Juney

[Juney57]

Hi Im new to this site so hello to everyone, I was wondering if anyone as had a lung reduction? I'm due to have one soon and I don't know what to expect, thank you

[Hidden]

Welcome to the site, juney. I cannot help you but I expect there are 1 or 2 who've had this done who will hopefully be looking in. Also, you could try typing "lung reduction" or "LVRS" in the search box.

[Juney57 in reply to Hidden]

Thank you I'll have a look

[mmzetor]

hi june I have had my right side done what did you want to know ,

[jackdup in reply to mmzetor]

I'm not on a list to have it done but would like to know from someone like you who has had it done, how much difference did it make in your breathing, how long to recover, I would assume it would be very painful?

Whatever you cared to share would be great and then someone searching in the future would find this thread and your commentary.

[mmzetor in reply to jackdup]

hi I had mine done in 2013 but mine wasn't a planed op it was done as an emergence so it was a little bit different , I had my lung collapse I went to a&e and they stuck a syringe in my chest and sucked the air out then sent me home after couple of hours , the following week it collapsed again so back to hospital this time they kept me in inserted a chest drain and hoped it would repair its self but after several days it didn't so as they didn't really know what to do they contacted Norwich hospital whos consultant said he would transfer me there and operate before I was transferred I had different heart checks and ct scans , I got to Norwich at nearly midnight then told we are operating in the morning as soon as we get a slot in theatre , turns out they didn't take me down till gone 1pm , when I came round I did feel rough but was to be expected the anaesthetist was the most snappy grumpy doctors I ever met the worse thing was feeling the need to pee so said I need the toilet he snapped back with nearly shouting no you don't you have a tube in , I later found out that he was struggling to get pain relief right to bring me round and op when longer than they had planed for so perhaps he was going to be late for his tea , next morning consultant said he was going to do key hole but lung was worse that he though and had to open me up I didn't take much notice I was on a morphine and ketamine machine for pain and had an epidural in just below back of neck but it doesn't affect your legs that fell out that morning so told them to leave it out , that first morning they got me out of bed into chair took catheter out generally left me to rest , next day the consultant came round about 8 said every thing was good why wasn't I up and dressed its not a holiday camp get up and move about , third day the morphine machine kept playing up getting stuck and bleeping so ask them to take it out , just was on oramorph and tablets , told to walk round hospital as much as I could I had two chest drains in and they had to wait till they stopped bubbling when they do I could go home , because I had a collapsed lung they glued the lung to chest wall to stop it happening again so made you do coughing exercises to bring up bit of the lose glue that gets into the lung , took 12 days for the bubbling to stop so I could go home , pain wise it was sore not really painfull just funny sensation felt like fingers moving inside , when I was first allowed to use bathroom I see they had cut from back to front under arm I had nearly 30 staples was told later they go through the mussels and nerves so that's why you get the feelings as every thing has to knit together , really after op the worse bit was waiting for the bubbling to stop knowing that nothing you could do to stop it just a matter of time could be 3 days could be 20 , 2 and half years on that side still feel funny sometimes a numb feeling funny sensations but not painfull , im now waiting and having tests to see about having other side done I seeing doctors at addenbrooks they said if its done it will be different as they doing keyhole I said that's what they said last time he said that was an emergency this is a planed op with lot more tests and will be keyhole and is being done at papworth he didn't say it out right but hinted that its better doctors and hospital , I asked if they done it how long would I be in he said quickest was 2 days longest was 30 but average round 12 /14 days , breathing wise wasnt to much different but then the other lung is bad so hard to tell , sorry such a long post but hope it help do ask if you have any questions

[jackdup in reply to mmzetor]

Thanks very much for the detailed account of your surgery and I do hope when they do the other one it will work better and you won't end up with a cranky Anesthesiologist.

I had hoped you would have had more of an improvement in your breathing as a result of the operation.

[mmzetor in reply to jackdup]

I know what you mean about improvement but my breathing wasn't as bad when lung collapsed as it is now , I was diagnosed with copd in 2011 and put on blue inhaler had a x ray that showed all clear when I told gp blue inhaler didn't help much she said don't take it then , wasn't given any thing else it was only when lung collapsed that hospital consultant had a fit because I wasn't on any thing , and he done ct which showed lungs covered in bulla emphysema ,I think its the other lung now that is causing a lot of the breathlessness they are now doing test to see how much trapped air I have to see if it will help , my sats are fairly good and fev1 isn't to bad its the dlco that's the problem by that result and ct they class me as severe but going by the fev1 I would be moderate stage which hasn't helped with gp as she didn't think I was as bad as I am and tried to stop my steroid inhaler I kicked up a fussy got sent to consultant who done full lung test I ask him why gp wanted to stop inhaler he said because her spirometry test shows your not too bad but full test shows dcol is very bad which she didn't know so he wrote to her said im servere double inhaler and do not stop any inhalers

[jackdup in reply to mmzetor]

I don't know that much about the DLCO part of the PFT but thought that is what showed you well oxygen is transferred to the blood and one would have thought that if your DLCO was very bad your sats would not be that good. Maybe someone with a better understanding of the relationship could explain it.

