Still in pain and no ambition

[kgie1949]

It has been a bit since i posted anything in here, but have enjoyed reading others posts. It has been over 6 weeks since they took the lower part of my right lung out. Thankfully, it looks like all the cancer is now gone. But, I am still in pain, have no ambition or appetite and feeling very depressed. Plus, I feel like a whinny baby complaining when I should be celebrating the good news that I don't need either chemo or radiation.

[JeanE41]

Glad to hear that there is no chemo or radiation required after your surgery. The pain after this type of surgery lasts a long time, but does diminish with time. Depending on where they cut and what type procedure was done, there are many, many nerves that are cut. Those injured nerves can take a long time to heal. My surgery was in June, 2015 and I still have occasional pain in the surgical site and the chest tube site. This is not unusual and will subside with time. The loss of appetite and fatigue are also "normal" after lung surgery. Not only are you recovering from major surgery, but you have less lung tissue to supply oxygen to your body.

During my first post op visit to my oncologist, he asked if I felt like I had been run over by a truck. My response was no. It was 2 trucks and they each ran over me several times. I am now doing well, but have a new "normal".

It takes time for your body to adjust and recover. Let your body dictate to you. Eat a healthy diet as well as those foods that you find tempting. All these symptoms will improve as you heal.

Take care. Keep us posted as you recover.

[scottlg in reply to JeanE41]

Have to tell you how validating that is. I still wonder sometimes if I'm just nuts in the head! I never did really bounce back after 2 surgeries and there's definitely the 'new normal '. Thanx Jean.

[kgie1949 in reply to scottlg]

Thanks. It is good to know that I am not alone in still feeling pain.

[JeanE41 in reply to scottlg]

Don't know if you are "nuts in the head", but there is no bouncing back after lung surgery. It is more like a slow crawl to a new level of existence.

[kgie1949 in reply to JeanE41]

I have not sen the oncologist since I have had surgery nor do I have any appointments scheduled to see her. It is like the "cancer" was imagined except for the pain in my chest.

[JeanE41 in reply to kgie1949]

None of this is imaginary, though we certainly wish it were.

[Palmdalegirl in reply to kgie1949]

I see my surgeon every 6 months for a scan, blood, and office visit. Also, I see my Oncologist every 6 months, always a month after I've seen the surgeon

[mariel143 in reply to JeanE41]

i also had surgery 1 yr ago for lung cancer ask ur dr for gapapentin that will help with the nerve pain. sorry to say i still feel very fatigued and the name of the medicine is gabapentin spelled it wrong the first time. take one day at a time and enjoy every day u will regain ur appetite. it takes time u had major surgery.

[anrean]

We start this journey with a flurry of appointments, doctors, fears, and a single focus to get rid of the cancer in the best way possible. Many of us go through a period of sadness when this flurry comes to an end and we are declared cancer free. The very thing that occupied so much of our time is no longer there to keep us busy and focused. Please talk to your doctor about your feelings - you are not the first and certainly won't be the last to have these feelings! Perhaps a short term anti-depressant would help you through. And most of all, search out something important to you that you can focus upon. A friend took up quilting to keep herself busy and focused as she became used to yet a new normal. Inmy first breast cancer I felt very much the same lack of ambition, and found it helpful to delve into my gardening because it kept me busy doing research on plants and kept my hands busy in the dirt. I would not have made it through if I had not spoken to my doc and listened when he suggested a mild anti-depressant.

[JeanE41 in reply to anrean]

Great advice. When I felt well enough, a friend started taking me to a weekly group at her church that knit for various causes. Having been an avid knitter for many years, this was the perfect thing for me. Between the knitting and the companionship of these women, my mood and attitude improved greatly. It is only recently that any of them know I have had cancer treatment so it was also a good diversion.

[frisk]

Hi,

I had a left lower lobectomy and yes it was painful and I thought the pain would never go away. I took the pain pills and eventually things did improve.It was not easy and it did not happen quickly. Hang in there and it will get better.

[dmacdo9]

Your body has to build back up,and that doesnt happen overnight.That sounds like a heavy duty surgery, I would ask your doctor what vitamins you can take.I am still tire after ,and I didnt have surgery just chemo and radiation, I have small cell lung cancer and it is 4 years since end of treatment. You also dont have to be grateful all the time,you will feel that when you do ,but its hard when you feel like crap.

[JeanE41 in reply to dmacdo9]

Well said.

[cmilashoski]

I had surgery june of 2016 and I still have pain in surgery area they think its immflamation cause my numbers cea numbers are normal lots of numbness also just glad to be alive!!! just enjoy life!!!!!

[gibdonnalee Community Superhero]

Everyone has made some great suggestions for making you feel better about where you are right now. I also had middle lung removed, it takes some time for healing, and an anti-depression medication helped me greatly. Glad your cancer free!!

[Palmdalegirl]

That's how I felt, and I went on a antidepressant, and it was the best thing I could do for myself.

[bellaella]

1949.. I had this 12 years ago.. you should not have ant pain a this time. have you been walking? have to rebuild your strength..did they do your surgery robotically. or did they do it the old way with the long incision down the back. if this is the way they did it, that may be where your pain is coming from because they cut the nerves. hope you feel better soon.. stay positive