Hi, I have just heard from Harefield hosp & I am being admitted for surgery next Wednesday, taking into account all the upheaval from the covid carnage, I am very grateful to be getting my surgery ❤️, thankful for our amazing NHS 👍
i'll be having a lower right lobe resection hopefully via vats, if anybody can offer any tips on post op recovery that helped them, cheers in advance 👍
Maddy
Hello Blackkeys,
it is good to hear that your surgery is going ahead as planed, this forum can be a great place to find support and encouragement, I am sure you will hear from others who have been through similar surgery.
We have a lung surgery information booklet, I have added the have placed the link below
roycastle.org/app/uploads/2...
There is some additional information for those with cancer during Covid-19, from a group of charities called 'One cancer voice' which you may find useful:
roycastle.org/covid-19/info...
If there is anything you would like to discuss you can either email us at lungcancerhelp@roycastle.org or call our freephone nurse led helpline number on 0800 358 7200 (Monday to Thursday 0900-1700 and Friday 0900-1600)
Kind regards
The Roy Castle Support Team
Hi admin thanx 4 getting back to me I have read the booklet and found it very useful 👍
I will contact the "one cancer voice"
Thanx 4 your support
Maddy
I had a vats lobectomy last year. For the first few weeks it was difficult to sleep for discomfort. I used loads of pillows for support . I went on a cruise three weeks later so I was pretty well. I did have a lot of nerve pain for months for which I got tablets from my GP. Hope all goes well for you.
I had upper left lobectomy in Dec 2010 (open surgery as VATs wasn't around) . The booklet from Roy Castle is full of good information. Try not to worry about what you might experience afterwards as everyone is different. I was unable to have the morphine on offer as had a nasty reaction but was given different medication. I didn't have nerve pain, breathlessness continued post surgery for a while until I get in a rhythm of moving about as I'd been told to keep as active as possible as soon as possible. Slept propped up with cushions for ages. If you're given an incentivising spirometer, use it - otherwise follow the exercises suggested. Try not to sit/lie around all the time - my surgeon told me the lung would not redevelop if I did that and that recovery was 'up to me'. Drink plenty of fluids. Expect to have days when you feel more tired than others - your body needs to recover inside and out and it can take a while. I was back at work and swimming within 3 months and flew to Scotland for work within 4. I went onto swim much further and for longer on a regular basis than I'd done before and I've swum regularly since 1990. good luck with your treatment and recovery.
Hi Janette, many thanx 4 your advice, I have taken it on board and will act on it, I am very fit & active & cycle 20km most days, hopefully I will recover quickly I just don't like the thought of pain 😭 and will take everything offered 👍🤣
You have done amazing, I'm v impressed, gives me hope ❤️
Thanx again
Maddy
That's really good that you will have good lung function from your cycling. I came off the meds too soon - I don't even take paracetamol - fearing addiction but a nurse told me it was important to regulate the healing pain by having both long lasting painkillers and shorter ones (replaced by paracetamol eventually) as the combination is really effective. I never expected to recover the fitness I had never mind well exceed it post surgery - currently really missing my swimming as unable to walk for the sort of hours I would usually spend in the pool... I'm now v. involved in cancer research world and met patients some who had surgery and many who didn't who have survived 20+ years - I had no idea they existed... good luck. lots of good info on living with a diagnosis and the treatments on Roy Castle website.
Hi
Great that you have been scheduled for surgery - wishing you all the best.
I had a right upper lobe removed via VATS in July 2015 - and ran a marathon four months later. Like you, I was fit and active before the surgery and think that helped recovery. I don’t remember suffering with any nerve pain (I did do a 5k after three weeks having checked surgeon was okay with me doing it) - think the thing that stopped me running most was getting a sports bra on and off!
The doctors and nurses were great and there are breathing exercises you can do to help get your lungs used to a new normal. I would just try to follow the medics advice - keep hydrated and as active as you can when they are happy for you to be up and about.
Best wishes
Janey
Hi Janey, thanx 4 ur reply, u have done fantastic, I'm encouraged by hearing from different people it helps hugely 👍
I buy my sports bras from M&S they do a fab one that zips up the front, been wearing them all the time since I had a mastectomy 2 years ago, definitely recommend them 👍
Thanx once again, I'm prepared now mentally & physically for next Saturday 👍
Best wishes
Maddy
All the best - do let us know how it goes and happy to help if we all can in any way xx
Thankyou, so much, fingers 🤞I'll be out cycling again ASAP
Maddy
Hi Maddy
Just wanted to wish you all the very best for tomorrow (if I have read it right and it is tomorrow and not next Wednesday!). I hope all goes smoothly and your recovery is trouble free. Am sure you will be back on two wheels in no time.
Best wishes
Janey x
Hi Janey awe thankyou so much, your words of encouragement & support really help. ❤️
There has been a slight change of plan, I'm now being admitted on Friday & surgery is on Saturday, I've also been assigned a new surgeon, she's the clinical lead & specialises in cancer, so I don't mind the changes at all, I will get to meet her on my admission 👍
Covid swab is being done 2moro.
I will update you on how it goes, thanx once again.
Maddy
❤️
I had left upper lobectomy in 2018. I ended up in hospital for 2 weeks which should of been 3/4 days cause i got an air leak and they couldnt take the drain out. I had vats. I didnt have any pain killers after about 3 days post op although they tried to give them me.I refused. I had hot water bottle for my back every night. I got back to exercising fairly quicky as i have always done them. I also took up running when i felt fit enough. The consultant said i probably wouldnt be able to run for a bus after my op, but i proved him wrong as i did couch to 5k which you run and walk and gradually build up unti i ran half an hour without stoppin. I was well suprised with myself. I still run now but not half hr. I just do what ever i think. Apart from air leak, the only bad thing thats happened is i seem to have lost my singing voice and sometimes when i talk i sound like a chipmonk lol. This is never going to go.
When the lobe was sent away for testing i got my results and it was not cancer but just inflammation from chest infection.! They convinced me it was early cancer but it was not.
I lost half left lung for nothing really but i was glad it wasnt cancer.
The only trouble now with coronavirus its put me in a high vunerable. They said if i caught it i would be seriously ill. I havent been out 9 weeks and they told me to stay in til june 30 th.
Hope all goes well for you . You will get over it.
Hi there, omg I am shocked that your diagnosis was not correct, can I ask which hospital you were treated at?
I can't sing anyway 🤣 & I will be taking all the painkillers offered if I need them 👍🤣
Thanx for your reply & letting me know how things went for you, I shall do my best to recover & be active again in as short a time as poss 👍
Maddy
Thanks for writing back. My op was at university hospital coventry. When they gave me news that it wasnt early cancer but inflammation from old infection, i was just so relieved. Sinse this coronavirus and im put in very vunerable catorgery, its cause me alot of stress as have to isolate and in fear of being hospitalised if i got it. Its made me think ive lost part of my lung for nothing and put me in this dangerous position !
CT Scan 5 months after lobectomy.
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