Good luck with the LVRS should they decide that is what is needed to improve your condition and do hope it helps and makes a significant improvement in your breathing.

Even if you were only moderate that was no reason for your GP to stop the inhalers.

[mmzetor in reply to jackdup]

does get confusing , thank you for your reply

[Juney57 in reply to mmzetor]

as it made a difference to. Your breathing? How long did it take to feel better and was wondering how long I would be off work, I'm nervous and excited at the same time, thanks for replying.

[mmzetor in reply to Juney57]

im assuming they are doing it key hole for you which is different to what I had done as it was a emergency they cut from back under arm to front so took lot longer to heal than key hole , im now having test to see about having other lung done they said that would be key hole as it was a planed op , I asked how long I would be in hospital got told the shortest he had any one in was 2 days longest was 30 but average around 12 /14 days as they put a chest drain in and it has to stop bubbling then you can go home , I wasn't working when I had mine done as on sick for other problems so cant answer that , breathing was a little better but I have got more breathless since as the other lung is bad but they are saying if I have it done I will see a big improvement as I have a lot of trapped air , I think the worse bit was waiting for the bubbling to stop because you wasn't ill as such they couldn't do anything to speed it up , you just spend the day walking round the hospital , I can understand you being nervous and excited all in one but you will be fine I wish you good luck and hope your not in too long please let us know how you get on , take care

[mazinuk]

I haven't had one but want to wish you well for the operation and speedy recovery xx

[Juney57 in reply to mazinuk]

Thank you

[katieoxo60]

Welcome to the site Juney57, good luck with your lung reduction operation hope all goes to plan .

[Juney57 in reply to katieoxo60]

Thank you

[jillygirl]

Hi Juney57,

I dont know if I can help, however I had my whole right lung removed December2012.

I didnt suffer much with pain. I was short of breath for the first few months but it doesnt bother me at all now.

Good luck with the op.

[Juney57 in reply to jillygirl]

Thank you for your reply and kind words

[junespoon in reply to jillygirl]

Was the removal due to emphsema , copd, you have done really well .

[Juney57 in reply to junespoon]

Yes it was so pleased I had the chance to have them x

[FarmerD]

Hi Juney,I am also awaiting LVRS.I,m seeing my surgeon at the Brompton on 29th January.Looking forward to it with large dollops of trepidation.Will let every body know how it goes.Good luck.D.

[Juney57 in reply to FarmerD]

I got to see my surgeon on the 26th to hopefully get my date I'll keep you posted let me know how you get on

[FarmerD in reply to Juney57]

Are you at the Brompton too?D.

[Juney57 in reply to FarmerD]

No I'm going to Glenfield Leicester. Hope all goes well good luck keep in touch

[FarmerD in reply to Juney57]

Best of luck Juney!D.

[mmzetor in reply to FarmerD]

good luck mate hope all goes well , did you get your cataracts done

[FarmerD in reply to mmzetor]

Yes Mm,had the right one done so at least I can half see again.App. In March ,have to start process again for left eye,which seems a bit daft most of us have two eyes.Cheers D.

[mmzetor in reply to FarmerD]

yes does seem abit daft having to start again make you wonder about the people who come up with these rules , well at lest you got one done must be lot better for you I have a lazy eye if I cover the good one up I cant hardly see any thing in other one its just a blur nothing they can do about it luckily good one makes up for it so am allowed to drive ect but does worry me that if any thing happened to good one I would be buggered ,

[FarmerD in reply to mmzetor]

I can drive again now,thank goodness.I am very conscious that my left eye just seems to be dying but I can,t afford to go private.When I could,nt drive I could,nt get to the place I exercise so it impacted my lungs as well.Now I have some sort of tummy bug that has me throwing up every few days,just waiting results of blood test.Hopefully find out what,s going on.I,m lucky though my wife helps me out a lot.Don,t know how those on their own would manage.D.