to hear you're only breathless when pushing it a bit. I'm a golfer and I have a hill to play up at my course so I may have to take a breather halfway up. Did you need any further treatment and were there any complications?
No further treatment just 5 year surveillance for lung and bowel. Without the polyp, the lung cancer would have been undetected as I didn’t have any symptoms- so I was very fortunate for it to be detected so early. I was confirmed T1b N0 M0 after surgery.
The wounds closed fine post surgery apart from about half an inch under my arm - not painful as you do lose a bit of sensation but just weeping. I didn’t need antibiotics and that really is the sum total of my complications.
Most of the sensation has eventually returned. None of the potential side effects/complications described materialised.
I was told to push the walking a bit more about 2 to 3 weeks post surgery as the surgeon believed I could regain a bit more lung capacity, so that hill on the golf course could come in useful!
Aww thanks for that avidknitter. I'm in the same position, it was only found after a chest xray when I developed rheumatoid arthritis so I consider myself lucky as well. Hopefully I'll be in the same position with regard to my recovery. I hope things continue to go well for you, thanks for your help x
