New to Cancer

[Poodlie]

Hi

Diagnosed with tumour left upper lobe left lung, had upper lobectomy and lower wedge. Week 5 after surgery. Doing fine out for daily walk, pushing a little further each day. Breathing excercises improving, but have a noisy wheeze and have times when really breathless. Not sure if I am expecting too much too soon. Lots of discomfort under front ribs and numbness to touch, but realise this goes hand in hand and will take time. Does anyone have the noisy wheeze?

[RoyCastleHelpline Partner Ask the Nurse Roy Castle]

Dear Poodlie

Welcome to the forum where you will find support and encouragement. Sorry to hear about your lung cancer and good to hear you are recovering, which can be slow. Everyone is different in their recovery time and in their lung capacity, it is important to listen to your body, not push things too much and pace your exercise.

This link provides information on after care and what to expect in timelines form our lung surgery booklet:

roycastle.org/app/uploads/2...

A wheeze is where the airways are tightened, blocked, narrowed or inflamed, e.g in Asthma, infection or chronic lung conditions.

If your wheeze is new or happening at rest, and accompanied with breathlessness that is new, or you have a productive cough, as in coughing up yellow or green phlegm, consider discussing with your GP or specialist.

If you have Asthma, you may find that the wheeze may be worse in the morning and or in the evening.

Our foundation is offering a new service for those in isolation called 'Keep in touch' where one of our dedicated team can either email or telephone weekly to see how you are doing. If you are interested in this service you can find details on how to register through this link:

roycastle.org/covid-19/info...

If you wish to discuss anything you can either email us at [e-mail] or you can call our freephone nurse led helpline number on 0800 358 7200

Kind regards

The Roy Castle Support Team

[Poodlie in reply to RoyCastleHelpline]

Thanks so much for your help. Wheeze is new, wish I could clear with cough but no movement. Will take your advice and contact support nurse. So good having your support. Thanks again.

Poodlie

[JanetteR57]

Well done on the surgery and on daily walking. Unsure where you are but in UK at the moment tree pollen is high so the wheezing could also be a sign of the airways narrowing as a result of an allergic response. I had a lobectomy 9 years ago (left upper lobe) and recovered my lung health/stamina through regular swimming. In recent years following various chest infections I have been more breathless and wheezy than before. I've had various tests and diagnosed as having ILO/VCD (vocal cord dysfunction) for which I'm now receiving respiratory/lung physiotherapy. I've been told to slow down my walking and making breathing more deliberate/conscious as for some reason my breathing has become quite distorted. Sometimes in our rush to recover from any illness or injury we overcompensate in another way and the physio has suggested my changed breathing could be related to this (or bronchoscopies may have damaged vocal cords). Just a thought - is it any easier/quieter if you walk more slowly? does it differ if you are going uphill? all things to note and ask your nurse or clinician. were you given a peak flow meter or incentivising spirometer ? try and record when it differs/is worse/better so they can make a better assessment of what might be causing it. take care... it will ease...

[Poodlie in reply to JanetteR57]

Hi JanetteR57,

Thanks for your help. Do have a peak flow meter so will keep a note of when wheeze is worse. Really bad in morning. Seems to ease when I am out walking. Wish I could cough to clear it, but nothing happening. Seems to be worse after eating meal too. Think I should contact support nurse to get some advice. So pleased to hear your story and hope you are finding an improvement with your breathing. Thanks again. Poodlie

[JanetteR57 in reply to Poodlie]

What's surprising me is that I'm walking further than usual without becoming breathless (despite tree pollen and a history of hay fever although not had it in recent years) but think it's due to the lack of traffic improving the air quality which is particularly poor where I live. if you have a support nurse (I wasn't given one) then agree ask her for advice. It's still quite early in your recovery yet so although I understand your will and wish to push on, our bodies have to heal inside too.... take care