Post op back home after segmentectomy

[MsPJ]

The strong painkillers post surgery sent me loopy. I imagined I’d got Covid, would be isolated & may never see family again. I’m now down to just 4 hourly paracetamol. Histology results due early next week. Feeling v emotional.

[JanetteR57]

well done on getting home and reducing your painkillers. I couldn't have morphine due to the bad reaction I had and was keen to get off painkillers asap - they also caused terrible constipation - more painful than the surgery! The emotion is natural - it's the shock/realisation setting in so don't worry.

Main thing now is to start recovery - keeping active a little each day - walk around the house/stairs - even though difficult it is important to 'redevelop' the lung... I had open surgery and half left lung removed in Dec 2010 so know what it's like.

Take the opportunity to rest and do things easily done at home - (although I hadn't had the situation of a pandemic keeping most of us at home for months on end) - good luck for the results - my follow on treatment was 'surveillance/vigilance' so didn't have other treatment - just follow ups/imaging but the appointment with the results (7cm adenocarcinoma removed) left me feeling quite surreal as didn't get them until a month after surgery - by which time I'd been up and about and was in a different space emotionally. keeping everything crossed for you.

[MsPJ in reply to JanetteR57]

Thank you ! Although you had to wait a month that must have been great news to hear no further treatment and my surgeon did say that could be my outcome. Today I’ve really listened to my body and rested. Next week’s goal will be to try walking down our street. The sun is out this afternoon and I feel optimistic. I never imagined I’d be able to get this kind of support from Online forms so thanks again for taking the trouble to reply to me.

[JanetteR57 in reply to MsPJ]

You're welcome. I used the nearest post box as a marker - usually takes 5 minutes each way but I remember it took 40 minutes with several stops the first time post surgery so decided to write thank you cards to people who'd sent me wishes or to catch up generally and post each letter separately (i.e. separate to post box for exercise) - breathing/mobility improved most days so I progressed to walking in the park at the back of us that I'd never been in despite living here at the time for 18 years. little by little I progressed - the month was punctuated by xmas/new year (hence delays at the lab) surgery 16/12, discharged 22/12 then follow up appointment 13/1 when given diagnosis. Celebrate every day, sunset, sunrise, - I remember colours and sounds all feeling richer after surgery - quite a strange sensation looking back on it now. keeping active is really important - my surgeon said 'recovery is up to you' - if you keep active, it will be quicker and better than sitting around which is no good for your lungs. I put my gym membership on pause (I was a regular swimmer) and used walking as my exercise - locally. I went onto swim much further distances than I ever had before and returned to work and travel 3 months later. good luck with your recovery...