Depression..not much stamina

[MissKitty1]

I am 10 weeks post lobdectomy.. I a doing good but haven’t gotten stamina back and still get short of breath on exertion.. I guess I am getting depressed thinking I should be doing more..any of you suffered from this?

[Denzie Moderator Volunteer]

Your lungs have been through major trauma. Even if it was a vats surgery it’s still difficult. It can take a few months for some to throw off the effects of the anesthesia.

Ask your doctor for a referral to the pulmonologist to establish a new baseline. You may qualify for pulmonary rehab which will help you get the most out of each breath and teach you strategies for building strength and stamina.

Are you on any antidepressants? If not inquire about them. You don’t have to stay on one forever. Just a couple months while your body adjusts to its new normal.

[Glouie1 in reply to Denzie]

I do not have cancer but had cats and part of my lung was also removed. I am 7 months post surgery. I suffered with terrible nerve pain. I still have awful pain in ribs and tight painful band around my torso. It is getting better but it’s taken so much longer than Onwas led to believe. I was told I could resume all my regular duties within 6 to 8 weeks. I laid in a hospital bed in my living room for 5 weeks after surgery. I have just started taking some physical therapy. Probably should have had it right away but my surgeon told me that none of the symptoms I had were related to my surgery. Said he would refer me to a pain management clinic and never did. I learned about the physio on this site.

I went through a bout of depression about 3 months after surgery and it lasted about 2 months. My nurse practitioner helped me with that. I’m still frustrated and I’m still struggling but I can see with help, I’ll be better than I am now at some point.

I got really crazy and went and got all my teeth out. Now I’m dealing with dentures that don’t fit. Grrr

If nothing else, it’s something else to focus on.

Give yourself a break. Talk to your primary care giver about something for depression. It does help and you only have to take it till you feel stronger and more positive.

Keep in touch with people in this group. They have really helped me.

They understand what you’re going through.

Big Hugs💗

[Glouie1 in reply to Glouie1]

Edit: I had Vats not cats. LOL

I have fat thumbs

[JRuth1945 in reply to Glouie1]

😊

[dogsbody321 in reply to Glouie1]

everyone is different.im 12 weeks after vats op.2 weeks after i walked to the end of my street and back i used a shopping trolley for something to lean on remember so proud like janette said just increased it everyday till i got stronger and more confident .stairs were my terror but just stop and rest halfway.the heat gets to me cant rush and stop if neccesssary to get breath back if youthink people r looking get your phone out as if you have stopped to take a call.good luck.

[JanetteR57]

it takes time to recover physically and mentally from such surgery. Do you move about at all? I was told by my surgeon in Jan 2011 that my recovery was very much up to me and the more I did, the more the remaining lung would develop and become stronger. I started by getting up at a regular time each day and showering (Nobody told me I shouldn't but this amount of wet reopened the wound together with the physio exercises that I probably overdid). I walked a few steps each day - indoors to start with, then down to the local postbox that used to take 5 minutes but the first time took over half an hour with several stops on the way. I built up a few steps each day until I was walking up and down the park at the back of me. Getting out for even a few minutes/half an hour a day enabled me to look at nature, see the seasons developing their various flowers and being very grateful to be alive. It is evidenced that being outdoors lifts any mood. Little by little my stamina returned but some tasks (like stairs/lifting bags and walking, walking and talking at the same time) took time but I returned to work and swimming after 3 months. My first swim was painful and I thought I'd never recover but I've gone onto swim farther (by a long way) than I ever did before. Try and rebuild your strength and stamina each day - it's a case of use it or lose it according to my surgeon. There's a good book on the Roy Castle website under 'information', lung cancer treatments' 'surgery' 'my lung surgery booklet' that suggests average recovery milestone. It's not a quick/overnight recovery but hope you're soon doing more than you are currently. good luck.

[Silver_Fairy in reply to JanetteR57]

Do you have a link please?

[JanetteR57 in reply to Silver_Fairy]

roycastle.org/system/file_u...

[Silver_Fairy in reply to JanetteR57]

Thank you

[bellaella]

you will be feeling strohger as you continue walking and doing things you love. I am 13 years out and still get winded. if I walk up a flight of stairs my legs begin to hurt from lack of oxygen. you just learn to live with it. good luck and don't be discouraged

[Lyubov]

MissKitty -- was one of your lungs completely removed? May 22, I had only a right lung middle-section removed (adenocarcinoma, stage 1) & am still recovering too. Not nearly as much pain, but still have pain, lots of "tightness", & hard to take deep breaths. Get really tired by mid-day. Should nap but don't always & that makes everything worse. Also nodules remain in upper right lung & 1 in left lung. I'm starting to really worry about PET/CT scan on Sept 9 & what treatment. Post-op with surgeon, he said something about possibly more surgery if those nodules are also malignant -- don't think I have the physical, mental, or emotional strength for further surgery, & chemo/rad also scare me. Thinking that this is going to be the story for the rest of my life, however long or short it will be. Hard to focus on that day-at-a-time way of living.

[MissKitty1 in reply to Lyubov]

I understand you’re feelings..the thought of going through surgery again scares me..I have had a radical hysterectomy ..uterine cancer..but nowhere near what this has been to recover from..I had NSCC in lower right lobe so that’s the lobe they removed..

[Lyubov in reply to MissKitty1]

I'm glad you didn't need to have the entire lung removed, especially after having had the prior surgery of a hysterectomy. I realize that I must strive not to dwell on what's next -- PET/CT scans, etc. Instead I'll do my best to get stronger so whatever treatment I may need I'll be able to tolerate without too much distress. Thanks so much for your encouragement & understanding.

[Palmdalegirl]

It takes quite a while to get your energy back. Depression is very common, and I went on Zoloft, and trust me, it helped me so much. We think we’re not depressed, but actually, getting a cancer diagnosis and having surgery, it’s very common to be depressed. I’ve had two Lobectomies, my second one was just two weeks ago. Another thing I do is get a vitamin B12 shot, and that helps a lot with your energy. So try these tips and I think you will feel much better. Good luck to you.

[Lyubov in reply to Palmdalegirl]

Thanks so much. I am taking anti-depressant but didn't think of B-12 shots & will ask my PCP when I see her July 8, which is just around the corner. I do have to keep reminding myself this healing/recovery will take time & give myself TLC every chance I get!

[Palmdalegirl in reply to Lyubov]

I’m so glad you’re on anti depressants, and the B12 shots are great. They really help with your energy. Good luck, and please let me know how everything is going.

[Hidden]

Do not despair things get easier but it does take time I had a right upper lobectomy in 2015 not a full lobectomy I admit .You do get used to having less lung and so does your body ,you have had a lot to take in ,you are probably getting over the initial diagnosis and this type of surgery is quite traumatic on your body .Just get out and walk daily take regular pain killers try and see a physio ,it takes time to put yourself together again give yourself plenty of time it gets better a.Good luck Diane

[Lyubov in reply to Hidden]

Thanks a bunch for your kindness & suggestions, Diane. I really do appreciate what you write & will try to be as patient as possible & let my body, mind, & soul heal at the pace they can.

[kgie1949]

It has been 2 years now since I lost the lower portion of my right lung and I still have to watch my activities but I have found that going to pulmonary rehab has helped, both emotionally and physically. Thank God my insurance is covering it.