mum diagnosed with lung cancer in August

Hi Sharon

I had an upper right lobectomy in May. I was in hospital 6 days with an infection, treated by antibiotics. The hospital sent me home with an array of drugs. For pain control they gave me liquid morphine and paracetamol to be taken 4 times a day. I was given another prescription after a week by my GP. I gradually cut down on the morphine and then the paracetamol. I was quite uncomfortable as my lower chest felt very tight and I also had trouble sleeping, which just made everything worse. I spoke again to my GP and she prescribed me some ant-depressants. (I’d had them before for anxiety). I knew I was anxious as I couldn’t sleep and was getting more and more grumpy and miserable because of lack of sleep. Anyway, I did start to sleep. Firstly I saved a dose of morphine for the middle of the night, which helped the pain. I had checked I could do this with my GP. Secondly, the anti- depressants began to take effect and I slept better. I had my procedure on May 22nd this year and I’m now pretty much back to normal except for breathlessness and tightness in my lower right chest. 

Id strongly suggest you and/or your Mum talk to your cancer nurse and GP to get some more help. I did find out later that the tight feeling is because of nerve damage and not the operation itself. I also found regular gentle exercise a real help to get my breathing back to more normal. I gave up the morphine from about 3 weeks after leaving hospital. The last dose to go was the night time. I don’t know how old your Mum is but I’m 70. I do hope you are both feeling better soon.

Love to you both

thank you so much for your reply, I'm really pleased that you are feeling much better now..I think that the hospital didn't give my mum enough information about what to expect after the surgery. I called the ward after she was discharged as they provided her with a number to call but they told me to take her to A &E, so I called an ambulance as she couldn't have sat for hours waiting !! they said she had a chest infection.

Something definitely needs to be done, though I know that morphine makes her sick and she doesn't like the way it effects her but she may need to persist with it. 

Thanks again  you have showed me that there is light at the end of the tunnel, fingers crossed,

lots of love Sharon

Hi Sharon

I want to add that I felt nauseous for quite a while after the operation, with a very bed taste in my mouth. This can be caused by the anaesthetic itself, morphine or any of the other drugs. It’s quite a long process. I’m not sure if MacMillan have any downloadable booklets but Roy Castle Lung Cancer does have some very helpful booklets that can be downloaded. My hospital gave me a set of these books that were very helpful. It also had a progress chart on what to expect post-operatively.

I do hope you and your Mum manage to get some pain relief sorted very soon and maybe help with sleeping.

Love xxx

hi there, 

my mum also has a funny taste and feels that she is not enjoying food like she usually does. 

I'm hoping that all of your experiences that you have had will help her to understand that like you say, it will be a slow process. Thankyou so much for getting in touch, it really does mean a lot and I will have a look at downloading those booklets for her, 

take care and I hope that you stay well,

lots of love Sharon xx 

If your Mum wants to ask anything please feel free to get back to me. I’m very happy to help in anyway I can. Thank you for your good wishes as well. I hope your Mum feels better soon 

Love Fran xxxx

Thankyou Fran, its good of you to offer it means a lot, I will tell her,

lots of love Sharon xxx