Lung lobectomy

Hi Nessa

i had the upper left lobe removed August 2019

it is early in your recovery, and your body needs time to recover.

I was unfortunately in a great deal of pain immediately following the operation,  but this lessened with time. Made sure I was prescribed good pain relief.

I felt exhausted for quite a few weeks, and at times wondered what had I done? Should I had, had the operation? But when faced with a cancer diagnosis, we do what we have to do, and in a few weeks you will feel the same. Sometimes we have to go through a tough patch to get to the smooth.

You don’t describe how you collapsed, pain, exhaustion ect- have you been allocated a lung nurse? You could contact them and discuss your concerns with them, or if required, discuss additional medication.

I know you will be feeling low at the moment, but give it time, it gets better I promise.

Dear Marie,

So many thanks for taking the time to reply. I have spoken to several nurses who have been helpful but I feel that hearing from someone who has actually had the same,or similar, experience is more affirming.

It sounds like you have had a very painful time with your lobectomy and I can relate to that too.It seems to be an extremely painful Operation.I am so sorry you have had to go through that but as you say sometimes we have to do the painful thing for better results ahead.

I think I regressed because I had been overdoing things since I got home from hospital.The "Enhanced Recovery" model though necessary and right is exhausting. When I got home I thought I had to continue in that way so was up every day trying to walk distances and do all the exercises and climb stairs.Meanwhile my sleep had not returned to normal and I had missed may nights' sleep.After ten days of this I almost fainted on going into shower and was then in bed a lot over the following four or five days and weak and shaky again.

What I wonder is how you managed your breathing and how you found it after you returned home.Also how did it progress with time and healing of the wounds.

Everyone I have spoken to say that this process of recovery is not linear and it takes its own time.Being in my seventies I imagine may make it a longer journey.I hope you are managing whatever stage you are on in your journey now and send warm wishes and gratitude.

Hi Nessa75

Yes, you are right the enhanced recovery model,  is very exhausting. We have to remember to do only as much as our bodies allow.

I would walk a little each day, only climb the stairs when I required the bathroom. I did the breathing exercises whilst sat watching television, as doing everything each day, for me was just too much, especially with the level of pain I experienced. I slowly built my exercise routine up, over a course of several weeks.

I was lucky regarding my breathing. I have never, before or afterwards suffered with any breathlessness, except when really pushing any form of exercises ( I’ve always been unfit- lol) 

Wounds healed very quickly, 9 days after having surgery, the stitches were removed, giving some release from the intensity of the pain. This enabled me to do a little bit more walking each day. 

Unfortunately , nearly a year later, I still have pain, not as sever, but it still remains, but I can perform all daily activities of daily living, so can’t really complain. When I asked, I was told the pain was due to nerve damage, and that this could be a permanent side effect of the operation. Again, because I can cope, consider this a small price to pay, especially considering the alternative of not having the procedure. I still have to take pain relief medication, but the amount is decreasing as time goes by. 

on reflection, I would say, I was back to near, my normal self ( I say near, due to still having pain) by the 5th month. 

Having a lung operation is a massive ordeal but I believe, even if I have to except a bit of pain, that it was the correct thing to do. We all recover differently, I know of others who have had the operation and are back to their normal selfs within  3 months, with no pain ( lucky) I hope you are one of these and I wish you all the best within your recovery

If I can help you in any way, please ask- there are also other people on this site that may be able to assist, so please keep in touch

” Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow. The important thing is not to stop questioning” ( Albert Einstein)