After operation

[jckjanetrosalin]

Well i had my op half lung took away with VATS . Today is 12 days sinse my op and today i came out of hospital. From the op i have had a drain in for fluid and air. I have come out of hospital with drain still in and with a flutter bag. It takes air in and out and fluid which i empty...

[JanetteR57]

Bet it feels good to be home... each stage will be a step further forward - when the drains come out, and then as you begin recovering from the surgery. I had half my left lung removed in Dec 2010. there is some really helpful information on the Roy Castle site about lung surgery and what to expect as nurses/medics don't always think to explain 'what's usual and what isn't'. roycastle.org/system/file_u...

Be patient, recovery takes time and good luck.

[jckjanetrosalin in reply to JanetteR57]

Thank you x

[jckjanetrosalin in reply to jckjanetrosalin]

Had drain out wednesday and air leak resolved. Finding it hard to get good nights sleep. Im moving this way and that. Pain in back still. Stitches out monday at my doctors.

[JanetteR57 in reply to jckjanetrosalin]

Pain can come and go - and won't be instant to recover - surgery of any type disturbs muscles and nerves (think how our brains react when a dentist pokes about in our mouth and disturbs nerves and then multiply the scale of what's happened with surgery and it becomes understandable). I found just working through each 'milestone' as progress - so drain tubes now out - great - keep moving to develop the remaining part of the lung, use the motivational spirometer if you were given one, walk gently each day and build that up (without overdoing it) and then onto the next 'hurdle' to achieve - so as appointments for follow up move from more frequent to 3 months and then 6 months and annual, you'll get there..... good luck. Remember - be patient - surgery is traumatic to our systems and takes time to heal - it's not just the outside that has to heal but all the disturbance internally. best wishes

[RoyCastleHelpline Partner Ask the Nurse Roy Castle]

Dear jckjanetrosalin

Sorry for the delay in responding to your post. Hope you are feeling much better now and feel as if you are making progress.

If you wish to discuss anything you can call us on our free nurse led helpline number on

0800 358 7200

Kind regards

The Roy Castle Support Team

[jckjanetrosalin in reply to RoyCastleHelpline]

Thanks yes i am progressing well. Had a air leak so was in hospital 2 wks came out with flutter bag . That drain in now out and lung inflated.

[RoyCastleHelpline Partner Ask the Nurse Roy Castle in reply to jckjanetrosalin]

Dear jckjanetrosalin

Glad to hear you are feeling better. There was not much for me to add to your initial post as JeanetteR57 covered it very well.

All the best

The Roy Castle Support Team