Husband about to have lobectomy .

Hello lyon69290,

I'm not aware of what the routine is in France because I had my surgery in the UK (right pneumonectomy in 2014).

After surgery I didn't need any clothing from home at all because I was put in hospital issue gowns until drains had been removed, after which I wore my own pyjamas before being discharged.

I had never been in hospital before so was scared witless beforehand, but the entire process wasn't anything like as bad as I had anticipated.

I think all operations are risky, but mine has given me over 10 years fairly normal life which is  a good result so far.

I hope your other half's surgery is a complete success.

I had a wedge removal last week so slightly less than your DH but same in many ways; I didn’t need any home clothes except a dressing gown and slippers. I had the drain removed before i left hospital - i def am more comfortable in loose tops right now as the drain site and other incisions are very sore. It is more painful than i expected so def make sure you have pain meds in, and expect  quite a bit of sleep at first if he is like me. I do have a cushion to hold when coughing and for when i was traveling - also handy as a bit of an extra prop at night. Best of luck - i am not sure about super risky; i think the usual risks apply of course. Best of luck for a smooth procedure 

Hello, 

I had an upper left lobectomy 2.5 years ago. I had a button pyjama top plus trousers made of cotton jerseys like T-shirt material. Slippers as well. I had a drain for 5 days and had to take it with me for walks round the ward, toilet, shower etc. I was up and about the same afternoon as the operation. They gave plenty of painkillers, morphine to start with plus a laxative. My digestive tract did not get constipated but went the other way. Morphine is well known for causing constipation! 

I dont Know if your husband’s hospital will want him up and about but my hospital was pleased to see me mobile. The exercise was helpful to my lungs as coughing is necessary thus very strong pain relief. He will probably sleep propped up as it helps the breathing. I asked my daughter to bring me fruity flavoured sweets - mouth can taste very odd after anaesthetic. I bought a triangular pillow for when I came home. Being up and active is a good thing. I took my iPad with me as the hospital had free Wi-Fi. I also had books both paper and online.

By the way, I was 70 when I had the lobectomy and have mild COPD. 
My husband was more concerned than I was.

Anyway, I hope the operation goes well. With love Daisy

Hi . I am awaiting an operation for lung cancer in right upper lobe … I am seriously so scared, but I guess very lucky that it was caught early and can be removed . Thank god for the free lung screening at the moment . I’m 62, and am struggling at the moment with quitting smoking, even tho I know I shouldn’t be at all . I have been told the best thing to wear afterwards is something front fastening so maybe for your husband it would be simple pyjamas ?? I hope your husbands operation goes well . The only risks I’ve been told about is typical anaesthesia risks that most operations carry … Never been so frightened in my entire life, but it’s not going to go away so I know it’s hopefully a potential cure, tho may need chemo or radiotherapy afterwards in case of any stray cells. Best of luck to you both , I know how stressful this is  x

Your story is very inspiring . I hopefully want to be up and about as soon as is possible, as it’s obviously far better if you can . I have to say I am so concerned about not being able to breathe properly afterwards( having a cancerous nodule removed right upper lobe. ) I saw my gran struggling to breathe before she died with emphysema and it has stayed with me for years, and I think this is what is making me panic so much about all this . I’ve been told hopefully it’ll be keyhole surgery but there is a 1 in 20 chance that they will have to remove a third of  the lung, which is obviously going to be a longer recovery if that has to happen ..Your story has made me feel a little better . Best of luck to you in the future x

Hi there

I was in a similar position as your husband, scheduled for right upper lobectomy and suffering from asthma. I spent a night in high dependency unit and then moved to the ward, discharged the next day with the drain in.i was up the next day walking around, slowly. Breathless to begin with like washing, climbing stairs etc but got better the more I did. I wore pj's or leggings and tshirts, some of the men on the ward wore shorts. I walked little and often and gradually increased the distance. I was say it took about 4 months till i really started to feel better, i had a dry cough and was a bit wheezy, all normal post op i think. It's a year since my operation, just had another CT follow up so hopefully all is good. I would say only time I notice is walking up long steep hills, I have to go slower and get a  little more out of breath than before but I'm back walking every day and golfing. I hope all goes well for your husband x

Hi Crossed Fingers,

It took me years and years to give up smoking. It was my prop.I finally managed to give up mostly about 2 years before I was diagnosed. By mostly, if I felt very under pressure I’d go and smoke a packet of tobacco and then back to the nicotine gum which I chewed for years! My GP knew but said the gum was better than tobacco. I’d made many attempts before that. 

Post lobectomy I started having chewing gum instead as I went off the gum in hospital. I’m now, having been in hospital again for a broken patella, doing my best to give up the chewing gum!

Just don’t give up giving up. I never have the desire to smoke now as I find smoke of any sort, room spray, fly spray, hair spray makes me cough. 

Wishing you all the best love Daisy

Hi' Lyon, I'm 83 next month and two month ago had surgery for lower right. I took dressing gown and pyjamas but just kept the Hospital gown on it didn't interfere with the drain. I was able to go to the loo same day, had the drain out second day discharged third day. Different folk respond differently I guess. I fine now  more or less back to normal just a little sore on my right side. 

not sure about the procedure in france ,but i had a lobectomy just over two years ago ,and reguarding the chest drain,they allowed me home after 5 days with a portable chest drain ,they always have to tell you the risks of the operation ,he would be better with loose front fastening p.j s ,the drain will irratating more than painful ,if he is lucky the chest drain may drain quickly and he will be home ,make sure you have a soft pillow for him to hold for when he coughs sneezes or laughs ,and the sooner he is up and walking and talking without any problems the sooner he will be back on his feet,if he is active then it will be no problem ,i was walking up and down the hospital corridors after 3 days ,and i would not consider myself active ,i wish you both good luck