Lobectomy

Hi nannyto6, although I haven't had a lobectomy myself, I do know that it can take some time to recover from this operation. Pain, fatigue and breathlessness are expected.  Anything that you are worried about though, please contact your GP, I am sure he will be able to reassure you. 

Good luck with the MRI and echocardiogram. Please let us know how you get on xx 

Hi Chel thanks for the reply it has reassured me that I’m just a slow recoverer having read your bio I feel bad moaning… so I’m gonna get on with it… gonna do daily treadmill exercise to improvmbreathlessness… echocardiogram was “normal” still waiting for MRI results…hope you have a lovely Christmas x

Hi nannyto6 I think the treadmill will be good idea. Just take it slow to start with and build your strength back up. Please never apologise for coming here to moan as you put it. That is exactly what this forum is for, to get your feeling off your chest.  It is surprising how much better you feel after you have put your thoughts into a post, knowing that it is being read by people who really know what you are going through. 

Every one’s cancer journey is different, but each is as important as the next ️

Have a lovely Christmas, and please let us know when you get the MRI results xx 

Hi Chel yes I am determined to enjoy Christmas and I will take it slowly…thank you so much for your advice…. I think this forum is a Godsend  thank you

Hi nannyto6,

I don't come on the site every day so I have only just seen your post, but I thought you might like to have Chellesimo's advice echoed by someone who has had a lobectomy although mine was left lung. I am about 10 weeks post surgery and am only just starting to feel human again.

It has been very frustrating, especially the breathlessness, the pain along the ribs/diaphragm, and the difficulty walking any distance. I found nights really difficult, and ended up sleeping upright in a chair for the first week or so after got home. My son bought me a fan, I was really sceptical but it helped a lot.  I have a physio video from the hospital. There are a couple of arm stretches that feel like they are helping. I try to do deep breathing a couple of times a day (there are you tube videos) and I try to walk every day, even if it's not very far. 

Painkillers help me too. I was having so much trouble with breathing pain when I got home from hospital that I ended up  phoning the ward helpline. The nurse immediately asked if I was taking the prescribed painkillers, which (of course) I wasn't because I was really anxious to come off them. So I upped the codeine again, and suddenly I could breathe. I am still reducing the amount I take but rather more slowly!

I have to keep reminding myself that I am making progress, even if it's taking a long time. When I look back I'm amazed by how much better I feel now than I felt a few weeks ago.

I hope you are already feeling a bit better too

Have a happy and healthy new year

Hi Notsosure omg you have described my pain exactly but I also have swelling and pain around the drain site wound … thank you for your reassurance and Merry Christmas and happy healthy New Year let’s hope we’re both back to our fight of it selves soon xx

Yep, the drain site was a real drag.  I left the hospital with antibiotics because my wounds were looking Inflamed before I went home, and then the nurse who removed my suture at the local surgery prescribed some more because, in her words, the wound looked "fluffy". It did not feel at all fluffy!

I was really glad that she saw my wound and prescribed the additional antibiotics, even though taking them was horrible.

The good news is that things do seem to improve with time. The last of my wounds has pretty much stopped feeling sore and I've been able to start wearing my bras again,

I hope you have a great day tomorrow..