Surgery scheduled

[VerdeAzul]

We have a date: July 10. A part of me wishes it would happen sooner so we can get this over and done with, but I am grateful for the time to prepare and get things set up at work and at home.

The plan is for VAT surgery, right upper lobectomy to remove the nodule with adenocarcinoma and mediastinal lymph node dissection.

And now we wait...

Any recommendations for this prep time?

Thank you.

[rdflynnjr]

Keep up with the folks on this website. We all have lived with lung cancer. All stages. We deal with reality. The important thing is that we share our facts along with our fear and anxiety. The sharing enables us to connect and.............appreciate each other.

Please keep us updated.

Rick

[Denzie Moderator Volunteer]

Exercise as much as you can. It doesn’t have to be a hard core workout. Walk. Walk a lot. Swim, it’s summer and you won’t be able to get back into the pool or lake for several weeks, maybe even a couple months. If you own a bike, get out and ride it.

Studies demonstrated that people who get regular exercise recover faster with fewer complications. I needed to have my regular colonoscopy which means anesthesia. Both the gastroenterologist and the anesthesiologists balked at treating me because of the stage 4 lung cancer. The GI doc called my oncologist and asked if I really needed to have it done and my oncologist said if I was due I should have it. So it was scheduled. The anesthesiologist acted very hesitant about administering the twilight drug to a stage 4 patient. It was painfully obvious. When I told him I had done a two mile walk the day before his whole demeanor changed and we moved ahead with the test.

There are exercises you can do without resistance equipment that will strengthen the muscles that support breathing. Theses videos were produced by the oncology and pulmonology departments at Memorial Sloan Kettering. I found them after a VATS for a pericardial effusion but they will be so useful before surgery.

google.com/search?q=donna+w...

Best hopes!

[JanetteR57]

Do something to distract yourself and preferably active - walking, swimming, dancing, whatever you're able. I swam 100 lengths the night before surgery and 80 on the day of surgery. otherwise go somewhere you haven't been for a while so you can think of returning there when you're recovered. do something nice for yourself - a facial? manicure? have a nice meal with friends? don't just sit and wait.... good luck.

[Feelingblessed2013]

Try to keep as active as you are able to, and do your best to keep a positive attitude.

[anrean]

Keep yourself busy!! Even if you have difficulty getting out and about, work hard on your breathing exercises. The more you do now, the better surgery will go and the faster you will heal. Keep your mind busy, too. Waiting is very difficult, but the more you can avoid thinking about it by keeping yourself busy, the faster the time will pass. Hate to say this, but this is also a good time to make sure you have all your ducks in a row - I check all of my papers at least once a year to make sure everything is the way I want it. Denzie gave you some great information - use it!! The more you do now, the better things will go in the healing process. Good luck and God Bless

[VerdeAzul]

Thank you, everyone! I work out 3x a week... mostly weight training and some Pilates-yoga type strength training. However, I have not been doing much cardio since I had to stop running (knees!).

We do have a stationary bike that right now sits collecting dust in a back room. I think I'll ask my husband to move it to the TV room and start using that.

I've also done some research on bras... and have ordered a couple of different styles to try. Based on your experience: front or back hooks?

Thank you also for the reminder to review my papers. I do have a medical directive, but should review it.

I need some specific tasks, because I find I'm so distracted. It's been especially hard at the office.

Again... thank you!