Hello

[Angelscanfly]

I wonder can anyone advise me on Pneumonectomy recovery. I’ve unfortunately read some horrible stories regarding recovery and am feeling so anxious. My operation is in a few days time.

Thank you

[jillygirl]

Hi Angelscanfly, I had a pneumonectomy 7 years ago. I recovered fairly quickly . I was only in hospital 5 days. If your not having any adjuvent chemo then you should be feeling good after a good Month may be 2. (the chemo set me back for a while) If your having keyhole surgery you should recover quicker than that. I had open surgery. Just make sure you take things easy at first. Gentle exercise dont go silly.

I wish you all the best and hope you have a happy Christmas and New Year. XX

[Angelscanfly in reply to jillygirl]

Jolly girl thank you so much for your reply.. I’m so happy to hear that you did and are still keeping and feeling so well ..it’s so good to hear.

I have taken everything you said on board and have to say it has made me feel more relaxed than I have felt in quite a few weeks. Thank you

I also wish you a Happy Christmas and Happy new year xx

[Angelscanfly]

I meant jillygirl..typing obviously not my my forte!!

[jillygirl in reply to Angelscanfly]

Happy New year hun. XXX

[Angelscanfly in reply to jillygirl]

Thank you 😊 xxx

[Denzie]

Are they doing the open thoracotomy or the microscopic one (Video Assisted Thoracotomy-VATS)? Plan to sleep in a reclining chair for the first month or so with pillows tucked around you to support the rib cage. There may be injury to one of the intercostal nerves but pain can be managed with gabapentin or Lyrica.

People who have never been through this live to share horror stories they hear. It’s a bit like being pregnant that way. When you’re pregnant everybody wants to tell you every horror story they ever heard. Same with cancer.

Follow the surgeons directions about picking things up and gentle exercise only. They have learned so much about making this as minimally invasive as they can.

[Angelscanfly in reply to Denzie]

Hello Denzie

Thank you so much for your reply..I really appreciate it. I am having open surgery on Monday 23/12. I don’t know what’s going on in my head I’m not usually so anxious regarding pain..but it seems my imagination has been and maybe still is running riot. Your reply has helped thank you.

[Denzie in reply to Angelscanfly]

There is nothing rational about that word: cancer. I know the open thoracotomy is a bit tougher but the procedure is only ever done with curative intent. I am sending hope that they make that cure happen. They will be doing follow ups for a couple years to be sure.

At the Cancer Survivor Days program a few years ago I met a woman who had had a pneumonectomy 30 years earlier.

I do not going to fill you with false hope about the pain though-it won’t be easy. It’s survivable and you’ll be able to return to your life and family.

[Angelscanfly in reply to Denzie]

Thank you so much Denzie for the positive and realistic replies. They are what I need. Thank you

[iamjdf2 in reply to Angelscanfly]

I had a right thoracotomy with a completion pneumonectomy in July. I had a epidural and had absolutely no pain and my surgery was very complicated due to previous surgical complications. Afterwards, I've had some nerve pain but taking Lyrica reduces a lot of that pain. Good luck and let us know how you get along post surgery.

[RoyCastleHelpline Partner Ask the Nurse Roy Castle]

Dear Angelscanfly

Welcome to the forum where you will find support and encouragement which is already evident in your replies. Sorry to hear of the horror stories you have heard, if you can put them aside and read our informative booklet on lung surgery: I have placed a link below for this: roycastle.org/app/uploads/2...

This booklet details step by step what to expect pre and post surgery, including weekly recovery information and exercises.

If there is anything in this you wish to discuss from this you can either email us at [e-mail] or call us on our Freephone nurse led helpline number on 0800 358 7200

All the very best for your operation.

Kind regards

The Roy Castle Support Team

[Angelscanfly in reply to RoyCastleHelpline]

Thank you so much. I had my planned operation cancelled last week due to a chest infection. I was there waiting to go down to theatre when the day before blood test showed high inflammation markers and it was decided not to go ahead with the operation. So at home at the moment with antibiotics and paracetamol. Trying to get physically and mentally ready for Monday. I’m grateful for all replies. Thank you

[RoyCastleHelpline Partner Ask the Nurse Roy Castle]

Hope you feel better soon and be well before the operation to have optimum recovery.

Be good to yourself and all the very best.

The Roy Castle Support Team

[Angelscanfly in reply to RoyCastleHelpline]

Thank you 😊

[JanetteR57]

Understand your concern. I had a lobectomy in Dec 2010 and a few years ago whilst in clinic awaiting follow up, was chatting to an older lady who had received a letter suggesting she should have a lobectomy but she'd come with her daughter and was explaining that 'she'd had her life and would be refusing treatment'. I explained that I'd lost half my lung (in open surgery) and lung cancer(7cm tumour) some years earlier and had been back at work and swimming within a few months. The couple sitting opposite us joined in the conversation and he explained he'd had a pneumonectomy by the same surgeon as I , just a few months earlier and he was playing golf and walking the dog. Within about 20 minutes she'd asked lots of questions and had moved on to 'how soon after surgery, were you able to drive?' - she said she thought it was really important to talk to people who'd had the treatments rather than just consultants. hope the responses so far help you. As others have said, they test your fitness for surgery and wouldn't suggest it if they didn't think you'd benefit from it. Breathlessness post surgery can be worse but with activity will improve. good luck when you're recovered from your current situation and fit for surgery.