Surgery - wedge resection and/or lobectomy - seeking information…

Hi Prehensile,It’s difficult being here isn’t it? I had an upper right lobectomy in May this year. Recovery from surgery, IMO depends on lots of different things such as your fitness levels, your health and maybe diet. Anyway, I was out of hospital after a week as I had an infection that needed treatment. Now, after 5 months I’m pretty much back to normal although my digestive system is still a bit tipsy turvy. I understand we’re really lucky people to be able to have a removal of a tumour. I was looked after post-operatively by the hospital and my GP. I’m 70 and very happy to be going strong.

I hope others will be along soon. If you have any questions please ask away and I’ll be very happy to do my best to answer them

Good luck with your operation 

Best wishes xx

Hi there,

Welcome along. I recently had an "open" lobectomy of my left lung due to my tumour size, but am not upto speed on the mechanics of the right lung surgery and how it differs?

I was in hospital for 4 days, needed 2 weeks total rest at home before begining to start remobilising again, now 7 weeks post op and still have "uncomfortable" rib and nerve pain but getting back to normal and managing daily walks, try to do at least 5 miles a day, however I wasnt prepared for how easily breathless i now am and am having to learn how to control my breathing whilst out walking, and this to is now improving also.

As Daisychain said recovery will depend a lot on age and pre op fitness, i'm a 59 year old bloke and knew i would face chemo after my op, so have driven myself to re establish my fitness as best as i can before starting my 4 planned cycles of chemo next week.

Hope all goes well with your treatment, am sure you are in the best hands.

Take care, stay strong.

Dave x

Hi Daisychain

Thank you for your response, it sounds very positive.  I was a bit overwhelmed but reading how other people are doing and getting more information is helping.
 I’ve got a few weeks before the surgery and I’m using the time to try and improve my cardiovascular fitness as I have read it will help recovery.  I am 55 and I do yoga and walk quite a bit but here is definitely room for improvement.  I don’t have any symptoms, the tumour was found when I had an X-ray for something else and my main worry is that I won’t be able to recover to how I am now after having the surgery.

Specific questions are:

How did you get back to fitness?

Are you short of breath and how long did it take for this to ease?

Did you have nerve pain and has that got better?

I do agree that we are so lucky being able to have surgery for this.  
Many thanks again, I really appreciate your help.

Very best wishes with your ongoing recovery x

Hi Dave

Thank you for your message.  It really helps to hear how other people are doing after surgery.  I think if I am prepared and have an idea of what to expect then the recovery phase will be easier to cope with.

I am really impressed that you can walk 5 miles a day so soon after surgery, that is really positive.  I’m worried about being breathless and it s good to hear that this is getting better for you.  Did you have an exercise regime to get back to fitness?  I am 55 and do yoga and walking but I’ve been adding more cardiovascular stuff in to try and improve my fitness before surgery.

Good luck with the chemo and thanks again for your help.

Best wishes x

Hi Prehense, I initially took it very easy. I went for 4 short walks daily, whatever the weather, taking my time and not pushing. I had plenty of rest in between and lie down in the afternoon if I needed it. I gradually walked further and faster over about 6 weeks. Apart from that I didn’t go far as I wanted to rest if I needed to.

I’ve found I’m still short of breath when walking up hill and trying to talk at the same time time. Breathing is not as easy as it was and I find my diaphragm tensing up and I have to slow down. I definitely can’t walk as fast as previously but it really is not too bad.

I think the most uncomfortable thing is the numbness around part of my rib cage and diaphragm and the tensing up that goes with it, all due to the nerve damage. However, it’s much better than it has been and has eased to a good degree. I still can’t sleep on my right hand side as it becomes uncomfortable quite quickly. I had the whole of the upper right lobe removed but no lymph glands. 

 I think it’s import to take each day as it comes and exercise little and often gradually increasing your capabilities. It’s also important to take the medication for pain as it helps with day to day living. It took me two weeks to stop the morphine once out of hospital. I didn’t exceed the stated doses but I ‘saved’ myself a morphine and paracetamol dose that I could take in the night if I woke up. This definitely helped me. 
Good luck with your procedure and well done for trying to improve your cardio-vascular prior to the operation. I did much the same. You mentioned you go to yoga. A couple of days ago I went for a yoga breathing session with a a trainee in this as an alternative therapy. It was very helpful to practice yoga breathing. Anyway, ask as much as you like (but ignore doctor Google). Lots of out of date info there

All the best and let us know how you’re going. Daisy xx