Pneumonectomy

Hi Holiday hopeful, 

I had a left pneumomectomy  at the end of Jan this year and like yourself I jumped between accepting it and being terrified that I would either die or wouldn’t be able to breathe properly, mine was nsclc T2b N0 M0 in my left main bronchus, I went into St George’s hospital the night before and was taken for surgery early the next morning, i was told before that I may spent the first 24 hours in Intensive care, (which I did) more as a precaution so i could be closely monitored, they got me up and moving around the very next day, and at first i was very breathless, they gave me a morphine pump which I controlled so I didn’t feel any pain, the physio came everyday except weekends and she took me for walks around the ward which progressed to an exercise bike, I did have a portable oxygen machine for the first couple of days which helped massively I was supposed to be in hospital 5-7 days but ended up staying 10 days as my white blood count dropped to 3.4, ( I’d had neoadjuvant  chemo before so I think it was something to do with that) when I came home I tried to walk a little each day gradually increasing the distance and can now walk 5 miles without being breathless as long as it’s flat, I do get breathless on hills though, one thing I have noticed that is a bit irritating is that my nose runs quite a lot which it didn’t do before, but I that’s a small price to pay, any questions just ask, above all be kind to yourself

lesley 

Oh thank you thank you Lesley, that is so reassuring to me I am so very scared I have had no symptoms at all and am still running upstairs if I want to, it seems we’ve found this by accident due to me having pneumonia earlier this year then collapsed lung so I am already only using one and nearly half lung so I now think mum n dad must be looking down on me for us to have found this. I’ve been petrified since getting this news thinking I’m going to leave my boys etc then next minute been quite positive, did you have lots of pain when you got home, it’s so reassuring that you are now walking miles I hope I will be like you as I’m quite fit and healthy (ish) I eat healthy so I am hopeful and maybe get myself back to work in couple of months. I will keep you posted and ask questions maybe when I get home, I go for the op 3 June, again thank you so much for replying

Tracey x

Hi Tracey,

mines was found by accident to, and like you  I had no symptoms, il sure your mum and dad are looking down on you, I think we are lucky it’s been caught early,  my  surgeon said it’s very small it’s just the location, i do remember how scared I felt, but strangely the day of the op I woke up not scared at all for the first time in ages. I can honestly say I wasn’t in any pain at all not in hospital or at home, they give you lots of pain relief in hospital and I had regular nebulisers, I usually sleep on my left side,so that  was a little uncomfortable for the first few days, I did find I was quite tired when I came home and needed a few naps for the first week or so, it’s great that your fit and healthy as I think that helps you recover quicker, I went back to work at the end of  March half days to start off with, now I’m back full time. Please let me know how you get on, I’ll be thinking of you, good luck on 3rd June 

Lesley x

Aww Lesley, I’m so pleased I posted now yes it seems like we have similar mine is in top left bronchus at first my consultant thought it was maybe 2cm but after pet scan it’s 4.4 cm but is in just the one area and pretty sure it’s not gone anywhere else which is why he think taking the whole thing away should do the trick. I will defo keep you up to date with things and thank you for probably giving me a better nights sleep tonight.

Tracey x

I really hope you sleep well tonight, I think ours are very similar, they didn’t think mine had spread either, and they were right,  mine was 2.7 cm they also took some lymph nodes out to check and thankfully they  were all clear too, I meant to add I had mine done by robotic surgery.

Lesley x

Hello Tracey (Holiday hopeful),

I also had a pneumonectomy (right lung) and my experiences regarding pain (very well managed), excercise and recovery were similar to Lesley (Solo19).

My hospital stay was admitted Monday, operation Tuesday and discharged Sunday. I had open surgery because keyhole wasn't feasible. 

I was petrified beforehand (had never been in hospital before) but can honestly say the whole procedure wasn't anything like as bad as I feared.

The good news is this was 11 years ago next month with no further problems lung-wise since.

I'm sure you'll be just fine.

All the best,

Derek.

Thank you so much Derek for taking the time to reply to me, I really appreciate how at ease both yours and Lesley’s comments have changed my mindset, yesterday I was thinking I’m going to be leaving my loved ones ( I know the alternative is definitely that without surgery) today I am coming home from this and going to really concentrate on doing all my exercises and later going to have a holiday.

i am so very pleased for yourself and Lesley for coming through this and together I am going to join your clan

Tracey x

Tracey,

That's splendid, and the goal of a holiday is something to spur you on. We've had some fantastic holidays since my treatment.

I wish you all the best for a successful outcome and if there are any other concerns you think of just ask.

Derek.

Thank you Derek my main concern I think was the pain afterwards which you have said you got through ok and pain relief, I’m a bit of a wimp but I know I’ll manage it,I’ve been for my pre op today taken ECG and bloods etc so hopefully they’ll all be ok and we’ll get to go ahead and get this thing out of me all been well.

we were going to book a holiday my dream one only a cruise around islands of Tenerife now kids are grown and literally the week we were doing it we found this ,hence holiday hopeful.

Thank you again and I won’t hesitate to ask you any questions I am sure I’ll have more soon there’s already some lying dormant.

Tracey x