Post Lobectomy/Thorocotomy Recovery - Lung Cancer Support

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Post Lobectomy/Thorocotomy Recovery

Lungs4ever profile image
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Hello! Last week (2 days before Thanksgiving) I had a lobectomy turned thorocotomy (lungs were "sticky" from chemotherapy resulting in thoracic artery "injury"). Looking for information on recovery recommendations/tips for getting back to as normal as possible.

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Lungs4ever
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JanetteR57 profile image
JanetteR57

Well done on getting your surgery over with before Xmas even if it prevented any Thanksgiving celebrations or limited them somewhat. I had a thoracotomy (left upper lobe) this time of year 16/12) in 2010 when all lung surgery was done this way rather than the majority keyhole/minimally invasive op today. The lobectomy is a procedure to remove a lobe or 2 from the lungs - the left has 2 lobes and the right has 3 and the thoracotomy describes the procedure - i.e. open surgery compared to VATS/RATS (keyhole.). I was discharged from hospital on 22/12 so had a quiet Xmas that year. I didn't have my diagnosis until my first follow up with the surgeon on 13/1/2011. he was pleased with my progress almost 1 month post surgery.

I was given an incentivising spirometer toy (bright yellow) to breathe into to keep a tiny yellow ball afloat to use several times a day and exercises to do by the physiotherapist. I had also kept as active as possible - walking around the house for the first few days then venturing out to the post box down the road to post thank you cards for those who'd sent get well wishes in the xmas cards or separately. that usually takes about 5 minutes there and back but the first time took much longer and I had to stop several times for a rest but each day, I'd return, often multiple times a day - posting each letter/card separately. I then started to walk around the block then the park at the back of where I live that I'd hardly ever visited and increased distance as I could - resting when I needed. My usual exercise until I'd been hospitalised in the October had been swimming but I didn't return to that until end of March after seeing the surgeon. He was surprised I hadn't returned sooner but having got up and showered every day, my wound had started to reopen so I had to go to the GP/practice nurse and have it packed so had then been reluctant to get it wet (and not in chlorinated water either!). I returned to swimming at the end of March and by the time I saw the surgeon in the June, I was back to my pre-op distance of 130 x 25m lengths which I do believe helped my recovery no end.

Try to sleep propped up with pillows - as lying down on a side can be very painful due to the nerves/muscles having been disturbed during the surgery and can take some time to recover. Do the breathing exercises and physical exercises and walk as much as you can - my surgeon told me that sitting/lying around prevents the lung from recovering as well so I found his suggestion that recovery was up to me quite empowering.

This booklet devised by the tertiary thoracic surgical centre where my surgeon was from, was adopted some years ago by Roy Castle lung cancer foundation and is regularly updated - it's full of information and tips from those who've gone through it. hope you find it helpful - good luck with your recovery. roycastle.org/app/uploads/2...

Lungs4ever profile image
Lungs4ever in reply toJanetteR57

Thank you so much for sharing the resource and your experience! I love to swim and look forward to getting back in the pool.

Denzie profile image
DenzieModeratorVolunteer

in addition to the suggestions Jeanette has shared, ask your pulmonologist to do a pulmonary function test to establish a new baseline. Also request they give you a referral for pulmonary rehab.

Lungs4ever profile image
Lungs4ever in reply toDenzie

Thank you for your response - at what point after surgery would it be appropriate for a pulmonary function test and pulmonary rehab?

Denzie profile image
DenzieModeratorVolunteer

That would be at the discretion of the pulmonologist. Probably about the 6 week mark. You need to let the incisions heal (the inner part takes a bit longer than the outer). At the point they allow you to pick up more than 5 pounds would be about the time.

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